Halloween in March? Nope. The fabulous costumes, couture gowns and gilded masks on display at the Metropolitan Club were all part of the Young Friends of Save Venice's Byzantine Ball.
The festive "Venetian carnival celebration" kicked off with a Taittinger Champagne reception in the foyer of the Metropolitan Club, where tuxedo-clad, white-gloved waiters passed around hors d'oeuvres of goat cheese-stuffed mushroom caps, shrimp tarts, and Chateaubriand-style slices of beef with cr?me fraiche and prunes. The 350 supporters of Save Venice Inc. admired each others' get-ups--one exuberant guest came dressed as the Pope--and many of the women, including Save Venice executive director Tia Fuhrmann Chapman, were dressed in gorgeous gowns from sponsor Rena Lange. Swarovski crystal tattoos were available for those who needed additional adornment.
For the dining area, event designer Antony Todd draped tables with deep wine-colored taffeta cloths, and created multi-tiered centerpieces of clear Lucite boxes filled with white floating candles and tiny gold glittery pebbles. After the dinner of Mediterranean salad, Byzantine sautéed chicken breast, Venetian potatoes and winter vegetables was finished, entertainment by belly dancers from Amira Mor accompanied the prized announcements for best costumes. Dancing to DJ Pat Caramel's spinning followed.
--Erika Rasmusson
The festive "Venetian carnival celebration" kicked off with a Taittinger Champagne reception in the foyer of the Metropolitan Club, where tuxedo-clad, white-gloved waiters passed around hors d'oeuvres of goat cheese-stuffed mushroom caps, shrimp tarts, and Chateaubriand-style slices of beef with cr?me fraiche and prunes. The 350 supporters of Save Venice Inc. admired each others' get-ups--one exuberant guest came dressed as the Pope--and many of the women, including Save Venice executive director Tia Fuhrmann Chapman, were dressed in gorgeous gowns from sponsor Rena Lange. Swarovski crystal tattoos were available for those who needed additional adornment.
For the dining area, event designer Antony Todd draped tables with deep wine-colored taffeta cloths, and created multi-tiered centerpieces of clear Lucite boxes filled with white floating candles and tiny gold glittery pebbles. After the dinner of Mediterranean salad, Byzantine sautéed chicken breast, Venetian potatoes and winter vegetables was finished, entertainment by belly dancers from Amira Mor accompanied the prized announcements for best costumes. Dancing to DJ Pat Caramel's spinning followed.
--Erika Rasmusson
Fabrizio and Lisa Pieralini were among the masked partygoers at the Young Friends of Save Venice's Byzantine Ball at the Metropolitan Club.
In the dining area, event designer Antony Todd draped tables with deep wine-colored taffeta cloths, and used multi-tiered Lucite boxes for centerpieces.
Save Venice executive director Tia Fuhrmann Chapman (left) posed with Young Friends of Save Venice standing committee members Jill Nevins and Adelina Wong and partygoer Sandra Chollet.
Antony Todd's multi-tiered centerpieces had clear Lucite boxes filled with white floating candles and tiny gold glittery pebbles.
