Meanwhile in New York

Meanwhile in New York: a season kick-off measured in spotlights, selfies, and serves. The Met Opera opened in high style, Martha Stewart debuted her skincare line with a glossy crowd, and Play for the Park rallied support on the courts. Here’s the circuit, edited.

Elm Biosciences Launch Event hosted by Co-Founders, Martha Stewart and Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali

Martha Stewart and dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali hosted the New York launch of Elm Biosciences—their new clinical skincare brand—on Wednesday, September 17. The evening marked the debut of Elm’s two initial releases, the A30/A3O Elemental Serum and the Inner Dose Daily Skin Supplement, positioned as a dual “outside + inside” approach to skin longevity developed over five years with input from hundreds of dermatologists. Guests included fashion and beauty boldfaced names such as Erin Wasson, Ivy Getty and Zanna Roberts Rassi, who joined friends of the brand to toast the launch.

John Demsey, Martha Stewart

Susan Magrino, Martha Stewart

Jennifer Fischer, Martha Stewart, Cathy Sloan

Dhaval Bhanusali, Nicky Hilton

The Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Premiere of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Christine Schwarzman, Christine Baranski, Julianna Margulies, and a constellation of New Yorkers turned out for Opening Night at the Metropolitan Opera—this year a world-premiere production of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, adapted from Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer winner. The Met opened its 2025–26 season on September 21 with music by Mason Bates, a libretto by Gene Scheer, direction by Bartlett Sher, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium. Onstage, Andrzej Filończyk (making his Met debut) and Miles Mykkanen led the cast; the production runs through October 11.

Christine Schwarzman, Ann Ziff

Daniel Benedict, Julianna Margulies, Keith Lieberthal

Christine Baranski

Central Park Conservancy’s 2025 Play for the Park Tennis Tournament

The Women’s Committee and Playground Partners hosted their annual Play for the Park round-robin at the Central Park Tennis Center, raising funds for the daily care of the Park’s 21 playgrounds. This year’s tournament took place on the rain date, Friday, September 19, 2025, with players rallying on the Har-Tru courts while supporters cheered from the sidelines.

Amanda Fuhrman, Erin Nance, Hilary Peek, Katie Peek Tochilin

Kara Gerson, Melanie McLennan, Lizzy Quick

Christina Sethi, Melanie McLennan, Sada Grieve, Susan Calhoun, Virginia Tomenson, Shannon Robinson, Lizzy Quick, Kara Gerson