After the Academy Awards' surprise ending—in the form of Crash's Best Picture win—the only thing left to do was head to the parties. And with dozens of hosts vying for high-profile guests around town, the Academy's official Governors Ball—just upstairs in the Hollywood & Highland Center's ballroom—was the place where most of the boldface names started their circuit. In fact, a whopping 1,560 guests filled the cavernous space, which alternately glowed pink, purple, blue, and green throughout the night as thousands of clear glass tubes suspended from the ceiling picked up the changing hues of florescent lighting. The academy's appointed ball chairwoman, Cheryl Boone-Isaacs, worked with Cheryl Cecchetto and Sequoia Productions on the massive party.Nearly 200 clear glass dining tables were set with a Zen-like simplicity, some covered in white Ultrasuede from Classic Party Rentals. Most featured floral arrangements from Mark's Garden with white and lime green Cymbidium orchids, horsetail, moss, and lichens; the remaining 52 tables had more elaborate working waterfall fountains as centerpieces. The space also featured a dramatic flowing water wall. The no-holds-barred menu, prepared by Wolfgang Puck, used more than 35 pounds each of black truffle and caviar. Dishes included tuna tartare in sesame cones, mini cheeseburgers, four-cheese pizza, citrus marinated shrimp, and celery root soup with fuji apples and 24-karat gold garnish. (Although a Puck spokesperson declined to give us an actual price for the tab, she said our estimate of between $450 and $750 a head was appropriate—that's as much as $1 million just for the catering bill and related costs of dining service.) Desserts included more than 4,200 chocolate Oscar statuettes.
Jazz vocalist Patti Austin was the featured entertainment, and
the Gregg Field Orchestra and saxophonist Tom Scott also performed as keyed-up guests impatiently moved about the space.
(By the way, lest so much production go to waste on the big night alone, part of the ballroom had been set a full two weeks before the Oscars—there were several prefunctions in the space, too, including a press preview of the decor two weeks in advance and a cocktail party the night before that allowed press and other invited guests to see the space, sample the food, and watch a run-through of the telecast in the adjacent theater.)
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 03.07.06
Photos: Nadine Froger Photography
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Jazz vocalist Patti Austin was the featured entertainment, and
the Gregg Field Orchestra and saxophonist Tom Scott also performed as keyed-up guests impatiently moved about the space.
(By the way, lest so much production go to waste on the big night alone, part of the ballroom had been set a full two weeks before the Oscars—there were several prefunctions in the space, too, including a press preview of the decor two weeks in advance and a cocktail party the night before that allowed press and other invited guests to see the space, sample the food, and watch a run-through of the telecast in the adjacent theater.)
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 03.07.06
Photos: Nadine Froger Photography
Related Stories
Us Weekly Offers Oscar Night Alternative
Elton Hosts Massive, Tented Feast
Big Oscar Parties Mean Big Money
Oscar Governors Ball Has Opulent Look
The Academy's Governors Ball at the Hollywood & Highland Center ballroom had a chic look with thousands of clear glass tubes suspended from the ceiling.
The room alternately glowed pink, purple, blue, and green as glass tubes picked up the changing hues of florescent lighting.
White and lime green Cymbidium orchids from Mark's Garden topped the tables.
White Ultrasuede covered the chairs and some of the tables.
