Divas Diana Ross and Roberta Flack kicked off Jazz at Lincoln Center's (JALC) annual fall gala, and they also inspired the event's decor. As a tribute to the event's "Here's
to the Ladies: a Celebration of Great Women in Jazz" theme, David Beahm of David Beahm Designs transformed the New York State Theater into an intimate jazz-era nightclub for the fund-raiser, which was organized by JALC's Ann Moore and Bret Silver.
"With the incredible array of female musical talent in attendance, I thought of New York nightclubs back when they were all the rage," Beahm said. "I wanted to bring back that palm-filled, romantic and sexy nightclub feel." Beahm created two different centerpieces—one consisted of two dozen white Virginia roses, the other miniature palm trees—for the more than 100 tables located on the two levels of the dining room. "I used Virginia roses because they are reminiscent of gardenias," Beahm said. "Billie Holiday always wore a white gardenia in her hair." The dinner tables were covered with votives and shiny green tablecloths. Beahm set several half tables along the balcony railing facing the main dining room below. "It was important to me that the guests dining on the second level felt connected and a part of the party," Beahm said.
A small orchestra comprised of musicians from the Juilliard School entertained the 1,000 guests in attendance—who helped raise $1.38 million for performance and education programs produced by JALC, and whose new home in the Time Warner Center will open in October 2004. Great Performances' three-course dinner consisted of roasted pears filled with gorgonzola cheese and micro greens with a sherry shallot vinaigrette for the first course. Dinner was an osso bucco with caramelized shallot and Grand Marnier marmalade over creamy parmesan polenta and braised mustard greens. A chocolate tart with an assortment of berries was served for dessert.
—Jim Shi
to the Ladies: a Celebration of Great Women in Jazz" theme, David Beahm of David Beahm Designs transformed the New York State Theater into an intimate jazz-era nightclub for the fund-raiser, which was organized by JALC's Ann Moore and Bret Silver.
"With the incredible array of female musical talent in attendance, I thought of New York nightclubs back when they were all the rage," Beahm said. "I wanted to bring back that palm-filled, romantic and sexy nightclub feel." Beahm created two different centerpieces—one consisted of two dozen white Virginia roses, the other miniature palm trees—for the more than 100 tables located on the two levels of the dining room. "I used Virginia roses because they are reminiscent of gardenias," Beahm said. "Billie Holiday always wore a white gardenia in her hair." The dinner tables were covered with votives and shiny green tablecloths. Beahm set several half tables along the balcony railing facing the main dining room below. "It was important to me that the guests dining on the second level felt connected and a part of the party," Beahm said.
A small orchestra comprised of musicians from the Juilliard School entertained the 1,000 guests in attendance—who helped raise $1.38 million for performance and education programs produced by JALC, and whose new home in the Time Warner Center will open in October 2004. Great Performances' three-course dinner consisted of roasted pears filled with gorgonzola cheese and micro greens with a sherry shallot vinaigrette for the first course. Dinner was an osso bucco with caramelized shallot and Grand Marnier marmalade over creamy parmesan polenta and braised mustard greens. A chocolate tart with an assortment of berries was served for dessert.
—Jim Shi
For Jazz at Lincoln Center's fall gala, event designer David Beahm placed centerpieces of miniature palm trees on the dinner tables. Half tables on the upper level gave second-floor attendees a better view of the main floor.
White Virginia roses decorated the dinner tables, which Great Performances catered.
Beahm's design for the event made the New York State Theater an intimate jazz-era nightclub.
