Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court hosted Palm Beach Illustrated's 55th anniversary party at an invitation-only magazine-launch gala with 225 guests (including 11 of the "55 Most Fascinating Palm Beachers")—names such as Venus Williams, Tim Quinn, and David Gilmour—some of whom enjoyed complimentary Belvedere Vodka cocktails and bid in a silent auction (that started at $368) on a one-of-a-kind pink and gold Lilly Pulitzer cocktail dress, designed especially for the event to benefit the Society of the Four Arts and modeled that night by Amanda Hearst.
"We were really just hoping to celebrate the magazine and recognize the people who make it possible—everything else was just extra," said event planner Allison Reckson of the Palm Beach Media Group.
With the Brazilian Court hotel staff providing free valet service, most guests just handed off their keys and worked their way over to the courtyard, where they were met with large floral centerpieces created by Xquisite Events, oversize magazine covers mounted on laminated foamcore, the sounds of DJ Jean Marc, and overhead illumination and on-floor branding provided by Frost Lighting. Two open bars were topped with dummy Belvedere bottles that lit up, courtesy of Moët Hennessy, and at a portable grill provided by Panache: A Classic Party Rentals Company, two chefs from Café Boulud served mini cheeseburgers and mini strawberry milkshakes throughout the night.
Café Boulud butlers in black garb passed around eight types of hors d'oeuvres from 6 to 7:30 PM: Parmesan basket with goat cheese and fresh herbs; jumbo lump crab and mango in a cucumber cup; curried chicken with coconut and Vietnamese herbs; wild mushroom pomponettes; croque monsieur with truffled Mornay; shrimp samosas with tamarind chutney and mint; lamb kofta with harissa yogurt; and short rib croquettes with gribiche. For the last half hour, the hors d'oeuvres were replaced by petit fours. Throughout the entire event, though, the artisanal cheese display featuring four different types of cheeses—Grana Padano, cow's milk blue, house-made Boursin, and seasonal soft ripened—stayed in place for guests to snack.
Around 7:15 PM, Bill Wehrman, vice president of marketing for the Palm Beach Media Group, gave a very brief speech from next to the DJ booth, in which he briefly mentioned the history of Palm Beach Illustrated, thanked guests for coming, and plugged some of the things they should look forward to in upcoming editions of the magazine.
—Albert del Toral
Photos: Lucien Capehart of Lucien Capehart Photography (magazine cover)
The event took place around a fountain, and featured scattered cocktail tables that had orange linens provided by Panache, dark-colored rattan chairs, and elaborate floral centerpieces.
To benefit the Society of the Four Arts, guests bid on an original pink and gold Lilly Pulitzer cocktail dress, modeled at the event by Amanda Hearst.
Smartly dressed DJ Jean Marc entertained guests of the Brazilian Court at Café Boulud by mixing familiar pop songs with ambient music.
Several oversize Palm Beach Illustrated magazine covers, mounted on laminated foamcore, were displayed throughout the courtyard, including the one being launched that day.
Xquisite Events was responsible for all the floral work at the courtyard gala, which resulted in large standout arrangements.
Mini cheeseburgers topped with onions, lettuce, and tomato were held together by a stick and served on Café Boulud trays.
To accompany the tiny burgers, mini strawberry shakes with clear plastic straws were also served in tiny shot glasses provided by Panache.
Black-clad Café Boulud butlers passed eight kinds of hors d'oeuvres during the first hour and a half of the event, including this jumbo lump crab and mango in a cucumber cup.
Both open bars were topped with Belvedere-branded napkins and light-up dummy Belvedere bottles, courtesy of Moët Hennessy.
An artisanal cheese display featured four types of cheeses for guests to taste: Grana Padano, cow's milk blue, house-made Boursin, and seasonal soft ripened.
