The annual Downtown Dinner, an evening to benefit the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, returned Monday night to honor real estate partners who've donated unused office space to artists over the past year. A crowd of 500 turned out for the celebration at 7 World Trade Center that included a dance performance choreographed by L.M.C.C. resident artist Rashaad Newsome and a mobile installation by Hanna Sandin that covered the dining room ceiling.
Produced by L.M.C.C. director of development Elaine Bowen and marketing and communications manager Savannah Gorton with help from Bruce Rayvid Projects the night included a cocktail reception and silent art sale, a meal catered by Great Performances, and an after-party dance. L.M.C.C. real estate partners were honored with a presentation and trophies in the form of tiny pink replicas of the Statue of Liberty.
After the cocktail reception, guests including Phillip Seymour Hoffman headed into the dining room, where the meal took place under dozens of mobiles designed by artist Hanna Sandin. Spanning the entire room, the installation utilized household items such as dusters and tubing, original pieces of metalwork, and odd pieces such as a white Andy Warhol wig. The meal itself included a deconstructed chicken pot pie and a white asparagus soup that servers dramatically poured over a seafood saucisson when guests took their seats.
Monday's scene might have seemed similar to recent incarnations in 2007 and 2008 for many returning guests, but there was one big difference: The venue had moved a few floors down. The 52nd floor of 7 World Trade was recently leased, so events are now being hosted in an almost identical space on the 45th floor.
