Did anyone go to the full day Manhattan House Tour that was given by the NYC Junior League on October 23rd? What a great deal for $80.00!

My friends and I first registered at the NYC Junior League Headquarters which is located in Manhattan at the Astor House on 80th Street between Lexington and Park Avenue. Previously owned by Vincent Astor, a member of old NY royalty, this beautiful five story Georgian townhouse was something to see in and of itself.

While eating some of the fruit and pastries offered at the continental breakfast there, we looked over the event’s silent auction items and planned our strategy of how to get to all of the homes listed on our map. In the past, this has been tough to do because the places are usually so spread out. But I had a secret weapon this time -two intrepid New Yorkers who really knew their way around the city! It wasn’t easy, but by foot, subway, cab, and bus we made it to all of them and still had time for a buffet lunch and a cocktail reception (as you know by now-my kind of trip).

All of these homes were beautiful, but the most memorable were in a series of three opulent and heavily guarded penthouse homes on the 58th  floor of the new luxury condominium, The Setai Fifth Avenue Residences, on 35th street and 5th Avenue. House Beautiful, Veranda and Town & Country magazines invited three distinguished interior designers to each decorate a separate residence.

The theme was Hollywood and the views were magnificent. I looked out one window and was surprised to face the Empire State Building.

Another destination was the lovely 19th century home that had been owned by Armand Hammer and is now owned and  decorated by the well known designers Ann Fairfax and Richard Sammons.

Still another was the home of the owner of the popular Brooklyn Bowl. It was obvious from the following photo that this family was a big fan of music, especially, of the Grateful Dead.

A  buffet lunch was served at the Architects & Designers Building on 150 East 58th Street. This was a special treat because you normally wouldn’t be able to enter this building unless you were  a certified designer.

The day ended with a cocktail reception at the beautiful Ralph Lauren Home Showroom  on West 26th Street. The party included mini lobsters rolls and finished with a Ralph Lauren goody bag.

These house tours run twice a year, and I’ll try to let you know when the next one takes place.