Charitable Event Pick: Starlight’s Holiday Happy Hour

When it comes to festive, first-class events, the Starlight Children's Foundation always does it up right. Experience the fun for yourself at Starlight’s upcoming Holiday Happy Hour.

Set for Wednesday, December 2nd at 7pm, the fundraising event will take place at Mad River Bar & Grill on NYC’s Upper East Side. The $25 ticket price funds the purchase of a teddy bear for a hospitalized child.

For more info and to purchase tickets, click here.

Charitable Event Pick: End Of Summer Sizzle

The Starlight Children’s Foundation knows how to throw a party. Which is why I was excited to hear about the non-profit group’s upcoming End of Summer Sizzle event.

The Frying Pan: This popular hotspot is the venue for Starlight’s End of Summer Sizzle

Scheduled for this Wednesday, September 23rd, the event will be held at the Frying Pan, a bar built on a historic 1929 lightship and one of NYC’s top outdoor hotspots. Music will be provided by J.Tower of Pulse 87.7 FM. Admission covers two-hour premium open bar and hors d'oeuvres.

Starlight’s mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families. Tickets to the End of Summer Sizzle are $40 in advance and $60 at the door. For more information, click here.

A Night Under The Stars

Last Tuesday, I headed over to swanky rooftop bar 230 Fifth for the Starlight Foundation’s Night Under The Stars.

The three-hour event -- which raised $20,000 -- boasted a posh sold-out crowd of 250 people, open bar and delicious hors d’oeuvres that included sliders, chicken fingers and Asian fare.

Smiling Under The Stars: (from left) Lauren, me and Donna at Starlight’s summer affair

My good friend Lauren, part of Starlight’s benefit committee, introduced me to executive director Elaine Siver. I also met some of Lauren’s fabulous galpals from her Fire Island summer share days and caught up with her sister Donna.

Among the topics of conversation – to date or not to date someone a decade younger, addressing the thorny subject of money with a significant other and whether there’s any value in using canned pick up lines.

The latter subject came up with Jamie, a male buddy of one of Lauren’s friends. Jamie told me he doesn’t have a standard pick up tactic when approaching women. I said that’s probably a good thing, the caveat being that a line can be an effective ice breaker if it’s delivered with just the right balance of playfulness and sincerity.

What are some of the most outrageous pick up lines you've heard?

Starlight’s next party is set for September 23rd at the Frying Pan in Chelsea. Sign me up.

Singles Event Pick: Night Under The Stars

One of my favorite things about summer in New York is the rooftop bar experience. On Tuesday July 28th, the Starlight Foundation will host Night Under The Stars, an event at one of Gotham’s swankiest rooftop settings, 230 Fifth.

230 Fifth: The rooftop garden here is NYC’s largest

In addition to hors d’oevures and premium open bar, the three-hour event will feature a raffle with great prizes ranging from a Costa Rican getaway to a $650 La Prairie gift basket. Attire is summer chic and proceed benefits the foundation’s mission to help ill children and their families through entertainment and education.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Click here for more info.

Coming up...drinks with a globetrotting showbiz security chief and a visit to one of NY's most popular beer gardens.

Girls Night Out: Upper East Side

Saturday night, my cousin Alexandra and I enjoyed a girls night out on the Upper East Side.

The festivities began with a delicious dinner at Italian bistro Zucchero e Pomodori (prosciutto and melon, filet of sole oreganata).

Afterward, we strolled over to First Avenue, passing a festive Greek Orthodox Easter block party along the way and appreciating all over again the diverse mosaic of life in the Big Apple.

We ended up at Stir, a lively neighborhood bar and lounge that I’ve since decided to visit more often. In addition to serving up great music and a friendly vibe, the crowd is a good mix of twenty and thirtysomethings.

Stir: One of the best bars on NYC's Upper East Side

Alexa and I were only standing at the bar for a few minutes when a tall, adorable guy approached.

Complimenting my eyes, he said he had to come and talk to me – adding, curiously enough, that he’d already met his goal of getting someone’s phone number so it wasn’t just a line. A little too much information, I thought, opting nevertheless to overlook his faux pas and accept his offer to buy us drinks.

After introducing himself and his friend Peter, Joe continued to engage me in conversation. Alexa and Peter hit it off, discovering they both live just blocks away from each other in Queens.

It turned out Joe is a native New Yorker too. We fell into easy, flirtatious banter as he filled me in about life as a firefighter and his passion for outdoor sports.

Before the night ended, he kissed me. Fireworks, so to speak, were definitely there.

Too bad Joe now lives in Rhode Island.

Up next…after-work schmoozing for the Starlight Foundation and an unexpected reprise with my greatest love.

Charitable Event Pick: Starlight Fundraiser

When it comes to extracurricular activities, there’s nothing more rewarding than donating your time to a good cause. My friend and fellow PR maven Lauren is lending her support to the executive committee of the Starlight Children’s Foundation -- and to a fun upcoming event.

The foundation, whose programs are designed to restore joy and laughter to sick children, is hosting a fundraiser at China 1 Antique Restaurant & Lounge in NYC’s East Village.

China 1: The East Village eatery will host Starlight’s upcoming fundraiser

Admission to the event ($40) covers open bar from 7-9pm, hors d’oeuvres, DJ & raffle prizes. I’m looking forward to attending.

The event takes place on Thursday April 23rd. For more information, visit
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61343386138 .