Fresh Coat of Party For the City's Historic Houses
Paint swatch samples were napkin rings at the Historic House Trust of New York City's 20th anniversary gala honoring the paint company Benjamin Moore.
The company "has literally painted the town," Mayor Bloomberg said, "and not only the Little Red Lighthouse."
The lighthouse is one of 22 structures that receive support from the trust, which Thursday raised $460,000 at its best-attended party, and announced it has raised $200,000 as part of a $1 million endowment campaign.
Mr. Bloomberg said back in June 1966, he painted his apartment at 333 E. 66th St. "all by myself."
These days, he brushes up his remarks with humor.
He told a joke about two beavers at a dam. "One asks the other, 'Did you build that?' 'No, but it's based on my design,'" Mr. Bloomberg said.
He introduced the chief executive of Benjamin Moore, Denis Abrams: "Denis is going to talk for an hour and a half, generally about the economics of the paint business, which I'm sure you'll be fascinated by," Mr. Bloomberg said.
Mr. Abrams spoke for two minutes, noting Benjamin Moore's founding in Brooklyn 125 years ago and its shared birthday with the Brooklyn Bridge. "Our history is a guide from which we learn and draw inspiration," Mr. Abrams said.
