NEW BOOK ALERT | "FRIENDS* *Bearing Gifts"

On Wednesday night, May 16th, fashion designer Josie Natori hosted a cocktail party to celebrate Joseph Cicio's first book "FRIENDS* *Bearing Gifts" at the Club Room in The Lowell Hotel.

The book emphasizes the importance of relationships, and is a reflection on a life filled with warmth, beauty, and ultimately exceptional memories. Lauren Bacall, Prince Charles, Audrey Hepburn, and Joan Rivers are just a few of the cherished relationships chronicled in this new memoir published by Pointed Leaf Press. Unique essays on each friend are told through the beautiful objects they gifted the author and feature stunning photography of his Connecticut home.

Throughout the room were huge flower arrangements, the signature of restaurateur Charles Masson, included masses of peonies, a favorite of Nancy Kissinger, who wrote the book’s elegant forward, and a central collage motif on the book's cover designed by Ernesto Artillo. Spring buds were definitely on the minds of Cicio and Kissinger as they cozied up to discuss the lilacs now blooming at both their Connecticut gardens. Following cocktails the festive mood continued with an intimate dinner at Majorelle with Dawn Mello and the book's publisher Suzy Slesin.

Fashion notables Jeffrey Banks, Rose Marie Bravo, Cece Cord, Cathy Hardwick, Art & Fran Reiner, Carolyne Roehm, Benny Tabatabai and Adrienne Vittadini were on hand to congratulate Cicio. Media personalities Jeanette Chang, Andrew Churchill, Pamela Fiori, Sharon Hoge, Shirley Lord, Christopher Mason and William O’Shaughnessy all showed their support. Gentlemen of style including Geoffrey Bradfield, Richard Keith Langham, Alex Papachristidis and Ralph Pucci also came to cheer on Cicio. Other guests included Jerry & Joan Adler, Yana Avis, Edgar Batista, Maria Elena Christiansen, Carmen D'Alessio, Susan Gutfreund, Roz Jacobs, Veronica Kelly, The Amazing Kreskin, Jeanne Lawrence, Iris Love, and Dr. Luca Parolari.

"FRIENDS* *Bearing Gifts" by Joseph Cicio. $75 hardbound memoir and home decorating. 192 pages with 124 illustrations. 9.5" × 12.25". ISBN: 978-1-938461-96-5. Now available at www.pointedleafpress.com/friends.