By Francesca Bartolomey
It’s Real Housewives week here at Appetite for Good and I recently met husband and wife team Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen as they lent their support to a very worthy cause. The famous duo – and Brooklyn-residents – came out for the American Cancer Society event Eat, Drink, and Be Hopeful held at the lovely BellTel Lofts in downtown Brooklyn.
I got the chance to meet Alex and Simon and chat with them about what brought them out to the event.
“Cancer is a disease that touches so many people,” Alex began.
“[The caregivers are] often the rock supporting the person who’s been diagnosed.”
“Too many people,” Simon chimed in. He revealed that his first wife was a victim of cancer – who survived, fortunately – and continued, “When someone is first diagnosed, it’s often difficult in a different way for the caregiver to go through their own grieving process. They’re immensely worried about the person who’s been diagnosed, but they have all these questions as well. And so the great thing that American Cancer Society does is that it looks at not just the [research and development], but the mental support for both the person that’s been afflicted and the caregivers because they need the support as well. They’re often the rock supporting the person who’s been diagnosed.”
Not to miss a chance to laud their own borough, Simon enthusiastically added: “And of course this is the Brooklyn chapter of American Cancer Society and we love Brooklyn!”
I asked them what other organizations they support and Alex responded, “We try to mix it up.”
And they certainly do! Among the causes the pair supports besides American Cancer Society are the American Heart Association, the Brooklyn Style Foundation (which puts on Brooklyn Fashion Weekend to benefit struggling designers), Robin Hood Foundation (which fights poverty in New York City), New York Foundation for the Arts, and the New York City Opera.
But one thing Alex and Simon were adamant about was remembering the arts during the economic crisis – “It’s important not just to support the charities that help those who are ill…but we also need to look out for those that are nurturing the arts…Not only do we need healthy bodies, but we need healthy minds as well.”
“Absolutely,” agreed Alex. “And you have to feed both of those.”
“There are so many opportunities to do good.”
Alex also discussed the positive effect The Real Housewives of New York City has had on her ability to bring exposure to her causes: “One of the great things about having an elevated profile due to reality television [is that] a lot of what we film – we don’t control what makes it to the show whatsoever – but we can try and film things that will get publicity for organizations that need it, whether it is a charity or a brand new designer and you want to wear their clothes on the show. There are so many opportunities to do good.”
They hadn’t eaten yet so I didn’t want to monopolize them much longer so I ended on a fun – yet highly appropriate – note. I asked the two to name their favorite restaurants in Cobble Hill, their Brooklyn neighborhood. The interview quickly evolved into a We-heart-Brooklyn love-fest:
“Just one?” Alex inquired.
“It depends on the night,” said Simon, diplomatically. “Honestly, if we’re coming back late and we’re hungry, eleven o’clock at night you can’t beat Bar Tabac for a good quality, fast-but-good food.”
“I have to give a shout out to Watty & Meg,” said Alex after thinking it over for a moment.
“We had dinner there Sunday!” Simon added.
“We did, and the food’s really good and it’s really close…One of the great things about Cobble Hill is that we know our neighbors…We love the camaraderie and the amazing food. You really don’t need to leave the neighborhood for anything.”
“Brooklyn is a village.”
“We’re spoiled for choice!”
Simon even addressed the show: “You know when we first got on the show people were like ‘why are you on that show, you don’t even live in New York City.’ Uhh, yes we do…Look at where we are!”
At this point, my friend (and photographer for the night) Stephanie interjected: “If Brooklyn were it’s own city, it’d be the fifth-”
“Fifth-largest city in the country!” Simon finished. “Absolutely! It’s true!”
And we all shared a laugh! We shook hands and I bid them farewell. I have to say, I was pretty surprised by how sweet Alex and Simon were. They seemed genuinely pleased to be there supporting such an amazing cause.
This article wraps up the three-part series on the American Cancer Society’s “Eat, Drink, and Be Hopeful” event at the BellTel Lofts in downtown Brooklyn.
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