A Brief History of Sex (As in Sex and the City Premiere Parties)

Michael O'Connell
May 23, 2008
For each season of Sex and the City, HBO threw an equally hyped premiere celebration to herald its arrival—with shoes, bright colors, and overflowing martini glasses in no short supply. So in anticipation of Tuesday's New York premiere for the show's film continuation—and the MoMA soirée to follow—we thought we'd take a look back at some of those parties thrown to promote the original series. We covered the fourth, fifth, and sixth season launches; here's a look back.
Shoe cookies at Sex and the City's season five premiere
Shoe cookies at Sex and the City's season five premiere
Photo: BizBash
The fourth season premiere, in 2001, found guests lounging on beds in the Tent at Lincoln Center.
The fourth season premiere, in 2001, found guests lounging on beds in the Tent at Lincoln Center.
Photo: BizBash
The 2001 party also featured a sculpture of Manolo Blahnik boxes and 80 pairs of shoes in a plexiglass tower.
The 2001 party also featured a sculpture of Manolo Blahnik boxes and 80 pairs of shoes in a plexiglass tower.
Photo: BizBash
Waiters served shoe-shaped cookies from Manolo Blahnik boxes during the fifth-season premiere, in 2002.
Waiters served shoe-shaped cookies from Manolo Blahnik boxes during the fifth-season premiere, in 2002.
Photo: BizBash
Wavy neon sculptures decorated the American Museum of Natural History's outdoor terrace at the 2002 party, with the Hayden Planetarium lit blue behind it.
Wavy neon sculptures decorated the American Museum of Natural History's outdoor terrace at the 2002 party, with the Hayden Planetarium lit blue behind it.
Photo: BizBash
Moving green lights illuminated the giant Blue Whale replica and the Hall of Ocean Life during the premiere for the show's final season, at the American Museum of Natural History in 2003.
Moving green lights illuminated the giant Blue Whale replica and the Hall of Ocean Life during the premiere for the show's final season, at the American Museum of Natural History in 2003.
Photo: BizBash
In 2003, guests sipped cocktails at tables draped in velvety lime-green tablecloths, just feet from displays of prehistoric sea life.
In 2003, guests sipped cocktails at tables draped in velvety lime-green tablecloths, just feet from displays of prehistoric sea life.
Photo: BizBash
Latest in Tabletop
David Stark also created unique centerpieces for the 2018 Robin Hood benefit, also held at the Javits Center. The event, which had a “Lights of New York” theme, featured three-sided mini marquee centerpieces that offered messages of gratitude and celebrated the organization's anniversary.
Tabletop
15 Unexpected Centerpieces We Can't Stop Thinking About
Wow Attendees with a Tablescape From ART2TABLE
Tabletop
Why This Event Prof Left New York to Start Her Own Business in the Caribbean
Holiday Table Inspiration From Dine by Design
Tabletop
How Apartment Therapy and Pinterest Came Together to Create Showstopping Tablescapes—Just in Time for the Holidays
In September, Blueprint Studios designed and produced the San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Celebration Gala. At the arrival reception and dinner, an indigo and goldenrod color palette found in the table linens and flatware was especially striking. The team at the San Francisco-based event production company also used a mix of periodic textiles such as velvet, leather, crystal, mirror, and ostrich plumes throughout. See more: Over-the-Top Design Inspiration From Two of San Francisco's Most Swoon-Worthy Galas
Tabletop
10 Stunning Tabletop Looks We've Loved Recently
Related Stories
A hot night for a benefit in Burbank
Tabletop
Hot Plates
The aquarium's resident great horned owl, Hootie, mingled with event guests while perched on his handler's arm.
Tabletop
Aquarium Shines at Annual Sea Grapes Festival
Party Rental Ltd.'s new square tables are covered in faux leather.
Tabletop
Table Linens Not Required
The entrance to the Ballet gala
Tabletop
A Storybook Ending
More in Tabletop
Tabletop
15 Unexpected Centerpieces We Can't Stop Thinking About
From interactive musical instruments to marquee signage to mini cityscapes, here are some of the most unique event centerpieces we’ve spotted over the years.
David Stark also created unique centerpieces for the 2018 Robin Hood benefit, also held at the Javits Center. The event, which had a “Lights of New York” theme, featured three-sided mini marquee centerpieces that offered messages of gratitude and celebrated the organization's anniversary.
Tabletop
Why This Event Prof Left New York to Start Her Own Business in the Caribbean
Meagan Hundt spent over a decade producing events in Manhattan—but the pandemic brought her to St. Barts. Now she's creating intricate tablescapes with her newly launched company, ART2TABLE.
Wow Attendees with a Tablescape From ART2TABLE
Tabletop
How Apartment Therapy and Pinterest Came Together to Create Showstopping Tablescapes—Just in Time for the Holidays
In perfect timing with the season of gathering, 10 designers brought their own personal style to the table—literally—at Dine By Design, inspiring guests to get creative with their holiday place settings in the coming weeks.
Holiday Table Inspiration From Dine by Design
Tabletop
10 Stunning Tabletop Looks We've Loved Recently
From florals encased in ice to a French-inspired dining vignette, we've rounded up a handful of looks that made us wish we had a seat at every table.
In September, Blueprint Studios designed and produced the San Francisco Opera’s Centennial Celebration Gala. At the arrival reception and dinner, an indigo and goldenrod color palette found in the table linens and flatware was especially striking. The team at the San Francisco-based event production company also used a mix of periodic textiles such as velvet, leather, crystal, mirror, and ostrich plumes throughout. See more: Over-the-Top Design Inspiration From Two of San Francisco's Most Swoon-Worthy Galas
Tabletop
8 Tabletop Design Ideas for a Mother's Day Luncheon
However you're celebrating the upcoming holiday—whether over Zoom or in person—make it an occasion to remember with a thoughtful tablescape.
Another inspiration tabletop spotted at DIFFA's annual event, this ethereal display marries feminine hues with metallic touches for a showstopping setting—certainly better suited for those with a go-big-or-go-home mindset. See more: 18 Dining and Tabletop Ideas From Diffa's 2019 Dining by Design
Tabletop
#ThrowbackThursday: 12 Inspirational Installations From DIFFA's Dining By Design
Looking for some inspiration? Look no further. While DIFFA's signature fundraiser has been postponed until 2021, we're taking a look back at top moments from years past as an ode to the creativity-filled benefit.
Novita Communications partnered with design studio Maiarelli Studio to create an installation that aimed to connect reading with the feeling of empathy. Instead of plates, open overturned books covering the topic of AIDS occupied the place settings, and stacks of books served as table legs.
Most Popular
Sports
See Inside Augusta After Dark—The Masters' Boldest Break From Tradition Yet
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Coachella 2025: The Most Talked-About Brand Moments and VIP Happenings
Meetings
Business Trip: How Psychedelic Retreats Became the Hottest Corporate Group Activity
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
29Rooms Returns: See Inside the First Stop of the Immersive Experience’s Road Trip
Event Production & Fabrication
Secrets, Spirits, and Surprises: Inside Monkey 47’s Mysterious Event Tour
Event Production & Fabrication
See Inside the 'Most Sustainable Large-Scale Music Festival on the Planet'
Sponsored
Event Planners Are Thinking Micro To Bring Back Live Events
Coastal Cool - One of many hyper-curated tablescapes from Hestia Harlow, the newly launched event platform that's creating a revolution in our industry.
Event Design & Decor
Forecast: 10 New Products & Ideas for Summer Events
Ideas, products, trends, and other new stuff to have on your radar from across North America.
The Lodge at Sonoma recently launched its Sonoma Bike Tour program, created in partnership with Mission Bicycle Company, a boutique bicycle shop in San Francisco. The program features an insider’s guide to spots in Sonoma within biking distance, and the Ultimate Wine Country Bike Tour Package (starting at $344) includes the use of two custom wine-colored bikes made exclusively for the lodge. Plus, guests can go on a scavenger hunt with stops and tasks at participating locations such as tasting the special “Vella” cheese at the Vella Creamery.
Event Design & Decor
5 Cool Ways to Use Graffiti at Events
Street-style tagging adds color and vibrance to events. Here are some eye-catching, out-of-the-box ways to use graffiti in tabletop design, rentals, catering, and more.
2. Brighten up a seating area.
Printing & Graphics
10 Creative Menu Designs Your Guests Will Eat Up
Here are some ways to make the menu look as appealing as the meal printed on it.
For a private wedding, held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington in March 2018, Favored by Yodit Events & Design and By Dami Studios created golden menus with cherry blossom frames to mimic the event’s theme.
Tabletop
18 Dining and Tabletop Ideas From Diffa's 2019 Dining by Design
From a whimsical peacock-feather tablecloth to trompe l’oeil details, the fund-raising event offered up cool, creative, and clever concepts for decor, lighting, themes, and more.
Novita Communications partnered with design studio Maiarelli Studio to create an installation that aimed to connect reading with the feeling of empathy. Instead of plates, open, overturned books, each covering the topic of AIDS, occupied the place settings and stacks of books served as table legs.
Tabletop
10 Best Ideas of the Week: a D.I.Y. Gin Spritz Wall, Warhol-Inspired Poppy Centerpieces, a Vintage Typewriter Installation
Here's a look at 10 steal-worthy ideas we spotted this week.
It’s A Thing Experience
Page 1 of 45
Next Page