Although Rosie O'Donnell is preparing to wrap-up her daytime TV gig, she was promoting her print efforts by celebrating the first anniversary of her self-titled magazine, Rosie, and the launch of her memoir, Find Me (Warner Books) with lots of festive food at a party at the International Center of Photography.
Rosie marketing director Lynne Berentson planned the event with a few of Rosie's favorite things: gourmet Mallomar bar knock-offs, a guest performance by 70s songstress Roberta Flack, and a video montage of still photos taken by O'Donnell. DJ Tom Finn even spun a mix of songs hand-picked by O'Donnell between impromptu performances by Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray, and--of course--O'Donnell herself, as four monitors played live feeds of the performances throughout the space.
For the food, Mood Food created a large ice sculpture--with Rosie's nickname "Ro" carved out at the top--to hold crab claws, shrimp and exotic sauces like lemongrass vinaigrette and passion fruit chili in carved out shelves. Other seafood cocktails: margarita shrimp with avocado sauce, oyster shooters and martini lobster. A year of Rosie covers lined the wall behind the food station, and Mood Food placed simple pink and violet rose bouquets in clear cylindrical vases around the space.
Guests also munched from a dumpling bar with chili wontons and short-rib potstickers, and ten types of passed hors d'oeuvres including mini southwestern cheese steaks with chipotle sauce, macaroni and cheese truffles in mini Parmesan baskets, cheese fondue cream puffs and black-and-white sesame crusted tuna with wasabi sauce.
No anniversary party would be complete without a cake, so Mood Food created a seven-tiered yellow one (measuring just under five feet) lined with mini cupcakes and topped with a #1 candle.
Rosie marketing director Lynne Berentson planned the event with a few of Rosie's favorite things: gourmet Mallomar bar knock-offs, a guest performance by 70s songstress Roberta Flack, and a video montage of still photos taken by O'Donnell. DJ Tom Finn even spun a mix of songs hand-picked by O'Donnell between impromptu performances by Patti LaBelle, Macy Gray, and--of course--O'Donnell herself, as four monitors played live feeds of the performances throughout the space.
For the food, Mood Food created a large ice sculpture--with Rosie's nickname "Ro" carved out at the top--to hold crab claws, shrimp and exotic sauces like lemongrass vinaigrette and passion fruit chili in carved out shelves. Other seafood cocktails: margarita shrimp with avocado sauce, oyster shooters and martini lobster. A year of Rosie covers lined the wall behind the food station, and Mood Food placed simple pink and violet rose bouquets in clear cylindrical vases around the space.
Guests also munched from a dumpling bar with chili wontons and short-rib potstickers, and ten types of passed hors d'oeuvres including mini southwestern cheese steaks with chipotle sauce, macaroni and cheese truffles in mini Parmesan baskets, cheese fondue cream puffs and black-and-white sesame crusted tuna with wasabi sauce.
No anniversary party would be complete without a cake, so Mood Food created a seven-tiered yellow one (measuring just under five feet) lined with mini cupcakes and topped with a #1 candle.
And no party put on by product-loving O'Donnell could end without a well-stocked gift bag. (Last year's Rosie launch party had what could be the largest bag ever given at a magazine wingding.) Guests left with a stuffed nylon tote goodie bag crafted by Roots, and filled with over a dozen treats, including cookies from Tom's Cookies, WNBA tickets, Godiva chocolate, Almay cosmetics and, of course, the anniversary issue of Rosie and a copy of Find Me.
Read our coverage of the Rosie launch party...
Patti LaBelle and Roberta Flack surprised Rosie O'Donnell with a performance at the party to celebrate Rosie magazine's first anniversary and the launch of O'Donnell's new book at the International Center of Photography. (Photo by Doug Goodman)
Mood Food brought in a large ice sculpture with "Ro" carved on top to hold seafood cocktails and sauces. (Photo by Doug Goodman)
A seven-tiered cake was lined with mini cupcakes and topped with a #1 candle to celebrate the mag's first anniversary. (Photo by Doug Goodman)
Mood Food decorated tables with bouquets of pink and violet roses in clear cylindical vases.
