Annual Bunny Hoest Bash June 25, 2009

Above: a LOCKHORNS bisque at the home of Bunny Hoest.

I left my house on the New Hampshire ridge for a quick overnight trip to New York. Object: drive to Bunny Hoest's home on the Long Island North Shore, arriving by noon for the annual Bunny Bash. Thanks to a wee hours start and the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson ferry, I made it.

The Bunny Bash is held every June at the home of Bunny Hoest. The Bash began because almost three decades ago, Bill Hoest wanted to show some some of his cartoonist colleagues the house he was building. About a dozen cartoonists from the local Long Island chapter of the National Cartoonists Society (the "Berndt Toast Gang") were invited over for sandwiches and a tour of the then-unfinished home

Today, the house on the Long Island sound is finished, and the event has grown. About 150 cartoonists, spouses, kids and friends got together for what turned out to be a partly cloudy afternoon of shop talk.

Mike Lynch, Mad Magazine's Sam Viviano and THE LOCKHORNS Bunny Hoest

King Features' MARY WORTH creative team of Joe Giella and Karen Moy.

It's BEETLE BAILEY assistant and freelance illustrator Bill Janocha with Mad Magazine's Mort Drucker

ARCHIE's Stan Goldberg with KIM POSSIBLE's Stephen Silver.

Heidi Silver and THE LOCKHORN's John Reiner


New Yorker cartoonists Robert Leighton and Felipe "Feggo" Galindo, with illustrator Martin Kozlowski. Thanks to Felipe for this photo!


NCS Chapter Chair Adrian Sinnott and National Rep Mike Lynch surprised Bunny Hoest with a National Cartoonists Society Tim Rosenthal Award for Volunteerism. Above is the award, gorgeously drawn by Guy Gilchrist.

Tim Rosenthal was Head of Syndicate Services at American Color. American Color is the place where many newspaper comics are colored and then sent to papers around the world. His impact, developed with Wiley Miller, on the way color is used in newspaper comics, set a new industry standard. He was also a big NCS supporter, and a good friend to many cartoonists.

I gave a short announcement to the people about Bunny and why she deserves the Award:

Everyone knows that Bunny works for King Features. Everyone knows that Bunny works for Parade Magazine. What everyone may now know is that she also works very hard for the Long Island chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, helping with the award voting, as well as hosting the annual Bash. She is, as Creig Flessel described her, the "Den Mother" of the Berndt Toast Gang. This was a small token of appreciation from her NCS family.

If anyone has a photo of Bunny with her Award, please share it with me. Thanks.

Mike Lynch, with my friend, The New Yorker's Robert Leighton.

Gerry Mooney, Bill Crouch and Elena Steier

Bunny Hoest, Suzan Haeni of the Art League of Long Island and graphic artist Julie Haring

A framed gag cartoon of Bill Hoest's. One of many decorating the "Hoest Castle" interior.

Dotti Sinnott, daughter of Berndt Toast Gang Chairman Adrian Sinnott, and the one and only Sam Gross.

I wound up staying very late, as did a few others. Bunny ordered pizza. I shared long conversations under an orange sliver of a moon with Adrian Sinnott and his family, Bunny, John Reiner, Mort & Barbara Drucker and Stan & Pauline Goldberg.

I had a memorable time. Exhausting, but memorable.

Bunny Bash 2007

To paraphrase Ratty, there is nothing- absolutely nothing- half so much worth doing as simply messing about with cartoonists.

Bunny Hoest, Chari Pere

It's the last Thursday in June, and that means that it's time for the Bunny Hoest party, or, as it's better known, the Bunny Bash -- which may sound violent, but it's actually very nice. And here are some photos to prove it.


Three masters: John Reiner, Frank Springer, Stan Goldberg

This is the 27th annual Bunny Bash. It all started when Bill Hoest wanted to show some some of his cartoonist colleagues the house he was building. About a dozen cartoonists showed up for sandwiches and a tour of the then-unfinished home on the Long Island shore.


Roger Penwill and Mike Lynch.

Roger came from England for the Bash. He's the Vice President general of FECO (the FEderation of Cartoonists' Organisations), an international cartooning advocacy group.


Steve Duquette listens to V.G. Myers

The bash has grown, from an informal get together to, well, a much bigger informal get together. Bunny draws cartoonists from NJ, NYC, LI & CT. Next to the annual Reubens convention, the Bash is the biggest event, drawing 75-150 cartoonists and their friends and families.


Chari Pere, who graduated SVA last month, shows her portfolio to Mort Drucker

Didn't I just see you guys at the MoCCA Fest? Derek Mainhart and Ali Solomon


Trade Loeffler watches his son drive his Hot Wheels cars over the tables and chairs


Helen Murdock-Prep, Janine Manheim, Joe Vissichelli


Heather Steckley pushes hubby Ed Steckley's buttons.


Optimist Chari Pere takes a photo with Sam Viviano who sports a pessimistic look that this won't turn out well.


One third of SIX CHIX and one half of MARY WORTH: Rina Piccolo, Anne Gibbons, Karen Moy


Photo session over, they return to their animated conversations.


Trying to look smart: Mike Lynch, Brendan Burford


Feggo draws
Sam Gross and Frank Springer

Gerry Mooney, John Reiner

Joe Vissichelli takes a group shot photo. This is Joe from the group's point of view.


Ever dapper Stan Goldberg

Happy birthday to bunny's husband, "Docky" Carpenter

Roger Penwill, Evan Forsch, Feggo

Arnie Levin, Anne Gibbons

Rina Piccolo, John Reiner

Lorraine and Bill Kresse

Look for a big write up on Bill in the August 2007 issue of Hogan's Alley.


Two guys from The Boot: Sam Viviano, Al Scaduto

The impending thunderstorms stayed away until the Bash was almost over. Thanks to Bunny for her hospitality. Another great time!!!!

Bunny Bash June 24, 2010

Above: the 2010 attendees of the Bash, posing in the backyard. Photo nicked from Rosey Mulderrig's Village Tatler article.

Here are a few photos from the Bunny Bash, an annual event held at Bunny Hoest's North Shore home in Long Island. She graciously opens up the Hoest castle to cartoonists from all over.

Hmm. Giant cut out of a bunny by the mailbox? This must be Bunny Hoest's place!


Adrian Sinnott and Dotti Sinnott: a wonderful illustrator and his talented daughter. Adrian is Chair of the Long Island chapter of the National Cartoonists Society, otherwise known as the Berndt Toast Gang. Adrian shares some Bunny Bash photos at his blog.



Arnie Levin, Mort Gerberg, Dione and George Booth, and Marie Stemmle.



Gerry Mooney, Marie Stemmle, Sandy Kossin and New Jersey Chapter Chair Tom Stemmle.


Arnie Levin and George Booth. "Hang on. Let me take my sunglasses off."



"OK, you can take the picture."



Matt Diffee, S. Gross and Ken Krimstein. I can never get Sam to smile for a photo.



MAD Mag's Sam Viviano. We are playing "dueling photographers."



The Berndt Toast Gang's own award-winning Ray Alma (shown with patient spouse Caryn)!



Julie Haring and Suzan Haeni. Always good to see Jules and Suz!



David Paccia and Mike Lynch. David's the man behind the Wasting Paper blog, wherein he interviews cartoonists. David's Bunny Bash photos and report is here.



Adrian Sinnott and George Booth.



Howard Beckerman



Roberta Fabiano plays while Sandy Kossin gets down.



Our lovely hostess Bunny Hoest, Doug Bratton, Marie and Tom Stemmle.



Ken Krimstein, Sam Gross, Deana Sobel and Dotti Sinnott.



Sam Viviano draws on a couple of commemorative cards. One is in honor of Jerry Jurman's 80th birthday. The other is to give to Lee Ames. He recently moved from California, back to the Long Island area.



Don Orehek, Joe Giella, Mike Lynch.



Long Island traffic. Nothing like it! UGH!

Sorry to say that there were some people I didn't get a chance to say hi to: Stan Goldberg, Frank Bolle, Mort Drucker, Ed Steckley, and others.