In case guests didn’t know that Friday’s YouthAIDS Faces of India gala was going to be a big deal, the 20-foot-wide, 30-foot-tall inflatable elephant standing at the front door of the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner should have clued them in. The elephant was the first of many Indian-inspired details at the event, which was ranked number four on Washingtonian’s list of this year’s top 10 biggest social events.
“We wanted to make a big splash to set the tone,” explained New York-based event designer David Tutera, who spent eight months designing the decor and flowers for the “Hollywood meets Bollywood”-themed gala. And the night’s guest list had some big names, with Ashley Judd in attendance, as well as Queen Noor, Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi, model Frederique van der Wal, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and, of course, Bono, “the god of all activists,” as YouthAIDS director Kate Roberts called him.
Each year the gala reflects the trip that YouthAIDS takes with its global ambassador. This year, the group traveled with Judd to Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur to film a National Geographic documentary about the fight against AIDS in India. The evening’s presentation, therefore, spotlighted the spread of HIV in India, and the 700-guest gala was a celebration of Indian culture, featuring traditional dancers, bhangra, and Indian cuisine. Rich red, blue, and gold hues made up the color scheme in the Ritz’s ballroom, with Indian-patterned tent fabric lining the perimeter of the room. Four tents made of lavish sari-style fabrics created intimate dining areas toward the back of the room. “We wanted to make the tables that might normally be considered far away still feel special, since everyone was quite generous when it came to ticket price,” said Marshall Stowell, YouthAIDS's deputy director and gala event planner, who noted that some tables went for more than $50,000. "If you've been to India, you know that it's chaotic and layered and colorful, and we wanted the event to reflect that sense of overwhelming beauty and total chaos."
Some 150 celebrities and high-paying guests attended the private V.I.P. reception, held on the fourth floor of the Ritz, prior to the dinner. The Inn at Little Washington provided hors d'oeuvres, while Judd, Bono, and other celebrity guests took press photos. Upstairs, dozens of items were up for bid at a silent auction, including a Kentucky Derby V.I.P. package, a Chanel handbag, and a chance to join Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema for dinner. Caterer Tandoori Nights provided finger foods and a mango chocolate curry martini called the Bombay Talkie.
On both levels, guests who didn’t arrive in saris could add a touch of India to their outfits by picking up a bindi or a turban custom-made in India especially for this event. “We wanted the guests to become part of the event,” Tutera said. “These guests go to all these fund-raisers and events, and it becomes the same old same old. I think when they are involved, they’re more invested in the party and the cause.”
A videotaped message by sitarist Ravi Shankar kicked off the night’s presentation, which included a performance by Indian comedian Russell Peters, a live auction, and a five-minute snippet of Judd’s documentary (which had been screened in its entirety the night before at the National Geographic Society). The actress spoke of her experiences as global ambassador and was followed by Bono introducing Pelosi, who accepted an award of outstanding achievement. The crowd thinned a bit after Pelosi’s speech, stopping to pick up the overloaded swag bag. The rest of the guests danced during Michael McDonald’s performance and then headed to the after-party (a new facet to the event this year, which we told you about here) downstairs in the V.I.P. reception area to hear music by DJ Rekha.
The event was clearly successful, raising more than $1.5 million for YouthAIDS, but did it pull off the India theme? Puja Gupta, this year’s Miss India, thought so. “The ambience is exactly how it is in India, with the colors and the flowers," she said. "For a second I thought there was an Indian wedding happening here."
“We wanted to make a big splash to set the tone,” explained New York-based event designer David Tutera, who spent eight months designing the decor and flowers for the “Hollywood meets Bollywood”-themed gala. And the night’s guest list had some big names, with Ashley Judd in attendance, as well as Queen Noor, Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi, model Frederique van der Wal, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and, of course, Bono, “the god of all activists,” as YouthAIDS director Kate Roberts called him.
Each year the gala reflects the trip that YouthAIDS takes with its global ambassador. This year, the group traveled with Judd to Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur to film a National Geographic documentary about the fight against AIDS in India. The evening’s presentation, therefore, spotlighted the spread of HIV in India, and the 700-guest gala was a celebration of Indian culture, featuring traditional dancers, bhangra, and Indian cuisine. Rich red, blue, and gold hues made up the color scheme in the Ritz’s ballroom, with Indian-patterned tent fabric lining the perimeter of the room. Four tents made of lavish sari-style fabrics created intimate dining areas toward the back of the room. “We wanted to make the tables that might normally be considered far away still feel special, since everyone was quite generous when it came to ticket price,” said Marshall Stowell, YouthAIDS's deputy director and gala event planner, who noted that some tables went for more than $50,000. "If you've been to India, you know that it's chaotic and layered and colorful, and we wanted the event to reflect that sense of overwhelming beauty and total chaos."
Some 150 celebrities and high-paying guests attended the private V.I.P. reception, held on the fourth floor of the Ritz, prior to the dinner. The Inn at Little Washington provided hors d'oeuvres, while Judd, Bono, and other celebrity guests took press photos. Upstairs, dozens of items were up for bid at a silent auction, including a Kentucky Derby V.I.P. package, a Chanel handbag, and a chance to join Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema for dinner. Caterer Tandoori Nights provided finger foods and a mango chocolate curry martini called the Bombay Talkie.
On both levels, guests who didn’t arrive in saris could add a touch of India to their outfits by picking up a bindi or a turban custom-made in India especially for this event. “We wanted the guests to become part of the event,” Tutera said. “These guests go to all these fund-raisers and events, and it becomes the same old same old. I think when they are involved, they’re more invested in the party and the cause.”
A videotaped message by sitarist Ravi Shankar kicked off the night’s presentation, which included a performance by Indian comedian Russell Peters, a live auction, and a five-minute snippet of Judd’s documentary (which had been screened in its entirety the night before at the National Geographic Society). The actress spoke of her experiences as global ambassador and was followed by Bono introducing Pelosi, who accepted an award of outstanding achievement. The crowd thinned a bit after Pelosi’s speech, stopping to pick up the overloaded swag bag. The rest of the guests danced during Michael McDonald’s performance and then headed to the after-party (a new facet to the event this year, which we told you about here) downstairs in the V.I.P. reception area to hear music by DJ Rekha.
The event was clearly successful, raising more than $1.5 million for YouthAIDS, but did it pull off the India theme? Puja Gupta, this year’s Miss India, thought so. “The ambience is exactly how it is in India, with the colors and the flowers," she said. "For a second I thought there was an Indian wedding happening here."
Greenery-wrapped candelabras functioned as towering centerpieces at the YouthAIDS gala.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
A giant inflatable Moulin Rouge-style elephant, airbrushed with Indian drawings, stood at the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. This was the second year that the Ritz has hosted the YouthAIDS gala.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Guests could pick up a turban or a bindi gratis at two stations, one in the V.I.P. reception area and one upstairs in the silent-auction area, where makeup artists were ready to provide touch-ups.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Twelve members of the dance troupe Dhoonya Dance performed a high-energy routine as guests entered the ballroom.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Four fabric tents—two long and rectangular and two circular—gave the space a sense of drama.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
YouthAIDS gala producers wrapped candelabras in greenery to created towering centerpieces.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Tabletop decor included Rajasthani puppets, baskets of naan bread, red rose arrangements, gold glitter-sprayed leaves, and mosaic-tiled candleholders.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
A giant projection screen displayed a clip from Ashley Judd's National Geographic documentary, as well as footage of life in Mumbai.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
The evening's menu started with an Indian-spiced scallop atop a cucumber salad with chili oil and micro greens.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi posed with YouthAIDS director Kate Roberts, Bono, and Ashley Judd.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
The swag bags were reusable and decorated with images from the "Aldo Fights AIDS" campaign. They were filled to the brim and included MAC lip gloss, DC and Good magazines, a $25 gift certificate to Saks Fifth Avenue, Illy coffee, and a caramel apple.
Photo: Eric Powell for BizBash
