New Starlight Roof Shines for Benefit

The Waldorf=Astoria has historically conjured up images of glamour and luxury (a la Weekend at the Waldorf with Lana Turner and Ginger Rogers), and it's ready to recapture that image again with the reopening of the Starlight Roof. The ballroom, which has undergone several decorative changes since the hotel opened in 1931, was restored to its original Art Deco splendor with this most recent renovation, which cost approximately $300 million over 10 years.
The ballroom hosted the Preservation League of New York's annual benefit, which honored both the hotel (for its dedication to historic preservation) and Cooperstown, N.Y., preservationist Jane Forbes Clark. Unlike the Municipal Arts Society gala, whose decor scheme was significantly toned down to reflect the conservative, somber mood of the city following the World Trade Center attacks, event planners from Thomas Martin Events scaled back the decor only slightly. The black-tie affair, which was attended by Brooke Astor and Governor George Pataki and more than 300 others, featured large centerpieces of lush roses and hydrangea by Floralia set atop shimmering gold tablecloths.

--Suzanne Ito

Read our Discovery of the Starlight Roof...

Read about some post-disaster decor scheme changes...

Read some predictions about post-tragedy benefits...