By: Rebecca Peeler On a rainy Wednesday morning, 40 preschoolers, all smiles and glee, burst through the doors of an office in the Financial District. They had… Read more “Holiday Songs and Knock-Knock Jokes Prepared Kids to Meet Santa”
Category: Manhattan
Man Sues N.Y. For Compensation After 15 Years in Prison
Four years ago, in an upstate New York prison yard, Michael Vasquez ran into a man who had eluded him for more than a decade. It… Read more “Man Sues N.Y. For Compensation After 15 Years in Prison”
N.Y. Lawmakers Fret Over Cost of Body Cameras for Cops
State lawmakers Tuesday considered whether to weigh in on the rules governing body cameras worn by police officers in a panel discussion that focused… Read more “N.Y. Lawmakers Fret Over Cost of Body Cameras for Cops”
At Art Basel in Miami, Rosalyn Drexler Looks Back on Life as an Artist
Rosalyn Drexler’s best training for the difficult life of a woman artist might have been her brief career as a professional wrestler. In the early… Read more “At Art Basel in Miami, Rosalyn Drexler Looks Back on Life as an Artist”
Houthi Rebels Killed 194 Children in Taiz, Report Says
In the last nine months, Houthi rebels have killed 194 children in the Yemeni city of Taiz, according to a human rights report issued by the Council… Read more “Houthi Rebels Killed 194 Children in Taiz, Report Says”
Before The Force Awakens, a Hot Star Wars Auction at Sotheby’s
On a second floor showroom at Sotheby’s in Manhattan, in a galaxy far, far away from the main displays of contemporary art, 175 pieces of Star Wars… Read more “Before The Force Awakens, a Hot Star Wars Auction at Sotheby’s”
On World AIDS Day, Gay Pool League Cues Fundraising, Focus for a Brooklynite
Theo Todd, 22, lined up a shot at a New York Gay Pool League match Tuesday. “It’s just me and the ball,” said Todd. “It’s like my… Read more “On World AIDS Day, Gay Pool League Cues Fundraising, Focus for a Brooklynite”
Rally Participants Take The Reins At Black Lives Matter Event
Protesters pose during a photo shoot and use the hashtag #BlackOutHandsUp at Zuccotti Park on Nov. 27. After waiting for over an hour for a Black… Read more “Rally Participants Take The Reins At Black Lives Matter Event”
The Effect of Natalie Wood at Bonham’s Celebrity Auction
In the 1960s, Susan Porper was a starstruck 15-year-old growing up in New York’s Westchester County. The object of her adoration was Natalie Wood, who won over audiences with roles in such classic movies as “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Splendor in the Grass” and “West Side Story.”
On Monday, she was reunited with those teenage dreams. This time, the setting was a sale of Hollywood memorabilia and art at Bonham’s auction house on the Upper East Side. Included in the sale were pieces from the young Walt Disney, a “golden ticket” from “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” and a dress Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.”
But for Susan Porper, now Susan Goldfarb, the real draw was a piece once owned by Natalie Wood. It was Item 57, a delicate bracelet made of rubies and 18-karat gold.
“Ever since I’ve known her, Natalie Wood has been her favorite actress,” said Susan Goldfarb’s husband of 50 years, Jonathan. “We came yesterday to the showroom and she tried it on. My wife told me it was made for her.”
The actress drowned in 1982 off Santa Catalina Island in California at the age of 43.
“When Natalie Wood died, I just cried my eyes out,” Susan Goldfarb said.
The bidding started at 1 p.m. in a room packed with potential buyers.
As the auctioneer went through the sale list, the Goldfarbs listened intently. Buyers were not only bidding in person but also on the phone, online, and with bids submitted in advance, a common practice at high-end auctions.
By the time the bracelet came up for sale, the highest price had been $4,000 for Natalie Wood’s Golden Globe for “Rebel Without a Cause.” That meant that there might be other Natalie Wood fans waiting to scoop up the bracelet.
As the auction hammer fell for Item 56, signaling a sale, Susan Goldfarb leaned on her walker and stood up. She was not discouraged by the high price paid for the Golden Globe.
“I just won a lot of money gambling, so I’m okay,” she said. “It was $145,000. I’m a very good gambler.”
She was determined to nab her prize. “It fit me like a glove yesterday,” she said. “It went on me and clicked.”
The bidding for the bracelet started at $1,100. The contest was between Susan Goldfarb and an online buyer.
The numbers got higher and higher: $2,500, $5,000.
Everyone in the room watched as she held her auction paddle high, a sign that she was still in the contest. It didn’t matter that her knee hurt; she was in it to win.
The numbers got even higher.
“Susan, it’s at $9,500,” Jonathan Goldfarb shouted.
“I don’t care,” his wife replied. “You just bought me a Tiffany’s necklace for $10,000 and I don’t even wear it!”
Goldfarb shrugged.
After eight minutes of bidding, the price was $15,000 and Susan Goldfarb was still standing.
The bidding continued: $19,500, then $20,000.
The online buyer folded, but Susan Goldfarb was still standing with her paddle held high. People in the room started clapping. They hadn’t clapped for any other sale.
Susan Goldfarb said the money was irrelevant. “Twenty thousand dollars won’t change nothing,” she said. “We just bought a second house. Didn’t it fit me like a glove?”
As she left to pay for her piece, her husband smiled at her. They met on a blind date and decided their romance must have been fate because they were both delivered by the same doctor. And now, he just wanted her to be happy.
The final tally was $27,200, which included taxes and a $200 commission fee. But for Susan Goldfarb, it was a small price to pay for a piece of a dream.
Food Bank Still Struggling To Fight Hunger After Budget Cuts
Although the number of New Yorkers unable to afford adequate food dropped slightly in the last year, hunger is still a huge problem for people all over… Read more “Food Bank Still Struggling To Fight Hunger After Budget Cuts”
