Hospital Gala auction best ‘since Marylou and Michele’
$100k in 60 seconds. PLUS: Jon Batiste ticket chatter and where to escape it all.
If Saratoga seemed to lack energy on Thursday and Friday, maybe it was because Wednesday night’s cabana-themed Saratoga Hospital Gala knocked the wind out of people. After $100,000 was raised in under a minute — what more was there to do to end the week but peter out and rest up?
The Gala committee found out two weeks before the big show that Stewart’s Shops had agreed — for the first and only time ever — to let someone outside the company name an ice-cream flavor. “The Next Big Scoop” live auction prize would let the winner create and name the next release of Saratoga’s favorite frozen sweet treat.
A “once-in-a-lifetime” customized frozen treat? From Stewart’s? The bidding quickly got heated.
And then…SOLD! To Michael and Linda Toohey — for $50,000.
The crowd of more than 1,000 erupted over the jaw-dropping sum. On a normal night, $50k is the headline, the moment of the night.
But this wasn’t a normal night.
The excitement was so loud, the crowds so thick, that most missed what went down in the front where all the big sponsors were stationed.
Julie Bonacio, sitting front row with Sonny, yelled, “Do another one!”
Auctioneer great Christopher Ward, fast on his feet, looked right to Gary and Aimee Dake.
Gary: non-verbal shrug “yes.”
Christopher: “Doing another flavor!”
Carmine DeCrescente: “50 thousand!”
Christopher: “Sold!”
I blinked. It was over. The crowd was stunned. Not just one $50,000 donation, but two.
“It was the most exciting live auction on the Polo Meadow grounds since Marylou and Michelle,” said committee member Becca Beers. Her table was in the front near the sponsors, so she was able to immediately grab a selfie with a thrilled Carmine.
In all, the Saratoga Hospital Foundation netted more than $495,000, they announced Friday.
“Every dollar given stays right here in our community, strengthening the health and well-being of those who need it most.”
—Jill VanKuren — President & CEO, Saratoga Hospital
Jon Batiste vs Cynthia Erivo: ticket showdown
When the news first landed that Wicked star Cynthia Erivo had cancelled her appearance with Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC — and the great Jon Batiste, who has Saratoga ties no less — would instead be doing his national album release with us, one of the buzziest conversations around town was:
Is the price of that ticket swap fair?
Erivo is currently one of the most bold-faced names in the biz. How do you argue with a blockbuster hit that got people to the movie theaters (gasp) multiple times (double gasp), in a movie that hit all ages from endless TikTok vids to a resultant Broadway surge?
But…
SPAC President Chris Shiley (who I bumped into at the above soirée) says that nationwide, Jon is actually currently commanding more per live show ticket than Cynthia.
I’ve been wanting to see Jon live for years — ever since I learned that he met his wife, the famous writer and cancer advocate Suleika Jaouad, at Skidmore. (Suleika is from Saratoga.) His Netflix documentary, American Symphony, was electric. He is amazing. The man has seven Grammys from a whopping 22 nominations. I can’t wait for the show.
As for the price debate, anecdotally I wasn’t able to commit to a conclusion.
So I’ll be sitting down with Chris on Monday. Stay tuned!
Escape Time
Again, at the gala, I was asked where I was traveling to next more times than I can count. It was starting to sound like some people needed a break…
And it’s true. This time of year can really do you in in Saratoga, so shameless escapism plug incoming: how about Maine?
Cliff House is absolutely fabulous, only four hours (but a lifetime) away, and listening to the waves while reading a book was just the Saratoga summer antidote I needed last weekend. I also loved getting dressed up for dinner, but digging into a 2-lb lobster in what I wore to the pool.
If you were at the National Museum of Racing's ball last night and heard any good horse tips from the trainers (I heard they really went around), text me! Time to find something pink and head to the track. Happy Whitney Day!
—Dish Saratoga by Abby Tegnelia