The colorful bovines that dotted Manhattan all summer went on the block at a fundraising event to benefit eight nonprofit organizations. Guests started with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres from Cipriani 42nd Street at Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. The historic venue featured several cows up for auction and tables (also from Cipriani) with flowers in silver milk bottles from Ron Wendt Designs. A trio of musicians led by violinist Kenny Kosek also entertained guests.
Later, the actual auction was across the street at Cipriani 42nd Street, where guests waited for 45 minutes for Mayor Guiliani to arrive to bang the gavel for the first cow. (Sponsor Phillips Auctioneers handled the rest.) To show all 75 lots, technical director James DePalma from DePalma Production used lifts from set company Stiegelbauer Associates and workers from Tara Productions to raise each cow above the stage.
Event management firms Buckley Hall Events and Velocity Sports & Entertainment worked with the CowParade organization to plan the event, and Eventage Event Production was the company that helped with the logistics of delivering the cows for the entire CowParade project.
Although many of the guests (who paid $200 or more to attend) loudly derided Guiliani's tardiness, their disappointment didn't stop them from bidding thousands of dollars for each of the cows. The best reason for buying: "I like that cow," the guy behind us blurted after buying Naomi Campbell's piece for $24,000. Guess so.
--Chad Kaydo
Later, the actual auction was across the street at Cipriani 42nd Street, where guests waited for 45 minutes for Mayor Guiliani to arrive to bang the gavel for the first cow. (Sponsor Phillips Auctioneers handled the rest.) To show all 75 lots, technical director James DePalma from DePalma Production used lifts from set company Stiegelbauer Associates and workers from Tara Productions to raise each cow above the stage.
Event management firms Buckley Hall Events and Velocity Sports & Entertainment worked with the CowParade organization to plan the event, and Eventage Event Production was the company that helped with the logistics of delivering the cows for the entire CowParade project.
Although many of the guests (who paid $200 or more to attend) loudly derided Guiliani's tardiness, their disappointment didn't stop them from bidding thousands of dollars for each of the cows. The best reason for buying: "I like that cow," the guy behind us blurted after buying Naomi Campbell's piece for $24,000. Guess so.
--Chad Kaydo
![Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal was the site of a cocktail reception before the auction of the CowParade cows.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e447sho_00_0928_cowauction_1_320.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal was the site of a cocktail reception before the auction of the CowParade cows.
![The historic venue Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal featured several cows up for auction and tables (from Cipriani 42nd Street) with flowers in silver milk bottles from Ron Wendt Designs.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e447sho_00_0928_cowauction_2_320.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
The historic venue Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal featured several cows up for auction and tables (from Cipriani 42nd Street) with flowers in silver milk bottles from Ron Wendt Designs.
![The CowParade auction was held at the grand Cipriani 42nd Street across the street from Grand Central Terminal. Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging did the lighting and Mark Ravitz Art & Design designed the floor plan for the event.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e447sho_00_0928_cowauction_4_320.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
The CowParade auction was held at the grand Cipriani 42nd Street across the street from Grand Central Terminal. Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging did the lighting and Mark Ravitz Art & Design designed the floor plan for the event.
![At the CowParade auction, technical director James DePalma from DePalma Production used lifts from set company Stiegelbauer and workers from Tara Productions to raise each cow above the stage.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e447sho_00_0928_cowauction_5_320.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
At the CowParade auction, technical director James DePalma from DePalma Production used lifts from set company Stiegelbauer and workers from Tara Productions to raise each cow above the stage.