Out & About is a column that covers the occasions the place notable, highly effective and influential figures collect — and their outfits. This week: We attended a screening of “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” and the New York Philharmonic’s spring gala.
A Rocker Greets His Followers
Jon Bon Jovi stood blinking, rubbing his eyes, briefly blinded on Thursday evening by the lights from a row of photographers.
Recovering, the musician mentioned, “OK, I’m right here now,” after which “Hello, love,” his eyes large as he flashed a really white smile.
He was standing simply inside a movie show on the South Avenue Seaport for a particular screening of a brand new documentary sequence, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.” He approached the occasion, hosted by the Cinema Society and Hulu, with the identical charming grit that helped make him well-known.
The present, now on Hulu, traces the musician’s path from his teenage years enjoying covers in Asbury Park, N.J., to mega-stardom together with his band Bon Jovi, packing arenas with rock anthems. It additionally touches on his current vocal twine hassle that led to surgical procedure.
“I’m great,” mentioned Bon Jovi, 62, wearing a leather-based jacket and denims, with a full, feathery head of grey hair. “What you see within the movie was a yr and two years in the past. It’s a piece in progress. However it’s actually far down the highway of restoration at this level.”
Bon Jovi will launch its sixteenth studio album, “Without end,” on June 7. The band presently has no plans to tour, however its frontman is hopeful. “When it’s proper, that’s after we’ll tour,” he mentioned.
A crowd that included the mannequin Maye Musk and the tv presenter Dan Abrams filed into the comfortable seats of the iPIC Fulton Market theater to look at the primary episode of the four-part sequence, which is directed and government produced by Gotham Chopra. After the screening, Bon Jovi answered questions and tried to place the well being issues proven within the sequence in context.
“If, God forbid, I can’t carry out at Giants Stadium, woe is me,” he mentioned. “So what if I can’t sing once more?”
The viewers then meandered to the Fulton by Jean-Georges, a high-end seafood spot overlooking the East River, the place a crowd surrounded the musician close to a uncooked bar. The rocker grinned and chatted with followers just like the actress Jennifer Esposito.
Ms. Esposito mentioned that when she was in highschool, she requested her hairdresser for Bon Jovi’s look. “I used to usher in an image of him and say, ‘Make it appear to be that,’” she recalled.
The 2 later acted alongside one another. “He’s a cool dude from Jersey,” she mentioned. “He wasn’t an enormous shot. He simply wished to point out up and do a great job.”
Simply earlier than 10 p.m., after posing for a row of selfies, the musician slid out the door. Servers continued to circle with sliders and summer season rolls, and as “Livin’ on a Prayer” performed by the restaurant, a younger bartender smiled and sang the lyrics to herself.
A Preview of Dudamel on the New York Philharmonic
“What are we enthusiastic about tonight?” mentioned Agnes Hsu-Tang, the archaeologist, artwork historian and spouse of the New York Philharmonic co-chairman Oscar L. Tang.
“Dudamel!” she and her husband mentioned in unison.
They had been at a cocktail reception earlier than the New York Philharmonic’s annual spring gala at David Geffen Corridor on Wednesday evening. In a particular East Coast look, Gustavo Dudamel, the charismatic conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led the New York Philharmonic by a 90-minute program and preview of what’s to return when he formally takes over because the orchestra’s music and inventive director in 2026.
The evening was attended by music-world fixtures akin to Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein, the kids of the conductor Leonard Bernstein; J’Nai Bridges, the mezzo-soprano; and Anthony Roth Costanzo, the countertenor.
“The entire concept is to drag classical music out of its rut and present the world how versatile and versatile it may be,” Jamie Bernstein mentioned.
The night gave many in attendance their first have a look at Mr. Dudamel, 43, the uncommon maestro whose fame transcends classical music. That’s to not say it’s going to all be easy crusing for Mr. Dudamel. He’ll face the problem of reaching youthful and extra various audiences, in addition to an investigation into how the orchestra dealt with a sexual assault accusation in 2010.
However on Wednesday evening, together with his baton bobbing and his curls bouncing, he led the orchestra by “The Mom Is Standing,” by the composer Nina Shekhar. The piece was adopted by Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 (a characteristic for the soprano Hera Hyesang Park), Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 8 and Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier Suite.
The gala additionally featured performances by Widespread, the rapper and actor; Bernie Williams, the classical guitarist and former New York Yankees middle fielder; and scholar musicians from throughout New York Metropolis. The evening drew about 2,200 folks and raised greater than $2.4 million for the orchestra.
Later, throughout a dinner of jumbo asparagus and Amish hen, a beaming Ms. Park graciously entertained a stream of well-wishers.
“I awakened at 6 a.m. earlier than my first rehearsal with Dudamel as a result of I couldn’t sleep as a result of I used to be so excited,” she mentioned, as folks stopped by her desk to congratulate her. “And,” she added, “tonight was even higher than I imagined.”
