Central Park Conservancy Holiday Skating Party! So fun!

(L-R) Dawne Marie Grannum, Jean Shafiroff, Ashley NYC, Sharon Bush, Terri Coppersmith, Sabrina Wirth

I had the most enjoyable time at the Central Park Conservancy Holiday Skating Party. My friend Dawne Marie Grannum invited a bunch of us girls out. After eating dinner there, we went skating. I have not been skating in a few years, and it was super fun! I even learned how to do a little hip hop dance while skating! The rink we skated on is owned by Donald Trump. There’s nothing more fun in the winter than skating in Central Park!

Terri Coppersmith (Vice President for Development and External Affairs for the Central Park Conservancy) tells Ashley and New York: "The Central Park Conservancy's annual skating party is not only great fun, but it's a wonderful opportunity for us to gather with friends of the Park, from donors to corporate partners, and thank them for their endless support in helping us restore, manage and enhance Central Park. With their dedication, the Conservancy has accomplished amazing things in the Park; never before has the Park been more beautiful or better managed than it is today."

Check out the Park’s site: www.centralparknyc.org and their Twitter (@centralparkbuzz) and Facebook (facebook.com/centralparknyc)




(L-R) Jean Shafiroff, Sharon Bush
(L-R) Jean Shafiroff, Ashley NYC, Sabrina Wirth, Sharon Bush, Dawne Marie Grannum

Dawne Marie Grannum Hosts "Brunch with Friends" at Sarabeth's in Lord & Taylor

(L-R)Jean Shafiroff, Dawne Marie Grannum, Ashley NYC, Joy Marks

I had the most lovely brunch yesterday with the most friendly and eclectic group of New York ladies. Last year I had the privilege of meeting NYC social butterfly, Dawne Marie Grannum, who is as beautiful on the inside as she is out. Since then we’ve become pals. Dawne really likes to live life to the fullest, working hard in the day in Risk Management, but making sure to be fabulous and have fun at some of New York’s most stylish events and parties. We have some mutual friends, and after attending her brunch gathering, I now have more friends. It was really a great way to start off the New Year. Most of my closest girlfriends live in Southern California where I am from, so it was a treat to spend time with new friends.

The brunch was at New Yorkers favorite brunch chain, Sarabeth’s, and the location was at Lord & Taylors! I felt like I was on an episode of Sex & the City: eating a gourmet brunch adjacent to some the most fashionable clothes and shoes that Lord & Taylor is known for!

One of the divas in attendance was New York social personality, stylist and TV reality star from “Single in the City”, Kathleen Giordano. I asked her to reflect on the experience, and she tells us:

“Who says New Year's Eve has to be celebrated on December 31st? Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a New Year's gathering at Lord and Taylor's Sarabeth's Restaurant on Fifth Avenue. This was a fabulous and cozy celebration of the most magnificent and talented women around the city. Our beautiful and gracious hostess, Dawne Marie Grannum, came up with this amazing idea for her friends to meet, network, laugh, rejoice and ring in the New Year with mimosas and smoothies! I, along with a handful of others, actually closed the restaurant down at 4:30 p.m........yes, you read it right the first time....4:30 p.m. and not a.m.! It was an incredibly fun time had by all. Thank you Dawn Marie and I wish you a very Happy Happy New Year full of love, fun, health and beautiful memories!!! “

Here’s to 2011, which is all about making new friends!

Standing:L-R: Joy Marks, Carolyn Thornquist, Samantha Park, Lisa Yom, Shannon Hales, Vevlyn Wright, Anna Kuchma, Ashley Sousa, Muyinot Raji, Kathleen Giordano, Saleda Bryant, Dorothy Joseph, Jean Griffin, Amber De Vos Seated:L-R:Sabrina Wirth, Bianca Kawecki, Dawne Marie Grannum, Jean Shafiroff, Emily Feinstein
(L-R) Emily Feinstein, Dorothy Joseph, Ashley NYC, Tanya SooHoo, Sabrina Wirth (L-R) Muyinot Raji, Saleda Bryant, Ashley NYC, Sabrina Wirth, Dawne Marie Grannum, Lisa Yom

(L-R) Jean Shafiroff, Robin Kearse, Kathleen Giordano

(L-R) Lisa Yom, Muyinot Raji, Saleda Bryant, Ashley, Samantha Park
(L-R) Chef Brian Donnelly, Jasmine Fourquet, Nidhi Nandwani, Dawne Marie Grannum, Mahmooda (last name?), Stephen Jacobsen, Christopher Lodge
Dawne always wears the cutest shoes, she's so Carrie Bradshaw!
All the ladies who attended recieved a lovely gift bag from Dawne, which included a signed copy of Alexandra Lebenthal's new book "The Recessionistas"! (I'm loving it so far, good read!)