Splendor in the Grass

(NEW YORK) Why settle for a picnic in Central Park when you can board a helicopter for Scarborough-on-Hudson? Champagne house, Ruinart invited a few lucky lunch-goers to a private Vanderbilt estate for a little afternoon delight. Valesca Guerrand-Hermès and her daughter Clea, Genevieve Jones, Antony Todd, Campion and Tatiana Platt, Social Life's Devorah Rose, NY1's Poppy Harlow and Genre's William Kapfer all took the quick jaunt up the Hudson to taste the Champagne house's famous Blanc de Blancs vintage. But it was Jones who had the longest trek of all! Following an 18 hour flight from Thailand where she was working on her latest jewelry line, the chicette boarded the final chopper (singing along the way) clad in a few pieces from her collection including a stunning seashell gold ring.

Upon landing at the Vanderbilt estate, guests were welcomed by several golf-carts topped with waving yellow banners to lead them on an impromptu treasure hunt for Ruinart's Picnic Cases (each filled with a bottle of bubbly and four champagne glasses, bien sur). The detailed instructions told them to "follow the yellow" and cautioned to "avoid helicopter rotors, errant golf balls, six-legged creatures, and suspicious characters." Each group found cases hidden amongst the entrance's foliage-Clea proved to be the greatest seeker finding two on her own-and transported them to the sprawling lawn for a light luncheon accompanied by a live cello, flower and grape vine strewn table, and best of all, open doors to the private estate.

Susan Shin swathed in her "new favorite designer's" spring chic yellow Gustavo Arango kimono dress wrangled everyone to the table for a welcome toast as the main course of lobster and truffled deviled eggs arrived. Ruinart's Stephanie Chassing added commentary on the pure chardonnay grapes and the strong citrus notes, which paired perfectly with the golden lemon tarts. But, again it was the tiny Clea-who must be picking up hostess tips from her mother-that helped guide the day's activities, inspiring all to play musical chairs, turn the yellow ribbon napkin holders into wrist bands, and ultimately challenged Todd to a game of croquet.

As all left to board their choppers back to Manhattan, Chassing quipped, "Picnics aren't just for the day...let's have a Ruinart picnic under the stars." The answer: a resounding yes!
TANGIE SILVA