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Bill Koenigsberg (left), President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media, Cynthia Nixon (center) and Jilly Stephens (right), Executive Director of City Harvest, pose on the red carpet at City Harvest’s 17^th Annual An Evening of Practical Magic. The event, which took place on April 13^th, 2011, honored Koenigsberg and was hosted by Nixon.
Photo courtesy of City Harvest

Annual Charity Event Attracted
Renowned Culinary Experts Eric Ripert,

Marc Murphy, Michael White, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and More

New York, NY – April 14, 2011 – Cynthia Nixon, Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress, hosted City Harvest’s 17^th annual An Evening of Practical Magic on Wednesday, April 13^th at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York City. The event, which honored Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media, raised
$1.5 million and attracted approximately 700 guests – an increase of $200,000 and 150 guests as compared to last year’s affair.

Notable event attendees included: Kelly Rutherford, Miss USA Rima Fakih, and Shoshanna Gruss as well as renowned culinary experts: Eric Ripert, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Michael White, Marc Murphy, Top Chef Masters judge Ruth Reich, Le Bernadin’s Maguy Le Coze, Porter House chef Michael Lomonaco, Tracy Nieporent of Myriad Group, Oceana chef Ben Pollinger, restaurateur Ariane Daguin, chef François Payard of François Chocolate Bar, cake designer Ron Ben-Israel, Donatella Arpaia, Stanton Social’s chef Chris Santos and Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro. Also in attendance were prominent members of New York society, including: Heather Mnuchin, Nina Rennert Davidson, Inge Rennert, Lise & Michael Evans, Henry & Marie-Josée Kravis, Nigel Parry, Stephanie Wolkoff, David Windreich & Chris Hikawa, and Caryn & Jeff Zucker, among others.

Highlights from the auction include:

NEAPOLITAN NEW YORK: Impossible-to-get Thursday night reservations at Rao’s for eight guests, as well as a pizza-making demonstration and dinner from renowned chef Donatella Arpaia at her hot new restaurant, Donatella. Winning bid: $45,000

SURF & TURF: Surf lessons for two in the Hamptons with Landmarc chef and Chopped judge Marc Murphy, plus dinner for 10 prepared by Marc and his company, Benchmarc Events, at the winner’s Hamptons home. Winning bid: $20,000

TASTE OF ITALY: Chef Michael White will recreate his lauded restaurants Marea and Al Fiori in two winners’ homes, preparing dinner for 20 guests each. Winning bid: $70,000

FRENCH FEAST:  Chef Eric Ripert of New York seafood mecca Le Bernardin will prepare a custom-designed tasting menu for 12 guests in the winner’s home. Winning bid: $80,000

An Evening of Practical Magic paid tribute to the efforts of individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in their dedication to the fight against hunger. City Harvest’s efforts to feed hungry individuals and families by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste have been referred to as practical magic. Support for City Harvest is critical, as soup kitchens and food pantries have seen no decrease in the record numbers of New Yorkers seeking emergency food since the recession began. 

City Harvest acknowledged Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association Inc. as Food Donor of the Year for donating 21.5 million pounds of farm-fresh food in the past decade. City Harvest also applauded two of its longstanding food donors for donating millions of pounds of food in over 20 years of partnership: Longest Retail Food Partner, D'Agostino Supermarkets Inc., and Longest Farm-Fresh Food Partner, GrowNYC's Greenmarket Program.

Ticket prices for An Evening of Practical Magic ranged from $750 to $2,500 and tables from $10,000 to $50,000. Thanks to the support of Barclays Capital and the generosity of the City Harvest Board of Directors and the event co-chairs, 100% of the ticket price directly supports the efforts of City Harvest to feed hungry New Yorkers.

About City Harvest

Now serving New York City for over 25 years, City Harvest (www.cityharvest.org) is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women and children. This year, City Harvest will collect 28 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to nearly 600 community food programs throughout New York City using a fleet trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 300,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.