WWD

EYE
New York–Thousands of tourist held up foot traffic on Fifth Avenue Tuesday night for the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center, but James Gregory’s friends broke through the police blockades to fete the fledgling author and her new book, “New York Apartments,” at the Cartier Mansion on 52nd Street. “It’s a great night to pick,” said Lynn Wyatt, laughing. She was one of many happy guests harping on the holiday mess and making jokes that, for Gregory, the NYPD really pulled out all the stops. Gregory stood at the front of the store greeting an endless stream of friends, from Coco Kopelman to Joanne de Guardiola, in the at-capacity crowd.

Though the book features apartments from the likes of Carol Petrie and Georgette Mosbacher, Stanislas de Quercize , the chief executive officer of Cartier, didn’t feel slighted that his wasn’t included. “My apartment is not that big,” he said.

The following night, Nina Griscom’s fete for her new uptown store brought out social luminaries such as Nan Kempner, Mica and Ahmet Ertegun, Anne Bass and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn.

Griscom loyalists perused the elegant space–designed by pal James Kieran Pine–which features everything from jewelry by Faraone Mennella and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia to furniture and decorative pieces for the home.

“It’s very stylish, just like Nina,” said Bass. Griscom greeted each of her guests with her 12-yearold daughter, Lily, by her side. “We put this whole store together in six weeks,” said the weary hostess. Sloan Barnett stopped in, looking over the wares for something to buy.  “Anything to be as chic as Nina.”

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