Cocktail Reception and Concert with Billy Stritch and Seth Sikes

Posted by New York Social Diary 

December 6, 2023. Waiting for Winter. Cloudy yesterday and in the 40s; cloudy today, and cold. I see more and more knitted caps on everyone, just in the past couple of days. Most of the beautiful leaves have fallen; the trees are bare, although the holiday lights and decorations are bright and full of charm for our (better) imaginations. This is the week that the holiday parties begin. 

Marc Rosen hosted one — a cocktail reception and concert at his Fifth Avenue apartment on behalf of the Lighthouse Guild, to thank its major supporters for their unwavering support and generosity. Their reward, as arranged by the host for his friends. Cabaret stars Billy Stritch and Seth Sikes performed songs from the American songbook. 

Marc introduced Lighthouse Guild President and CEO Dr. Calvin Roberts who thanked everyone for their continued support and told them about the state-of-the-art tech solutions being offered to the many individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and the future of vision health. 

Before their “concert” began, by way of introduction, Marc shared with everyone that the Steinway that would accompany Stritch and Sikes was a gift to Marc and his late wife Arlene Dahl by Van Cliburn.  He added that Van would have loved to hear Billy play on it. 

It turned out, of course, that everyone attended loved hearing Billy Stritch play and Seth Sikes, who doesn’t look like he’s old enough to give the brilliant performance from the American Songbook that he gave. I’d read in passing about his exceptional performance at Feinstein’s/54 Below, but had never seen him at the time. If you’ve never seen him perform, as I hadn’t before this past Tuesday night, you can see his Star talent on this video, accompanied by Mr. Stritch: 

Some of the lucky guests of our generous host included: Andrea and Dr. Calvin Roberts, Denise and Bernard Schwartz, Susan Gutfreund, Jennifer Fischer, Saundra Whitney, Juliana Terian and Jack Donohue, Linda Filardi and Gary Talarico, Maria Cristina Anzola, Mai Hallingby, Helen Little, Elizabeth Kabler, Dudley Stevens, Brian Dever, Kathy Bleznak, Shelley Zacharia Brier and Norman Brier, Tom Quick and Ann Thivierge.