TEAM PONY EXPRESS VS. TEAM BLACK WATCH
COLLECTION BY STRIDE RITE PRESENTS KIDS DAY AT THE BLUE STAR JETS FIELD
JULY 26TH, TWO TREES FARM, WATER MILL-THE HAMPTONS
VICTORIOUS!
Words, Images-Judith Ecochard
WHAT: The Bridgehampton Polo Club and Collections By Stride Rite a children’s shoe emporium at 1542 3rd Avenue in Manhattan- hosted a fun fun fun afternoon at the stunning Two Trees Farm. The match-between two powerhouse teams Black Watch and Pony Express- was thrilling…and drew thousands of spectators on this picture perfect sunny day.
The kids in attendance enjoyed activities and games expertly coordinated by New Jersey’s own Space Odyssey USA-Family Entertainment Center.
We only wish we had recruited a little human so that we could’ve played too.
WHO WAS THERE: The Sponsors’ tent was packed with a glam crowd sipping Perrier-Jouet splits, Bloody Marys spiked with Stolichnaya Vodka, and Peroni beers.
Outdoor displays featured Ralph Lauren’s Black Polo garb (no surprise)
and the third generation of POLO watches from the exclusive brand, Piaget. T-Mobile Sidekick’s enclave had a DJ spinning the latest from MIA who we just saw performing live in Berlin (yeah!)…while onlookers poured over brochures with details on the soon to be hot (in a good way) development, Capricho Luxury Resort (Mexico)-with an ETA Spring 2009 launch for a chic boutique hotel, private beach club, splurge worthy spa (with input by one of our fav fashion designers, Custo Dalmau of CUSTO BARCELONA), architecturally striking residences, and two 18 hole golf courses by Chrissie Everett’s husband, the legendary Greg Norman.
Zino PlatinumCigars provided the smokes---and naturally, there were no cigars left to take home!
Plus we had a nice chat with Jon Gruen who owns several Gruen Optika eyewear stores in East Hampton and Manhattan…including the latest one on Madison Avenue (78th/79th Streets).
He’s been in the biz since 1971 and most recently teamed up with luxury watch brand Tag Heuer to launch the company’s Made in France, brand new luxurious sunglass collection. Interestingly, the elbow hinges of the eyewear pieces replicate that of the human elbow a guarantee for a perfect fit…while the lenses themselves, including ones for night driving, are specific to different endeavors. As golfers- we eagerly tried on a pair - that’s ideal for hackers and Tiger Wood level players alike…and saw every blade of grass surrealistically clear...providing one less excuse for our handicap score.
SMARTEST ATTENDEE: A highlight for us was meeting and enjoying a wide-ranging talk on a host of topics- with R. Donahue (Don) Peebles, Chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation –who attended the festivities with his adorable daughter Chloe… and stunning wife Katrina.
Now a successful multi-billionaire real estate developer, Peebles grew up in Washington DC, served as a page on the Hill (impressive, we lived inside the Beltway so we know how extraordinary you have to be to get THAT gig), and with a heavy dose of entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a ‘make lemonade out of lemons’ drivin' optimism, took chances, worked tirelessly, and made his real estate dreams come to reality.
From the ground up. INSPIRING.
Peebles started with office buildings in DC…and expanded his empire to include other luxury ventures in Miami Beach (the Royal Palm Hotel, The Lincoln, and The Residences at the Bath Club). Some other projects underway/finished are upscale properties in Las Vegas, near San Francisco…and wisely “avoiding the herd mentality” – meaning the stampede to EXIT New York, might possibly include some business deals in the Big Apple.
Although this might read like a bit of a gushing cliché…it’s when we interact with people like Peebles…it reminds us not only that America is the land of opportunity…not always easy, but possible...but also that-IMHO...what being a USA citizen truly means.
We’re glad Peebles is providing financial counsel to Obama’s Presidential campaign.
FYI: Peebles wrote (with J.P. Farber) The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch (Wiley, 2007).
The MVP and his compadres in action... and with BFF horse.
Who Really Owns The Winner's Trophy!