Jean Shafiroff Holds Bastille Day Luncheon at Michael’s

The alchemy of two New York institutions, philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and Michael’s restaurant, proved an indomitable combination as 52 guests gathered at 12:45 PM on Monday, July 11th, to celebrate the upcoming Bastille Day (July 14th).

Michael’s, which opened in 1989, contains a spacious dining and garden room, modern art by Stella, Johns, and Hockney, and sculptures by Robert Graham. Originally a Santa Monica restaurant, this New York outpost is renowned for its A-list media personalities who frequent the venue for lunch.

Speaking of iconic edifices, guests including gossip maven Richard Johnson, Designer to the stars Nicole Miller, and the royal Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia excitedly joined Jean’s table amidst their busy summer traveling schedule.

A host of society ladies resplend in blue, including Janna Bullock, Jane Scher, Rita Cosby, Ana Stone, Barbara Tober, and Katlean de Monchy. White was similarly ubiquitous as publicist Couri Hay, socialite Lucia Hwong Gordon and the indomitable Ruth Miller bandied about in the popular summer color.

Margo Langenberg, Sylvia Hemingway, Penny Grant, Cece Black, and Christine Schott joined the revelry. No afternoon in New York is complete without pr gurus Norah Lawlor, Jonathan Marder, Anna Rothschild, and Matt Rich fraternizing with their clients. Representative Carolyn Maloney stopped by as the staff from lookonline Marilyn Kirschner, Ernest Schmatolla, Laurel Marcus, and Lieba Nesis “looked on.”

The luncheon, Shafiroff said, was to pay homage to the long-standing ties between France and the US and allow guests to socialize after two years of pandemic isolation. Jean has been a board member of the French Heritage Society for 12 years and will be honored at their November 17th celebration at the University Club for her myriad contributions.

Shafiroff wore two different Oscar de la Renta dress-Courreges jacket ensembles, one in blue-green and the other pink-orange: a la Jennifer Lopez. Jean continues her frenzied pace in the Hamptons, where she will receive The Humane Hero award this Wednesday at the Wolffer Estate and host the Animal Shelter Gala this Saturday, July 16th.

Today she gave a short dainty speech welcoming her guests to a fun-filled afternoon. Bastille Day celebrates the birth of the French Republic and marks the storming of the Bastille in 1789 after years of increasing taxes and high food prices imposed by the corrupt Monarch Louis the 16th. When Louis asked a French duke if it was a revolt, he replied, “No, sire. It is a revolution.” Jean noted the importance of this historic day, as a small mark on history was made on the West Side of Manhattan.

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