Flying high

The Historical Society of Princeton wows patrons (including Barbra Streisand) with a gala evening to remember

By: Christian Kirkpatrick
   No one could accuse the Historical Society of Princeton of dreaming small.
   For several years, HSP staff members have wanted to hold a fundraiser that would bring in not just money but new people. They’ve dreamed of something that was fun yet educational and that reflected the HSP’s mission of preserving the past. It would appeal to Princetonians but draw out-of-towners, as well.
   Last year, this custom-made benefit began to take shape when the HSP revived its annual antique fair. By their nature, antiques are a part of history, and many people, inside Princeton and out, enjoy collecting and learning about them.
   The 2006 Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show began last Friday with a preview gala at Princeton Airport.
   Early on, gala co-chair Lauren Fasolo knew that the evening would be a success.
   "Our numbers are where we wanted them," she said. "The quality of the show is great; even the weather is cooperating."
   Her co-chair, Keating Johnson, added that the benefit promised to top last year’s. "The show is twice as big," she said, and nearly two times as many guests attended this year’s opening gala.
   Jody Erdman, co-chair of the antiques show, agreed that the weekend was getting off to a great start. But more would follow.
   Last Saturday, Michael Mendelsohn of Bridge Arts Strategies spoke to speak on obtaining, valuing and disposing of antiques and collectibles. Afterwards a cocktail party for young collectors was held in the show’s exhibit hall. On Sunday, William H. Bunch of Auctions and Appraisals of Chadds Ford, Pa., ran an appraisal clinic. And on both days, of course, the show was open to the public.
   "This is a three-day event," said Ms. Erdman. "It’s huge."
   It was also gorgeous. Princeton Airport had been transformed into an elegant antiques mall. A few of the 42 dealers brought display cases and turned their areas into little shops. Others created small display rooms. Some of these rooms they filled with intriguing furniture and decorative items; the rest were arranged as small dining rooms, living rooms or libraries.
   The dealers came from England and 10 states. Their wares were eclectic: American and European furniture and paintings, Middle Eastern rugs, ceramics, silver, jewelry and vintage handbags.
   Scattered along the walking areas were food stations and tables and chairs. Music floated through the air.
   Predictably, Ms. Erdman and her antique show co-chair, Dorothy Plohn, gave others credit for creating this little bit of antiquing heaven.
   "The staff of the society has really led the way," said Ms. Erdman, adding that Frank Gaglio of Barn Star Productions, the show manager, has also been tremendously important.
   "He’s been a star with the ambition to expand the show," said Ms. Plohn.
   According to Mr. Gaglio and the HSP staff, equal credit goes to the benefit’s four co-chairs and their hard-working committee. They not only created an enjoyable event for thousands of antique lovers, they have supported the society in its most vulnerable time in recent memory, following the death of its beloved executive director, Gail Stern.
   Countless HSP supporters also lent a hand. Ms. Stern’s son, Jonathan, helped out with parking. Long-time HSP booster, Princeton University legend and College Football Hall of Fame member Cosmo Iacavazzi drove a shuttle bus.
   Other supporters contributed to the event’s silent auction, which was organized by Anne Garrymore. She gathered a tantalizing array of objects and opportunities that included dinner for eight at Grover Cleveland’s House, five nights in a Medieval French chateau, a reproduction of Albert Einstein’s music stand and a coffee table made from the Princeton Elm, mother of the disease-resistant elms growing along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
   Nearly 300 guests attended the gala; about 1,500 visited the show. Word has it that a couple from Long Island flew in their turbo prop for a day of shopping.
   Corporate sponsors of the 2006 Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show included Baxter Construction, Copper Arch Capital, LLC, and Community Liquors.
   Ever ambitious, the HSP has planned a busy fall schedule that begins with its next exhibit, "Princeton’s Civil War" which opens Oct. 17. The Historic House Tour follows on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., the HSP is sponsoring a panel discussion, "Lincoln’s Suspension of Habeas Corpus: Citizenship in the Civil War."
   For more information about these events, visit www.princetonhistory.org or call (609) 921-6748.
‘My Name Is Barbra’
   When the Historical Society of Princeton set itself the goal of attracting "new people" to the Princeton Fall Antiques and Fine Arts Show, they had no idea that word would spread all the way to Hollywood. More or less.
   About 4 p.m. Saturday, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin strolled into the Princeton Airport hangar where the show was being held and stayed more than two hours.
   According to HSP sources, the couple was sent to Princeton by the Lovrinic Gallery in Lambertville, where they had been shopping earlier in the day. The Lovrinics, who had a booth at the show, called ahead to say Mr. Brolin and Ms. Streisand were on their way.
   "I greeted them as they came through the entrance and immediately got the sense that they just wanted to shop and not be hovered over," said Barbara Webb, HSP development assistant.
   "They bought items from several different exhibitors, but exactly what they purchased, I’m not sure. Before they left, one of our co-chairs, Jody Erdman, presented them with a show tote-bag filled with magazines and other assorted material from the courtesy table, along with two bottles of water for their trip. They were very appreciative and told us that it was a lovely show and they were thrilled to have found it."
   Frank Gaglio of Barn Star Productions, the show’s manager, said Ms. Streisand is an avid collector of art and antiques.
   According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Ms. Streisand, age 64, is the highest-selling female recording artist of all time, with 71 million albums sold.
   The singer-actress-director-political activist is on the East Coast as part of her current concert tour, the first since 1994. She performed in Philadelphia Wednesday and will be performing in New York City next week and Atlantic City in November.
   She has been telling audiences that she undertook the tour to raise funds for her foundation, which supports environmental and educational causes and health care initiatives.
— Michael Redmond