Astronauts Greet, Galileo Tends Bar at Adler Planetarium's Celestial Ball

On Saturday night, costumed astronauts lined the steps of the Adler Planetarium, ready to welcome some 600 guests to the women's board's Celestial Ball. Event chair Lisa Lewis worked with co-chairs Laura Myntti and Kimberly Rachal to plan this year's benefit, which had a "Cosmic Fusion" theme that played out in Ronsley Special Events' decor and Food for Thought's internationally inflected menu.

In the musem's glass-enclosed Sky Pavilion—which hosted the cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, and after-dinner dancing—Moroccan lanterns topped highboy tables and illuminated lounge areas filled with colorful furniture that Ronsley designed for the ball. Food for Thought staffers circulated with an array of appetizers that included Bengali roasted chestnut soup and Moroccan-style strudel stuffed with braised duck. Beside the planetarium's prop sun, a bartender dressed as Galileo doled out flutes of champagne and served as a cheeky nod to the 400th anniversary of the astromer's first use of the telescope.

Dinner—which comprised yellow lentil soup and oregano-scented beef tenderloin—took place in the lower-level galleries and in the Sky Theater, where Ronsley decorated tables in three alternating styles. Red lamour linens covered one set of tables, which bore centerpieces of twisted red branches and oversize Chinese umbrellas. African Kente-cloth runners played into a second design scheme, which also incorporated paper lanterns and yellow Billy ball flowers. In a third, Moroccan-style arrangement, wooden trays held red and golden orchids and amber glass lanterns were lit with candles.

Though planners are still tabulating the evening's final take, the ball was expected to raise about $450,000.