Ceiling Treatments

Patina Catering prepared the food for the 17th time, serving a first course of smoked salmon avocado spheres, a main course of roasted tenderloin with mushroom risotto fries, and a dessert of white chocolate raspberry cake. Marich Confections was this year's chocolate sponsor, for more sweets.

After abandoning its seated dinner format last year, the ball, produced and designed once again by Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions, stuck with a sampling of more than 50 passed bites and plates from Wolfgang Puck and chef Matt Bencivenga, including a greater emphasis on meatless dishes. Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland returned to chair the ball.

Mark Held of Mark's Garden matched the overall aubergine color scheme using orchids, artichokes, calla lilies, kale, and fern shoots as part of the floral decor. And flowers appeared to grow out of the pedestals of glass-topped cocktail tables.