Living in the city for most of my life has accustomed me to small rooms, crowded clubs, and restaurants in which you can reach over and try some of the foie gras from a neighboring table. Carlyle on the Green is the exact opposite of all that. With its sky-high ceilings, 1500-acre park, and 1930s grace it was the perfect venue for the Extreme Home Makeover wrap up party and the 10-year anniversary of Carlyle on the Green.
CEO Steven Carl, in a ridiculously festive shirt that worked surprisingly well for him, told us that Carlyle on the Green is only one of his many properties; he also owns Taste 99, Carlyle at the Palace, Deco 1600, and Carlyle off the Green, not to mention Trump on the Ocean, a planned ocean view banquet facility at New York's Jones Beach. Must be good to be him, but even better to be his son, David Carl, whose modest (yet savvy) demeanor belies his privileged upbringing. I watched David as he walked down the terrace, picked up a cup that someone had carelessly chucked halfway across the room, and threw it in the garbage without saying a word to the perpetrator. His action is symbolic of the non-elitist attitude the establishment fosters – if you're there, you're family.
On June 30, 2010 Carlyle on the Green celebrated not only its own 10-year anniversary, but also Extreme Home Makeover's and Alure Home Improvements' completion of the Lutz family's new home. Kathleen Lutz moved back home after her parents died to take care of 6 brothers and sisters, all of whom have Down syndrome. In a world where status, fashion, and money are everything, it was a breath of fresh air to see a family with none of the above get treated like A-list celebrities – steak, mahi mahi, lobster, all on the house.
Sal Ferro, President of Alure Home Improvements, explained that the Lutz home was his 8th project with Extreme Home Makeover and he doesn’t plan on slowing down, despite the fact that the projects are pro bono and volunteer based. Special guest Peri Zausner, a breast cancer survivor and the founder of Hug E Gram told us that her commitment to helping cancer patients does not stop at spreading hugs across America – she also plans to organize a walk for cancer. Dina Lohan was also there, but neither as a volunteer for the building project nor as a charity leader. If you want to read about her recent incident with the police over a Carvel Black Card just google it.
Volunteers of the home rebuilding project told us that the experience had been one of the most gratifying ones they'd ever had. Spreading their story was our way of getting in on the mitzvah.
On June 30, 2010 Carlyle on the Green celebrated not only its own 10-year anniversary, but also Extreme Home Makeover's and Alure Home Improvements' completion of the Lutz family's new home. Kathleen Lutz moved back home after her parents died to take care of 6 brothers and sisters, all of whom have Down syndrome. In a world where status, fashion, and money are everything, it was a breath of fresh air to see a family with none of the above get treated like A-list celebrities – steak, mahi mahi, lobster, all on the house.
Sal Ferro, President of Alure Home Improvements, explained that the Lutz home was his 8th project with Extreme Home Makeover and he doesn’t plan on slowing down, despite the fact that the projects are pro bono and volunteer based. Special guest Peri Zausner, a breast cancer survivor and the founder of Hug E Gram told us that her commitment to helping cancer patients does not stop at spreading hugs across America – she also plans to organize a walk for cancer. Dina Lohan was also there, but neither as a volunteer for the building project nor as a charity leader. If you want to read about her recent incident with the police over a Carvel Black Card just google it.
Volunteers of the home rebuilding project told us that the experience had been one of the most gratifying ones they'd ever had. Spreading their story was our way of getting in on the mitzvah.
NG
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