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.

President Bill Clinton suited up on October 7, 2009 for the New York Historical Society History Makers Gala. However, the annual affair largely celebrated the life of another US president, Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln’s shadow was all over guests at the gala, which was held at the New York Historical Society’s swanky Manhattan headquarters. The gala served to inaugurate the first major museum exhibit associating Lincoln with New York City.

President Clinton was there to kick off the Lincoln exhibit with a keynote address. He was also on hand to accept the 2009 History Makers Award from the Society.

This exhibition was the culmination of the NY Historical Society’s yearlong celebration of Lincoln’s birthday bicentenary. The Society first marked that milestone in February with an exhibit of Lincoln’s handwritten documents.

Titled “Lincoln and New York,” the newer exhibit chronicled Abe Lincoln’s Gotham experiences, from his historic campaign speech in Cooper Union to his funeral procession through the city. It came with hundreds of documents, paintings, and artifacts, including the lectern from which the Cooper Union speech was delivered.

Brooks Brothers, Inc. lent the exhibit a faithfully made replica of one of Lincoln’s suits. The former president wore it first at his second inauguration and then on the day of his assassination in 1865.

Costing $2.5 million, the Lincoln exhibit was lead-sponsored by JP Morgan Chase & Co. Other sponsors included the US Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program.

Gala-goers produced anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000 to gain entrance to the black-tie gala dinner. They were, in turn, served sumptuous food such as lamb chops coupled with parmesan paves.

Expensive tables were no object to the well-heeled guests, which included Bernard Schwartz, Philip Mirrer-Singer, and Emily Kimball.

Chairing the gala were Stuart Rabin, Patricia Klingenstein, Roger Hertog, Martin Gross, Richard Gilder, Diana Roesch DiMenna, Ravenel Curry III, Judith Roth Berkowitz, and Helen Appel. Lazard Freres & Co. Senior Managing Director Vernon Jordan was honorary chair.

Louise Mirrer, the Society’s president and CEO, attended. Understandably, the gala would benefit her organization’s future exhibits and philanthropic projects.

Two days after the gala, “Lincoln and New York” opened to the general public.

It snowed stars and socialites inside Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City as UNICEF threw its annual Snowflake Ball on Dec. 2, 2009.

Belying its icy subtext, the Snowflake Ball was actually warm with the charitable hearts of its guests. Two of the invitees were feted for their fiery humanitarian efforts: Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid and UNICEF’s Ethiopia representative Ted Chaiban. The former received UNICEF’s Spirit of Compassion Award; the other, an Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award.

Music luminary Mariah Carey, who came with husband Nick Cannon, was on hand to introduce her Island Def Jam boss to the stage. However, the singing duties went to fellow Island recording artist Chrisette Michele.

Besides the awarding, the gala served to commemorate the lighting of the humongous UNICEF Snowflake. Hung high above Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, the Snowflake is a larger-than-life reminder to Gotham dwellers that, indeed, ‘tis the season not to be frosty. Anyone in their million-dollar cars would notice the 28-foot high leviathan, scintillating with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms.

UNICEF’s Snowflake was donated by the Stonbely Family Foundation. True to form, Christine Stonbely co-chaired the Snowflake Ball with Claudia Lebenthal. George Stonbely was also present, along with Barbara Bush and Maggie Betts, who served as the affair’s junior co-chairs. Charlotte Moss and Pamela Fiori, in turn, acted as chairs of the Snowflake Project.

Hosted by Al Roker, the Snowflake Gala was attended by U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s CEO and President Caryl Stern. Also spotted at the gala were actors Tea Leoni and David Duchovny.

Hugh Hildesley from Sotheby’s led a live auction. Moneyed invitees bid on items like a private dinner with Star Chef and UNICEF Ambassador Marcus Samuelsson and a photo shoot with shutterbugs Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde.

Before the night ended, UNICEF raised $1.9 million. An unsurprising sum, as invitees included Jenna Bush Hager, Lauren Bush, Erica Reid, David Lauren, Vern Yip, Muffie Potter Aston, Somers Farkas, Anthony Pantaleoni, Matt Lauer, Dikembe Mutombo, Dayle Haddon, Gillian Miniter, Bryant Gumbel, Gelila Assefa, Wolfgang Puck, Fareed Zakaria, Paula Zakaria, Jaime Jimenez, Deborah Roberts, Michael Belleveau, Sandra Lee, and Dave Lieberman.

Invitees had dinner prepared in part by Marcus Samuelsson’s eatery Aquavit. Popular restaurateurs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Alfred Portale also livened up the evening’s gastronomic delights.

MacDella Cooper, the humanitarian from New York who is also known as “Liberia’s Angel,” revealed her plans for the MCF Academy in Liberia that she carried out with the support of the MacDella Cooper Foundation and her committee of luminaries of media, fashion, and design. She said that the plans would be primarily about the establishment of the first tuition-free school for the less fortunate children in Liberia.

On the final night of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, the MacDella Cooper Foundation Fashion Week After Party planned to raise $500,000 for the MCF Academy, which will open next year.

“Having escaped the brutality of a decade-long civil war in Liberia myself, I know firsthand that Liberia desperately needs a new generation of empowered, educated individuals to continue its recovery,” said Cooper, who is also the president of the MacDella Cooper Foundation.

The After Party had Winka Dubbeldam’s (the architect for the Academy) designs for the institution. It also had an exclusive Fall 2009 Collection screening by famous fashion designer Korto Momolu, an appearance by a Project Runway Season five finalist as well as a keynote speech by the chief executive officer of Women’s Wholesale at Jones Apparel Group, Susan Metzger. Cocktails were served that night filled with dancing and tunes from DJ Dusko.

Some of the hosts for the MacDella Cooper Foundation Fashion Week After Party were: Interview magazine’s publisher Samantha Fennell, New York Post columnist Julia Szabo, Ralph Lauren Corporate Sonya Pankey, The Rachel Ray Show’s designer Evette Rios, CESLIE-The Women’s Network’s editor-in-chief Ceslie Armstrong and Lifetime Networks’ Barbara Brennan.

Among the honorary chairs of the event were Krystyna Houser, a dedicated sponsor to one of the many academic facilities on the MacDella Cooper Foundation Academy, and Donna Poyaidjais.

First off, before the party-hopping started, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a celebration of the new retrospective of Ron Arad. The event was hosted by fashion model Linda Evangelista and was attended by some of the most prominent names in the fashion industry: Rachel Zoe, Anouk Lepere, Yigal Azrouël, and Franca Sozzani. They had the chance to get into culture, and probably on the front page by the next day, just before going to back to back parties.

Recording artist and live performer Lady GaGa—who is known for having unique and eccentric live performances topped with her crazy outfits—was performing at the Out magazine’s bash at the Box. It was the third consecutive night that she performed live at the venue. Apparently, an insider said they were only really short sets.

Coco Before Chanel premiered that night on September 16th. It gave the New York crowd the chance to settle down and, for the ladies, to rest their feet from wearing those inches-high stilettos for a few hours. Among those who attended the debut of the film were Agyness Deyn, Charlie Rose, Candice Bergen, and Rachel Bilson. And they most certainly enjoyed the party right after the screening.

Lindsay Lohan & Taylor Momsen

At the G-Star’s show, platinum blonds rising star Taylor Momsen and singer-model-actress Lindsay Lohan (aka LiLo) were spotted at the event huddling together and enjoying the event. Vanity Fair dubbed them as the “Front-Row Doppelgangers” that night.

Finally, Fashion Week would not have been as great as it was if it weren’t for the backing of a Roitfeld, which was proven by Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld who hosted a party for high fashion designer Giorgio Armani that sponsored a Richard Hambleton show. Just a few of the attendants who were excited about the artwork were actor Josh Hartnett, Mary-Kate Olsen, queens of R&B Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Bar Rafaeli. After the exhibition, they went to Indochine, where the party continued until the early hours.

Vogue never fails to impress. Year after year, it brings together people like Hamish Bowles, Grace Coddington, Virginia Smith, and Jeffrey Steingarten into one big bash no one would easily forget.

Vogue’s annual holiday shindig happened on a Wednesday night in Standard Hotel’s well known eighteenth floor, the Boom Boom Room. As the temperatures went down, the merry revelers gathered around the bar poised at the center of the glamorous space. The room was filled with bartenders clad in white jackets and serving glasses of Moët for everyone.

Apart from the free-flowing champagne, the place itself was a reason to feel festive. The Boom Boom Room’s windows, which stretched from floor to ceiling, offer a view of New York City’s breathtaking skyline. Although the place didn’t really need more embellishments, several people had taken the time and extra effort to dress up the place in order to suit the Christmas theme. A white peacock was placed as a finishing touch to the Christmas tree while mistletoe twigs hung from the room’s ceiling.

A bunch of New York A-listers along with Vogue writers, editors, assistants and all the people behind the magazine’s glossy pages indulged themselves in spirited conversation and drinks. The party served as one of perfect excuses to mix vibrant fashion, great drinks, celebrities and bona fide stylistas and tastemakers.

Aside from the much awaited party thrown by Vogue, the eighteenth floor of the Standard Hotel had served as a venue to celebrate the launching of Sasha Lazard’s “Myth of Red” concert series. The promising songstress had celebrated the launch of her concert series along with other fellow musicians including John Mayer, Maggie Rizer and P. Diddy himself.

While the guests of the Vogue Christmas party were served magnums of champagne by white-jacketed bartenders, the party frolickers of the Myth of Red Party were served with unlimited Bang Bang cocktails, the evening’s drink of choice.

The party capping Alexander Wang’s show surfaced as one of New York Fashion Week’s best ever. Gotham’s wildest party animals even likened the merriment to those by Marc Jacobs, only that the latter never held his in a gasoline station.

MAC and Katie Grand engineered the September 12, 2009 party at the Mobil gas station next to Chelsea’s Milk Studios. Come party night, eager revelers swarmed towards 10th Avenue at 15th Street for the elusive ticket. It never came for many non-celebrities, of course.

Even with the gas tanks turned off by Mobil attendants, the aura within this hallowed expanse was one of paranoia. At one point, the DJ had to remind chain-smokers that it was, after all, a gas station. But the edginess was part of the explosive allure.

More than the makeshift bars serving Belvedere vodkas, revelers loved the station’s paid-for-everyone convenience store. Butterfingers and junk foods galore beckoned to the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Jared Leto, Mischa Barton, Agyness Deyn and Lily Donaldson. Pixie Geldof raided shelves of Nerds, as Cup Noodles started going into Alice Dellal’s bag.

Veuve Clicquot champagnes stood side by side with gas station staples like Gatorade and Orbitz gums. Baited with Pop cheeseburgers and fries were names such as Anouck Lepere, Devon Aoki, Kristian Laliberte, Amanda Leigh Dunn, Zev Norotsky, Isabeli Fontana, Trish Goff, Tallulah Harlech, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Theodora Richards, Will Blondelle, Jamie Burke and Lykke Li.

Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction was seen negotiating through the port-a-potties to catch the night’s main event: a Courtney Love mini-concert. In between expletives and puffs of fags, the onetime Hole front-woman revisited hits like “Malibu” and covered songs like “Bette Davis Eyes.” Rapper Santigold likewise performed.

BFFs Wang and Erin Wasson took to the stage in the small hours, when the DJ initiated a titanic dance party.

In the end, the Devil does indeed wear Prada.

Clothed in Prada Cruise, American Vogue’s deified editor-in-chief Anna Wintour heralded the premiere of The September Issue with close friends and VIPs. The long-gestating documentary played August 19 at an invitations-only screening party hosted by Wintour in New York City.

Moviegoers were a roll call of fashion overlords. Designers Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Jack McCollough, Jason Wu, Lazaro Hernandez, Richard Chai, Georgina Chapman, Zac Posen and Thakoon Panichgul all made sure to attend, lest they enrage fashion’s legendary “Nuclear Wintour.”

Insiders considered the screening party one of the most important dates for fashion in 2009. After all, the R.J. Cutler-directed documentary is a voyeuristic chronicle of Vogue’s September 2007 edition, one of the thickest magazine issues of all time.

A flood of people vied for a ticket to the premiere, which included a private dinner with the Vogue editrix herself. Despite the limited invites, folding chairs had to be hauled in the venue at the Museum of Modern Art for extraneous viewers.

Wintour accorded the September 2007 cover girl her seat of honor at the screening party. Sienna Miller, who graced the cover in a now-iconic shot by Mario Testino, calmly sat front-row as Wintour impaled her onscreen with icy putdowns.

Indeed, this is the film where Wintour famously dismissed Miller as being “too toothy” for Vogue.

If there were any acrimony between the two, nothing of the sort was seen at the premiere. Arriving with daughter Bee Shaffer, Wintour closely accompanied Miller on the red carpet, the actress clad in a sky-blue mini-dress by Thakoon.

Renée Zellweger, who was also a Vogue cover girl, was included in Wintour’s guest list, along with P. Diddy, Cassie, and Alexa Chung. Models Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman and Caroline Trentini also came.

Not to be missed at the party were Wintour’s famous Vogue subordinates, Andre Leon Talley and Grace Coddington.

Twenty-three-year-old singer Lady GaGa, not well-known for her conservative attire or opinions, drew stares Monday night with a hat that resembled a cocoon at the the Accessories Council Excellence Awards in New York.

The black lace veil accompanied a rather interesting outfit that included a pink bra over a long sleeved black shirt, shiny hotpants, fishnet stockings and, of course, heels.

Read more and see pictures here.

Needless to say, Lady GaGa was not a recipient of an accessory award this year.

Some of the biggest names in music gathered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts last week, Oct. 29 and 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The two concerts included performances by U2, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Simon and Garfunkel, Metallica, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills Nash and Friends, Eric Clapton and many more.

BACARDI, one of the most internationally recognized rums and official spirit sponsor of the concert, showed its support for the program by asking the performers to sign commemorative bottles of BACARDI Reserva Limitada rum, an ultra-premium rum aged between 10 and 16 years.

Twenty-five bottles were auctioned off for charity in recognition of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary. Proceeds from the auction went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and Museum.

In honor of these groundbreaking concerts, BACARDI has created a signature cocktail, the BACARDI “Center Stage,” a delicious mix of BACARDI® Superior Rum, fresh lime juice, strawberry puree, cranberry juice and citrus soda. To provide additional support, BACARDI will sponsor events, including the official after party surrounding the 25th Anniversary celebration.

“BACARDI has a long-standing connection and dedication to music,” said Billy Melnyk, senior experiential marketing manager, BACARDI rums. “This unique collaboration of some of music’s greatest legends is an experience that embodies the spirit of BACARDI and one we are proud to be a part of.”