Angel On A Leash Foundation Benefit

BIG CITY LITTLE DOG’ FASHION SHOW ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET FOR CELEBRITIES, PUPS FOR CHARITY EVENT

More Than 300 Dog-Loving Attendees Help Raise Money For Angel On A Leash Foundation

NEW YORK, NY (Feb. 17, 2011) – This past weekend, the landmark New Yorker Hotel hosted the first-ever BIG CITY LITTLE DOG Fashion Show featuring celebrities and well-known New York personalities, along with their fashionable dogs, to raise money for Angel On A Leash, a non-profit organization that creates therapy dog programs for hospitals and institutions.

“New York City went to the dogs this week with the annual Westminster festivities and the BIG CITY LITTLE DOG Fashion Show,” said Sylvia Lima, general manager of The New Yorker Hotel. “The New Yorker Hotel was pleased to be hosting not only Westminster contestants but the fashion show as well.”

Pictured (left to right) are: Meteorologist Ron Trotta, Show Producer & New Yorkie Fashion Designer,Elly McGuire and New Yorker Hotel General Manager Sylvia Lima

The BIG CITY LITTLE DOG Fashion Show event kicked-off at 5:30 pm on Friday, Feb. 11, with a red carpet cocktail party where small dogs dressed in canine couture and their celebrity owners smiled for photographers and mingled with guests.

Following the glitz, glam and paparazzi excitement of the red carpet, Frank Basile, New York City opera singer and member of The Singing Sergeants (the official chorus of the United States Air Force), lead the crowd with the National Anthem before the four-legged models, and their two-legged owners, hit the runway at 7 pm.

When it was time to strut their stuff on the “catwalk,” the crowd was wowed as doggie models displayed NYC’s New Yorkie™ pet apparel featuring the company’s new Spring line. Emceed by David Frei, the legendary Voice of Westminster, and Elly McGuire, designer of the New Yorkie line and producer of the BIG CITY LITTLE DOG Fashion Show (both pictured left), the event was a resounding success with more than 300 guests.

“Building on the pre-Westminster excitement as well as Fashion Week here in the Big Apple, our Big City Little Dog Fashion Show was nothing short of a red carpet Hollywood premiere,” said McGuire. “In addition to a fun night of seeing different dogs in fabulous outfits with their high-profile humans, we were able to raise money for a very important organization.”

Show highlights include runway appearances by the following:

Oscar winner, 93-year-young Celeste Holm (pictured left) walked her rescue dog, Barker in the new New Yorkie “Tuxedo Tails” with signature black and yellow checkerboard tie. Husband Frank Basile escorted her down the runway.

Award-winning culinary celebrity and former Top Chef contestant, Nikki Cascone (pictured above), walked the runaway with her two Italian greyhounds, Lucy and Giuseppe, in their white New Yorkie “Sous Chef Jackets” with matching signature black and yellow checkerboard chef scarves.

Jessica Cohen (pictured above), executive vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman, and her Yorkshire Terrier, Ellie, strutted their stuff in couture New Yorkie “Deal Maker Coat” made with pink boucle fabric with a back pleat.

Meteorologist Ron Trotta and Schmitty The Weather Dog (pictured left), the official weather team for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, were dressed to the nines for the show. Trotta wore a Brooks Brothers raincoat while Schmitty had on a New Yorkie bright yellow “Licker Slicker” raincoat with signature black and yellow checkerboard lining and pockets along with matching “Schmitty Shades.”

Cindy Guyer (pictured below), a romance novel cover model who has appeared in Millionaire Match Maker and now owns Wine and Roses restaurant on the Upper West Side, strutted her stuff with her pups, Rosie and Gene Simmons. Rosie wore a New Yorkie black dress with signature black, yellow and skyline blue ruffles and black and yellow checkerboard bow tie on the back of her pup. Gene Simmons wore a brown New Yorkie “Private Eye Trench Coat” with stand up collar and black & brown checkerboard lining.

Other show highlights included:

CBS Radio personality Kim Berk, walked the runway with French Bulldog, Bean, in a hot pink New Yorkie “Hot Stuff” T-shirt.
Cat Greenleaf of WNBC’s Talk Stoop show, walked the walk with her dachshund, Julio who was wearing a black New Yorkie hoodie t-shirt with “Hey Taxi @%&*!” in bright yellow letters.
Karen Biehl and her dog Eli, stars of the brand new show Doggie Moms (premiering Feb. 16). The two are now regulars at red carpet events for animal and human causes.

Frei and McGuire, as well as doggie models outfitted in New Yorkie pet fashions, are available for interviews and appearances. For more information and additional pictures, contact Elly McGuire at (646) 812-4034 or e-mail: boomerstv@aol.com.

NYC’s iconic New Yorker Hotel, an official hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and host of the BIG CITY LITTLE DOG Fashion Show, is located at 481 Eighth Avenue (at 34^th Street) across from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station in New York City.

An e-brochure can be downloaded at http://newyorkerhotel.com/ebrochure.html. For more information about The New Yorker Hotel, contact toll-free in the U.S. and Canada 800-764-4680 or visit https://www.NewYorkerHotel.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Leigh-Mary Kearney

LM.Kearney@KTCpr.com

Phone: (516) 594-4100

Elly McGuire/boomerstv@aol.com

Phone: (646) 812-4034