Truman Capote would have been proud of the New York Public Library's annual Young Lions benefit, since it borrowed one of his signature ideas. The black-and-white masquerade theme for this year's dinner and dance planned by the library's special events coordinator Joey Hogue was inspired by Capote's legendary 1966 fete at the Plaza in honor of Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham.
Creative Edge Parties catered dinner, which was served in the Celeste Bartos Forum, where black-and-white linens, all-white floral centerpieces wrapped in white ribbons and white votives lining the moldings created an understated look.
After dinner, guests moved upstairs, where the ladies were invited to pick up a mask or string of costume pearls before heading into Astor Hall. (Although there was no excuse for showing up under-accessorized: The die-cut invitation—patterned after the original invitation to Capote's '66 party—explicitly called for masks and fans.)
Around the perimeter of the dance floor and in the adjacent lounge, Van Wyck & Van Wyck created Lucite cubes and coffee tables filled with white gerberas, hydrangeas, floating candles and feathers and topped with white votives and orchids. Full-length wood-framed mirrors around the room reflected the white light of spinning disco balls onto the guests dancing to upbeat music by Clockwork Productions. Those seeking repose could recline on white ottomans topped with an array of green and white striped throw pillows.
Since the library sold some reduced-price dance-only tickets that excluded dinner, Creative Edge also presented a buffet and cheese station, with additional hors d'oeuvres passed among the masked black-and-white clad revelers in Astor Hall.
—Alesandra Dubin
Read our coverage of last year's benefit...
Read our coverage of the 2002 benefit...
Read our coverage of the 2001 benefit...
Creative Edge Parties catered dinner, which was served in the Celeste Bartos Forum, where black-and-white linens, all-white floral centerpieces wrapped in white ribbons and white votives lining the moldings created an understated look.
After dinner, guests moved upstairs, where the ladies were invited to pick up a mask or string of costume pearls before heading into Astor Hall. (Although there was no excuse for showing up under-accessorized: The die-cut invitation—patterned after the original invitation to Capote's '66 party—explicitly called for masks and fans.)
Around the perimeter of the dance floor and in the adjacent lounge, Van Wyck & Van Wyck created Lucite cubes and coffee tables filled with white gerberas, hydrangeas, floating candles and feathers and topped with white votives and orchids. Full-length wood-framed mirrors around the room reflected the white light of spinning disco balls onto the guests dancing to upbeat music by Clockwork Productions. Those seeking repose could recline on white ottomans topped with an array of green and white striped throw pillows.
Since the library sold some reduced-price dance-only tickets that excluded dinner, Creative Edge also presented a buffet and cheese station, with additional hors d'oeuvres passed among the masked black-and-white clad revelers in Astor Hall.
—Alesandra Dubin
Read our coverage of last year's benefit...
Read our coverage of the 2002 benefit...
Read our coverage of the 2001 benefit...
The black-and-white masquerade theme for this year's New York Public Library Young Lions benefit was inspired by Truman Capote's legendary 1966 fete.
Van Wyck & Van Wyck created Lucite cubes and coffee tables filled with white gerberas, hydrangeas, candles and feathers and topped with white votives and floating orchids.
Full-length wood-framed mirrors around the room reflected the white light of spinning disco balls.
The benefit's invitation—patterned after the original invitation to Capote's '66 party—called for masks and fans.
