Curtsying around town

Debutantes and Escorts curtsy and bow at the 54th Annual Viennese Opera Ball.

Some came in masks, and all arrived in their most formal attire at the 54th Annual Viennese Opera Ball (VOB) in New York earlier last month. Strauss’ “Prince Orlofsky” (“Die Fledermaus”) welcomed guests to a “Masked Night at the Opera and “hosted” the legendary charity gala at his fictional “villa.” All in the Grand Ballroom floor of the Waldorf Astoria.

This Ball marked many “firsts” including a mini opera, as “Prince Orlofsky” brought together two people looking for true love over the course of the evening. Peter Duchin and his orchestra provided his special musical touches throughout an evening filled with new twists.

"Royal Coach" bringing "Kaiser Franz Joseph" to the Ball

Entrance procession of 2009 Debutantes and escorts

This year there was a strong, heightened interest from the US and International Debutantes. The maximum compliment of the Cotillion was reached with a wait-list set for the 2010 Ball.

The 2009 Debs included a Swiss Diplomat’s daughter, three seniors from Rye High School (NY); and others fresh from the recent International Ball. Their Escorts included the son of an Austrian Ambassador, as well as others who were also at the International Ball. Some were students; some work in business and finance.

Horses roam the hallway of the Waldorf =Astoria on their way to the 2009 Viennese Opera Ball, dressed to the “nines”

West Point Cadet escorts Miss USA Crystle Stewart

Alyson Cambridge John Moore (both of the Metropolitan Opera Company)

Debutantes, Diplomats and Dignitaries opened the international ball, long regarded as one of New York’s “greatest annual events,” which garners worldwide media coverage. There were four generations of guests (from 14 to 94!). The Ball reflects the universal appeal of Austria’s cultural and culinary treasures.

After 53 years of donating to medical and humanitarian 501(c)(3) organizations, the Ball has expanded its philanthropic outreach and will make its international donation to a global humanitarian organization dedicated to helping under-served children. At the Ball the charity was announced as SOS International. www.vienneseoperaball.us [1].

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen (Debi) Harnik

H.E. Ambassador and Mrs. Heller (Mexican Ambassador to the UN) with H.E. Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting (Austrian Ambassador to the UN)

The Honorable Brigitta Blaha (Consul General of Austria) and Johannes Hofer, Pres of the US-Austrian Chamber of Commerce

Dieter Bintrexler, Chairman of the VOB Executive Committee

Marcie Rudell (Executive Director of the Viennese Opera Ball) with
Hedi Herz and William Barron (Benefit Committee member)

Mrs. and Mr. John Sullivan

Renate Brauner (Vice-Governor and Deputy Mayor of Vienna), Crystle Stewart (Reigning Miss USA), and The Honorable Brigitta Blaha (Consul General of Austria)

Peter Duchin

Alfons Haider (emcee) and Marcie Rudell (Executive Director of the Viennese Opera Ball)

Viennese Opera Ball Junior Committee Co-Chairs Ingrid Adelsberger, Jennifer Rolfe, and Hans Luther

Guests at the Tanz Bar after-party

Kate Lindsey as Prince Orlofsky welcomes guest to the Ball (courtesy Metropolitan Opera Company)

Mrs. and Mr. Lawrence Doyle

Casino Royal at the “Tanz Bar” afterparty

The Roger Vivier boutique at 750 Madison Avenue opened its doors for an exclusive shopping experience with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting the French Institute Alliance Francaise. The evening was hosted by Roger Vivier’s Ines de la Fressange and the Curator in Chief of the Musee de La Mode Et Du Textile, Paris, Pamela Golbin and FIAF’s president, Marie-Monique Steckel.

Ines de la Fressange and Pamela Golbin

Christine Chun, Juliette Longuet, and Stephanie D'Halluin

Urelie Motta Rivy, Pascale Richard, and Valerie Pozzo Di Borgo

Ines de la Fressange and friends

Marie-Monique Steckel and Sarah Wolfe

Stephanie Long, Marie-Monique Steckel, Giancarlo Canavesio, and Suzi Winson

Christine Cachot, Candice Barbe, and Isabelle Lesevgregary

Michele Gerber Klein, Ines de la Fressange, and Gilles Bensimon

This past Thursday, February 12, Van Cleef & Arpels hosted the kick-off party for the School of American Ballet’s Winter Ball. This year the school of American Ballet is celebrating its 75th anniversary. It was an intimate evening of cocktails and guests were invited to view private and exclusive collections of Van Cleef’s jewelry in honor of celebrating their partnership with The School of American Ballet (SAB).

Ling Tan, Yilin Hsu, Zang Toi, Nicolas Luchsinger, and Deborah Fenker

Hosting the event were Nicolas Luchsinger, Peter Martins, the Artistic Director and Chairman of Faculties (SAB), and Robert Fribourg, Chairman of the Board (SAB).

Albert Bellas and Bob Fribourg

Jay Diamond and Alexandra Lebenthal

Kate Davidson Hudson and Zang Toi

Jill Kargman and Liz Peek

Nicolas Luchsinger, Bob Fribourg, Peter Martins, and Emmanuel Perrin

Adam Hendrickson and Sara Mearns

Manuela Barrera, Carla LaMonte, and Brent Nestor

Katie and Liz Peek

Alicia Mugetti

Alexis Tobin and Charles Darling

Philippa Ward and Genevieve Labean hosted a special evening of cocktails and shopping at Tory Burch’s newest store. More than 100 people gathered and shopped at the chic boutique located in the heart of the Meatpacking District. The event benefited Joan's Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer, a charitable organization committed to fighting lung cancer by funding innovative research.

Chelsea Clinton, Genevieve Labean, and Dee Dee Sides

Chad Ritchie and Philippa Ward

Alexander and Alexandra Hack

Marjorie Margolies, Marc Mezvinsky, and Genevieve Labean

Jill Evans, Linda Lee, Neda Morullo, and Darby Dunn

Amanda Williamson and Shannon Lavin

Clifton Berry and Valeri Sitler

Jonathan Keidan, Nicole Nicholson, Alex Lasky, and Jessica Kanto

Sally Randall Brunger and Mel Rose

Stephanie Taramu, Simone Klein, and Sandra Curtin

It was 30 degrees outside and tropical inside the Rain Forest habitat at the Central Park Zoo last week as Elizabeth Belfer, Mary Dailey Pattee, Diana Townsend-Butterworth as well as the Wildlife Conservation Society Council hosted their annual cocktail party for young professionals.

Many of the guests heeded the invitation request and dressed in tropical attire as they enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while observing the tropical wildlife. The biggest hit of the night was a two-year-old Ball Python who seemed to enjoy wrapping herself around her handler who in turn didn’t seem to mind having the nearly four-foot long snake slithering around her as she answered questions from fascinated guests. Much of the $20,000 raised from this event will go to support WCS's local and global efforts of conservation, wildlife protection and appreciation of the natural world we inhabit.

Be sure to mark your date books; you won’t want to miss the Wildlife Conservation Society’s "An Evening at the Central Park Zoo." Wednesday, June 10th which will begin with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the zoo’s Sea Lion Pool.

Andrew Flach and Elizabeth Belfer

Pim Savetmalanond and Suzanne Boldug

Margo Hill and Remmington Curtis

Joseph Konzelmann with Clare and Lydia Gidwitz

Julien Beguin and Sarah Moulton

Melissa Nason, Pheebe Dick, and Holly Fahmer

Ashley Hobes and Courtney Quick

Dale Brooks

Lacey Booth and Lydia Gidwitz

Daniel Entwistle, Mimi Stovell, Nick Young

Jill Schneiderman, Adam Piekarski, and Katherine Heyman

Paul Desmarais and Mary Daily Pattee

Elizabeth Bishop, Beth Steinberg, and Gabriella Gutowski

Helen Milson and Victor Anselmi

Caroline Rowley and Kristin Pisarcik

Monique Roeder and Brian Haklisch

Julia Wetherell and Hayes Miller

Dennis Kyriakos

Stephanie Xethalis and Polly Matlock

John Royal and Kristin Pisarcik

Theodora Clarke, Julien Beguin, Sarah Moulton, Caroline Rowley, and Kristin Pisarcik

John Dalsheim and Elissa Coughlin

Katherine White, Victoria Kong, William Tully, and Alexandra Hoch

Lily Miller, Nicole Baker, Amie Figueiredo, and Michelle Kahn

Stephanie Brag, Dinah Walter, and Amy Leeds

Alegra Viola and Dailey Jones Pattee

Salvator Behar and Dale Brooks

A couple weeks ago, Young New Yorkers enjoyed their annual winter benefit, A Mid-Winter's Eve, raising over $83,000. The evening began with a New York Philharmonic concert conducted by Kurt Masur, a champagne reception at intermission and was followed by a dinner-dance. 190 Young New Yorkers attended the concert and 260 attended the dinner-dance. The evening was made possible by generous support from Steuben Glass.

The Young New Yorkers for the Philharmonic comprises people ages 21-40 who appreciate and support the New York Philharmonic and symphonic music. The Young New Yorkers enjoy unique opportunities to attend concerts as well as social and educational events in the company of friends and support one of the city's most valuable cultural resources. Founded in 1994, the group includes over 4,500 members. We hope that many, if not all, will develop long-term relationships with the Philharmonic as subscribers, patrons and volunteers.

Lauren Bernstein, Rebecca Siegel, Ashleigh Pattee, and Michelle Miller

Jason Miller, Charles Winn, McDowell Winn, and Julie Miller

Kaitlin Windle and Elizabeth Howard

Constantine Demetracopoulos, Allison Newell Demetracopoulos, Katie Hyde, and Mark Schrumpf

Courtney Quick and Charles Burdett

Anne de la Gueronniere, Heather Dunleavy, and Marc-Andre Nantais

O'Brien Murray, Jackie Keber, and Chris Keber

Andrew Oshin and Michelle Smith

Alexander Busse and Rose Adkins

Nikki Breedlove and, YNY Chair, and Chris George

Abby and Ed Vietor

Sandra Kozlowski and John-Claude Saltiel

Indre Rockefeller and Michelle Edgar

Mark Gilbertson and Lil Phillips

Sloan McClure and Alex Overstrom

Andrew Oshin, Michelle Smith, and Mark Gilbertson

Melissa Fisher, Penn Egbert (YNY Chair), and Tracy Crane

Liz Dussault and, YNY Chair, and Paul Desmarais

Jessica Betts and Dawne Marie Grannum

Chris Leach and Melissa Fisher

John Mansfield, Amy Connor, Elizabeth Marshall, and Keith Connor

YNY Chairs Penn Egbert, Georgina Schaeffer and Chris George presenting prize from Steuben Glass to Emily Berger (front w/ gift box)

Last Friday night at the new Andaz in West Hollywood, Vanity Fair and Bally hosted a "Hollywood Domino" game night. The evening benefited Art of Elysium ...