Parties You Will Never Get Into

Audi opened the annual New York International Auto Show by sponsoring a private concert of the indie band She and Him. A crowd composed of executives, journalists and celebrities headed to the Audi Forum in New York City on March 31, 2010 to celebrate with the carmaker.

She and Him, composed of singer-actress Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer, The Happening) and musician M. Ward, entertained guests with a nine-song set. Fresh off the release of their sophomore album, the duo sung “I Was Made For You,” “In The Sun,” “Black Hole,” “This is Not A Test,” “Ridin’ In My Car,” “Sweet Darlin’,” “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” and “Magic Trick.” The band also performed a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven.”

Partygoers included 30 Rock actress Jane Krakowski and Ryland Blackinton and Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship. Models Jessica Hart and Tyson Beckford, as well as pro poker star, Beth Shak, also went to the party.

Served with champagne cocktails, guests circled around the latest Audi offerings as DJ Harley Viera-Newton spun tunes from her booth. Models flaunted at this year’s show included the revered Audi R8 Spyder and the upcoming 2011 A8.

Audi’s 2010 car show was produced by MKG.

For the first state dinner of his administration, US President Barack Obama did not scrimp on pomp and pageantry. On November 24, 2009, he poured them all on India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

For a first, the event broke away from tradition on several levels. First, the President lavished the foremost state dinner not on Mexico or Canada, but on India. Furthermore, he held it under a specially built tent on the White House South Lawn, not in the State Dining Room.

Obama’s tent victoriously atoned for its derring-do. Insulated against the cold, rainy November evening, the tent proved to be a seamless extension of White House. Eleven chandeliers, hanging from a cavernous canopy, radiated glorious ambient light on invitees. Better yet, the magnolia-adorned walls offered them a view of the Washington Monument.

Due to the tent’s expansive capacity, 400 VIPs, including top Indian diplomats, were able to come. Inside, the sea of bodies made for a curious mélange of tuxedos, gowns and saris. In deference to the occasion, First Lady Michelle Obama donned a gown designed by India’s Naeem Khan.

There to toast the Prime Minister was a flotilla of Democrats, including State Secretary Hillary Clinton, Social Secretary Desirée Rogers, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, plus a few Republicans, also came.

Unsurprisingly, Hollywood sent a few emissaries like director Steven Spielberg and actors Blair Underwood and Alfre Woodard. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson and Indian-born musician A.R. Rahman, along with jazz crooner Kurt Elling were also around to provide entertainment. From media came CBS anchorwoman Katie Couric and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.

Place settings consisted of state service plates inherited from the Eisenhower, Clinton, and George W. Bush administrations. From them, guests ate, among others, salad with rocket leaves harvested from Michelle Obama’s White House Kitchen Garden.

Tables were draped in apple green linens and came with gilded cane chairs. On each table sat a combination of hydrangeas, roses, and sweet peas in colors not unlike the peacock, India’s national bird.

On top of Hudson and Rahman, guests had entertainment in the form of The United States Marine Band. Marvin Hamlisch also directed an ensemble from the National Symphony Orchestra.

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations, a company that’s goal is to produce innovative health products, and Erchonia, a laser distributor, recently participated in the Microsoft Founder’s Gala on Nov. 18 in Bellevue, Wash.

The event, held in association with the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation, celebrated members of the Microsoft community who deserve special recognition for their work on behalf of people in need around the world.

Rowland Hanson, chairman of Santa Barbara Medical Innovations and Global Business Development general manager for Erchonia, was the founding and former vice president of corporate communications for Microsoft.

Hanson is widely credited with developing and executing the original branding and marketing strategy for Microsoft, which included the naming and launch of Windows. This strategy laid the foundation for the brand dominance of Microsoft today, according to Santa Barbara Medical Innovations.

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations produces the Zerona laser. Zerona laser is the only proven, non invasive procedure that safely removes fat with zero pain and zero downtime

Through participation in the gala and by the donation of wound healing lasers to healthcare organizations in emerging countries in Africa, Santa Barbara Medical Innovations and Erchonia have furthered its goal of establishing the credibility and use of low level laser technology in healthcare.

The event also recognized leading Zerona physician, Dr. Elizabeth VanderVeer from Portland, Ore. Dr. VanderVeer had the opportunity to meet with both Jeff Raikes (chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation), Bill Gates and Santa Barbara Medical Innovations Chairman, Rowland Hanson.

The investment bank Goldman Sachs Inc. announced to its employees yesterday that is will not be hosting a corporate party this holiday season.

Reports say it’s an attempt to lower the profiled of the company, which has been criticized for paying bug bonuses this year. It’s particularly a point of contention due to the high unemployment rate (10.2 percent) and the recession.

It’s either smart, transparent or very Scrooge-like.

Though her father has stepped down from the presidency, Jenna Bush Hager has not toned down her goal of changing the world. The former U.S. First Daughter headlined the bash launching her volunteer team with UNICEF on July 24, 2009.

UNICEF Next Generation is a group that works to improve the plight of impoverished children around the world. Hager, who is a Young Leadership Ambassador, chairs the nonprofit.

Held at hip nightspot Gates, the party doubled as a fundraiser for the group’s inaugural initiative, which required $175,000. By the wee hours of July 25, the event had raised around $45,000.

For their first project, the group is eyeing Guatemala’s malnourished children. This fall, the group will fly there to enact its initiative Project Sprinkles.

Project Sprinkles involves the distribution of the eponymous sachets to Guatemalan children. Sprinkles, which look like pouches of sugar, contain the daily recommended amount of micronutrients for children.

Gate’s partygoers had their fill of nutrition through tasty cupcakes called Crumbs. They feasted on Sprinkle Spritzers and cocktails from Grey Goose, while gyrating to DJ Josh Madden’s energetic tunes.

Onstage, Next Generation members raffled gift certificates to plush eateries at the Hotel Griffou, Waverly Inn, and Kingswood. Members also sold UNICEF Inspired Gifts, including a toolkit called School-in-a-Box. The kit offers tools for a provisional school for more than 40 children anytime, anywhere.

US Fund for UNICEF President Caryl Stern partied with the Next Generation youngsters. Members Lauren and Barbara Bush were standouts at the party, along with sisters Maggie and Jessica Betts.

Next Generation is also composed of Danielle Abraham, Mia Baxter, Gretchen Bylow, Clementine Crawford, Arielle Diskin, Megan Ferguson, Randolph Frazier II, Jillian Gumbel, Gillian Hearst Simonds, Louise Hooff, Geoff Johnston, Anika Kreider, David Lauren, Brian Lee, Melissa McGhie, Gloria Marie Moncrief, Purvi Padia, Caroline Polisi, Meredith Ross, Jason Rotter, Maya Samuelsson, Anna Schwab, Krystal Shanahan, Ashley Irvin Weaver, Candice Wolfswinkel and Brooke Worthington.