The Brooklyn Academy of Music left its native borough for two weekend fund-raisers in the Hamptons to celebrate 25 years of service from its president, Karen Brooks Hopkins. (Hopkins, who oversees BAM's 300 employees and facilities, recently doubled its institutional endowment, enabling it to restore its landmark 1908 Peter Jay Sharp Building.) But BAM special events manager Jennifer Stark didn’t leave the cultural institution’s flair for avant-garde entertainment back in Brooklyn.
On Saturday night, Daniel Bernard Roumain and his band, DBR and the Mission, performed its mix of soul, rock, hip-hop, and classical music. And a brunch on Sunday included sets from the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and Daniel Isengart, who sang songs by Klaus Nomi, the cult 80’s New Wave singer.
The more formal of the two events was Saturday’s dinner at Two Trees Stables, a 115-acre facility in Bridgehampton owned by Brooklyn real estate developer David Walentas. Among the approximately 120 guests turning out for the party were choreographer Trisha Brown and Dominic Recchia, a New York City Council member from Brooklyn.
Cocktails were served on the lawn next to Walentas's home and swimming pool—a drink named “Karen's Concoction” for Hopkins was made of pineapple juice and Asti Spumante. Hors d'oeuvres included grilled artichoke pizza, seared tuna with crispy wontons, and vegetable dumplings.
The dinner and entertainment took place under a tent from Nassau Tent. Covered with silver, shimmering tablecloths—in keeping with the silver, 25th anniversary theme—the tables also held glass vases with deep blue hydrangeas and white roses. The Art of Eating’s dinner started with chilled tomato soup with herbed goat cheese, followed by roasted salmon on a bed of local corn, green beans, and woodland mushrooms, along with corn custard and roasted potatoes. Dessert was almond shortcake with berries and whipped cream. After dinner, Roumain opened the set with a violin serenade for Hopkins.
Sunday's brunch, attended by some 150 guests, including many BAM staffers, was at the East Hampton home of Nora Ann Wallace and Jack Nusbaum.
—Jane L. Levere
Photos: Elena Olivio
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