On Monday, April 15, the Central Park Conservancy welcomed a prominent guest list of socials and corporate leaders to the Taste of Summer Kick-off Party at Bill's Food & Drink on 54th and Madison. Sponsored by Macquarie this year, the annual fundraising celebration in Central Park will take place on June 19. Taste of Summer is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 guests to marvel at the fusion of the Park's beauty and New York's exquisite cuisine. Crown Group Hospitality, which hosted the Kick-off Party, last night, will feature tastings from Crown, The Lion, and recently launched Bill's Food & Drink in the Taste Cafe. Last night's hosts included Crown Group Hospitality's Partners John Delucie and Mark Amadei and Central Park Conservancy Trustees and Event Chairmen Jay Mandelbaum, Gillian Miniter, John Paulson and Norman Selby. Other guests at the pre-summer gathering included Lisa Anastos, Debbie Bancroft, Bob and Suzanne Cochran, Eric and Fiona Rudin, and many others. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: centralparknyc.org/taste

Scott Velezo, Stephen Mooney, Jack Bochonok, Steven Stolman, Rich Wilkie, and Christopher Ribera

Geoffrey Bradfield, Emily Carey, and Roric Tobin

Paul Lerner and Dori Cooperman

Patsy Tarr

Debbie Bancroft, Amy Hoadley, Gillian Miniter, and Elenora Kennedy

Fiona Rudin, Suzanne Cochran, Suzie, and Ainar Aijala

Ross Meltzer and Di Mondo

Fiona and Eric Rudin

Alec Call, Sharon Bush, and Bryan Johns

Alexis Clarke, Andy Oshrin, and Michelle Smith

Michael Kennedy and Elizabeth Atwood

Dana Blanton and Christine Alyward

Peter Davis, Logan Samuelson, Lisa Anastos, and Dori Cooperman

Terri Coppersmith, John DeLucie, and Gillian Miniter

Dan Brickley and Ruthie Davis

Selmin Arat and Alix Strauss

Bob and Suzanne Cochran, and Eric Rudin

Steven Stolman and Connie Anne Phillips

Leah Bourne and Margaret Livits

Oscar Plotkin and Sharon Bush

R. Couri Hay and Friend

Steven Stolman and Rich Wilkie

Lisa Anastos

Dori Cooperman, Mark Amadei, and Gillian Miniter

Bob and Suzanne Cochran, Lise Evans, and Sandra Ripert