Programs
AMBASSADOR OF THE UPPER EAST SIDE
Join FRIENDS of the Upper East Side as we honor Christian Keesee and Larry Keigwin with the 2025 Ambassador of the Upper East Side Award. FRIENDS recognizes Mr. Keesee, a philanthropist, banker, and art collector, and Mr. Keigwin, a choreographer and artistic director, for their many contributions to the arts, culture, and preservation in New York City, and Mr. Keesee's 14 years of service on our Board of Directors.
Ambassador Library
2024 Ambassador of the Upper East Side All images by Ben Rosser/BFA.com
Thom Browne, American fashion designer and the founder/creative director of Thom Browne, and Andrew Bolton, Wendy Yu curator in charge at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, are New York institutions. FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts honored these extraordinary New Yorkers with the Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at the Metropolitan Club. Both individually and together their contributions to the very fabric and culture of the city run deep. They have lovingly restored a Georgian townhouse designed by Mott Schmidt and built in the early 1920s for Anne Vanderbilt. It was later inhabited by other notable residents including philanthropist Drue Heinz. Thom and Andrew have brought their home to life with great respect, tremendous design sense, and deep consideration of its provenance, creating an exceptional tribute to the history and aesthetic of this important home. Together they are truly a tour de force of creativity, style, and inspiration.
