After years of generating publicity for its clients (and sometimes shielding them from it), Howard Rubenstein decided it was time to publicize his own prowess with a party packed with notable names to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his firm, Rubenstein Associates.
Held at Tavern on the Green and produced by Event Associates' Dorothy Aschkenasy, the party eschewed the red carpet treatment and instead focused on a blue theme. Blue carpet paved the way into the restaurant, and the entrance was flanked by two giant topiaries of blue hydrangeas, created by Bronson van Wyck of Van Wyck & Van Wyck. As guests entered the parking lot, two giant billboards instructed guests to "Be a part of the buzz."
Inside, the restaurant was light on decorative touches—relying mostly on Tavern's usual summer décor of floral chintz linens and lanterns and small clear vases of blush, pink, fuschia and red roses—but was heavy on bold-face names. No fewer than seven luminaries, including New York senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as Sarah Ferguson (a Rubenstein client), toasted the PR pro and praised his dedication to the city of New York and his clients. "I'm told that Howard is a master at getting people out of trouble with the media," Clinton joked. "I wouldn't know anything about that."
But after Rubenstein himself thanked his family, 170 employees and 450 clients—not all by name, thankfully—and began introducing the speakers, the crowd seemed to grow weary of the remarks. Chatter grew louder, forcing the speakers to increase their own volume. (Perhaps all those guests accustomed to being the center of attention didn't like switching roles.)
But the crowd was merry, and the food and drink were plentiful. It seemed that every corner of every room in Tavern was filled with raw bars and carving stations, as well as tables loaded with giant platters of smoked salmon, fruit and cheese and roasted vegetables. Tuxedoed waiters passed trays of cheese quesadillas, mini quiche,.phparagus spears wrapped in proscuitto and skewers of beef satay. Unlike so many events, where a few caterwaiters get bombarded by hungry guests who devour the fare practically before they can even make it out of the kitchen, Tavern's servers were loaded down with food. Suffice it to say, no one left the event hungry.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
Held at Tavern on the Green and produced by Event Associates' Dorothy Aschkenasy, the party eschewed the red carpet treatment and instead focused on a blue theme. Blue carpet paved the way into the restaurant, and the entrance was flanked by two giant topiaries of blue hydrangeas, created by Bronson van Wyck of Van Wyck & Van Wyck. As guests entered the parking lot, two giant billboards instructed guests to "Be a part of the buzz."
Inside, the restaurant was light on decorative touches—relying mostly on Tavern's usual summer décor of floral chintz linens and lanterns and small clear vases of blush, pink, fuschia and red roses—but was heavy on bold-face names. No fewer than seven luminaries, including New York senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton as well as Sarah Ferguson (a Rubenstein client), toasted the PR pro and praised his dedication to the city of New York and his clients. "I'm told that Howard is a master at getting people out of trouble with the media," Clinton joked. "I wouldn't know anything about that."
But after Rubenstein himself thanked his family, 170 employees and 450 clients—not all by name, thankfully—and began introducing the speakers, the crowd seemed to grow weary of the remarks. Chatter grew louder, forcing the speakers to increase their own volume. (Perhaps all those guests accustomed to being the center of attention didn't like switching roles.)
But the crowd was merry, and the food and drink were plentiful. It seemed that every corner of every room in Tavern was filled with raw bars and carving stations, as well as tables loaded with giant platters of smoked salmon, fruit and cheese and roasted vegetables. Tuxedoed waiters passed trays of cheese quesadillas, mini quiche,.phparagus spears wrapped in proscuitto and skewers of beef satay. Unlike so many events, where a few caterwaiters get bombarded by hungry guests who devour the fare practically before they can even make it out of the kitchen, Tavern's servers were loaded down with food. Suffice it to say, no one left the event hungry.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
A giant golden apple was one of the decor pieces amidst the boldface names at Howard Rubenstein's party for the 50th anniversary of his firm, Rubenstein Associates. The Big Apple Fest is a Rubenstein client.
As guests entered Tavern on the Green's parking lot, two giant billboards instructed them to "Be a part of the buzz."
The restaurant was light on decorative touches, relying mostly on Tavern's usual summer décor and small clear vases of blush, pink, fuschia and red roses.
Tavern on the Green was filled with raw bars and carving stations.
