By Jonathan Soroff

Support You Can Count On

If I had a Children’s Action Corp, I’d make them dress up in cute uniforms and sing to me, like the von Trapps, and maybe even massage my feet. But apparently Robert F. Kennedy had other ideas in mind.

At Embracing the Legacy, the annual fundraiser held at the John F. Kennedy Library, the organization chose to honor such passionate advocates for youth services as mega-philanthropists Steve and Joan Belkin, the right Hon. James T. Brett (of the do-gooding Bretts) and Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp.

On hand to fete them (and schmooze amongst themselves) were red-headed scion Joe Kennedy III and the breathtakingly lovely Lauren Birchfield, brunette babe Amy Belkin (looking stunning in a dress that BFF fashionista Harley Bilzerian found for her), Red Sox owner John Henry and his stunning bride Linda Pizzutti, gazillionaire Democratic operative Chris Gabrieli, the comme il faut Nancy Belsky and her other half, Mark, Wellesley’s most social couple, Lynne and Gary Smith, and others of comparable wattage.

The VIP reception was followed by cocktails, which ended with waiters and waitresses performing the thankless task of trying to herd everyone into dinner so the bestowing of awards could begin.

Overheard by the bar:

One man greeted a female friend by saying, “You look fabulous,” to which she responded: “Thanks. You know, at my age, it’s all about the bra.”   

Auto Eroticism

Light-years away from your typically stuffy fund-raiser, the Lupus Foundation of New England hosted a happening cocktail party at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, and even more refreshing, it wasn’t all the usual suspects.

Against the backdrop of all those classic cars, there was classic jazz (courtesy of Al Copley, who flew in from Europe just to be there), classic food (courtesy of Fireplace owner Jim Solomon, who schlepped all the way from the other side of Brookline to be there) and classic cocktails (courtesy of a bartender who deserved a medal).

Board chair Pat Fraser was there, looking lovely, with her husband (and self-described “appendage”) Edgar Milford, as were aptly named fashion plate Jewel Ford, vivacious editor Sheila Horowitz, maraschino cherry fan Joanna Haas, Rulala babes Maura Howley and Rachel Solomon (Jim’s wife), the beyond gorgeous Jenna Jarosz, whose mother, Beverly, is the foundation’s development director, and one woman who said, “I had an international marriage. I’m not really sure whether or not I’m divorced.”

Responding to a disparaging remark about Nantucket, another woman said, “I was married on Nantucket,” prompting someone else to ask, “And how long did that last?”

Other topics of conversation ranged from the Kardashians to butt waxing, which made for an edifying evening, especially when one man pointed at a car from the 1960s and said, “Is that a chick magnet, or what?” To which another responded, “I had a similar one in college, which must mean I’m old, ’cause I’m sure as hell not rich.” 

You Are Hereby Banished From Red Sox Nation

It was hard to know what to pay attention to—the models or the clothing—when Fashionably Late at the Liberty Hotel hosted its final affair of the season to benefit Room to Grow.

Among the bold-faced names strutting their stuff on the catwalk were lovable restaurateur Dante de Magistris, incurable ham Christopher Myers, fashion luminaries Alexandra Hall and Lisa Pierpont, natural born Zoolander Mike Diskin, Colombia’s answer to Ricky Martin, Ricardo Rodriguez (who brought along his own cheering section), tall, dark and handsome Paul Epstein (whose wife, Saskia, runs the organization) and others who were just too sexy for their shirts.

Aside from the fact that it was somewhat sweltering on the fifth floor and the unpleasantness of snippy girls with clipboards bossing everyone around (apparently, they’re an indispensable part of any fashion show), it was a thoroughly entertaining evening.

My personal highlight: When the woman next to me asked who Paul Epstein was, I explained, “Saskia’s husband and Theo’s brother,” to which she replied, “Oh. Who’s Theo?” 

Photo captions, top to bottom: Joe Kennedy III and Amy Belkin at Embracing the Legacy; Jewel Ford and Sheila Horowitz at the Lupus Foundation party; Paul Epstein at Fashionably Late