A lion statue adorned with a top hat and bow tie on Fifth Avenue can only mean one thing: the New York Public Library's annual Library Lions benefit. The library's biggest fund-raising event—and one of our top 100 events—honored individuals from literary, academic, theater and dance circles in an autumn-inspired setting at the library's grandiose main building, and was planned by Kathryn Laino, the library's manager of special events.Four hundred guests gathered for cocktails in Astor Hall, which was filled with large candelabras and lush sunflower, branch and leaf arrangements in tall urns by L'Olivier Floral Atelier. Guests were herded to the Celeste Bartos Forum room for dinner, where Frost Lighting cast an amber light over the room and tables were decorated simply with sunflowers in squat green vases. Glorious Food served a simple three-course dinner of sole and salmon, breast of capon filled with lemon ginger mousse and apple pie with vanilla bean ice cream.
—Jill Musguire
Read about last year's benefit...
—Jill Musguire
Read about last year's benefit...
At the New York Public Library's Library Lions benefit in the main library on Fifth Avenue, L'Olivier Floral Atelier decorated tables with bunches of sunflowers in squat green vases.
Guests dined in the Celeste Bartos Forum, where Frost Lighting cast an amber light.
Large candelabras and lush sunflower, branch and leaf arrangements filled Astor Hall for the cocktail hour.
