When: Wednesday, June 6, 2012; 7:00 –
11:00 pm
Where: Al fresco in a tent at Bethesda
Terrace
(mid-Park at 72nd Street)
What: Taste of Summer brings
together over 800 guests each June under the stars in
Central Park for this distinctive kick-off to summer in New
York City. The event features culinary delights prepared by
renowned New York chefs, a luxury-filled silent auction, and
dancing to one of the City’s hottest DJs.
Why: The event raises funds to benefit
the Central Park Conservancy and its mission to maintain and
preserve Central Park.
2012 Leadership: Trustee Chairmen Diana DiMenna, Jay
Mandelbaum, and Norman Selb
Host Committee Selmin Arat, Ashley Baker, Mario
Buatta, Jill Lafer,
(in formation) Alexandra Lebenthal, Patrick
McMullan, Gillian Miniter, Nancy Sipp
Audience: Attendees include New York social
influencers, corporate leaders, media representatives and
celebrities. Notable names that have been a part of Taste
of Summer include: Ted Allen, Sharon Bush, Chelsea Clinton,
Lydia Fenet, Mariska Hargitay, Sandra Lee, Danny Meyer, Yoko
Ono, Angel Sanchez, B. Smith, John Stossel, Tim and
Nina Zagat
Tickets: Individual tickets are $400 each
Tables: The VIP Café is a reserved section
with tastings provided by exclusive restaurants and is
available only to table buyers. This year’s VIP Café will
be hosted by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.
Tables in the Café are:
§
$20,000 for 10 guests with preferred seating (Also
includes endowment of a mature tree in the area adjacent to
Bethesda Terrace with a personalized granite paving stone on
Literary Walk)
§
$12,000 for 10 guests with preferred seating
§
$10,000 for 8 guests
Silent Auction: Past auction lots included travel
packages through: The Breakers in Palm Beach, Continental,
Jet Blue, The Pierre Hotel, The Plaza Hotel, Royal Caribbean
International, and the St. Regis. Fashion items by
designers: Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Dolce & Gabana,
Ferragamo, Luca Luca, Tourneau, and Diane von Furstenberg.
Priceless experiences such as: Tickets to see Madonna at
Madison Square Garden, reservations to Rao’s Restaurant,
entry into the ING NYC marathon, Yankees and Mets box seats.
About the Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit
organization founded in 1980 as a public-private partnership
with the City of New York to restore Central Park to its
former splendor, after decades of neglect, and to manage and
preserve it for present and future generations. Thanks to
the generosity of many individuals, corporations,
foundations, and the City, the Conservancy has invested over
$530 million to date into the Park, transforming it into a
model for urban parks worldwide. Through events like this,
the Conservancy is able to provide 85 percent of Central
Park’s $42 million annual budget. For more information on
the Conservancy, please visit our website at
www.centralparknyc.org .