chronicles
by
DEBBIE BANCROFT
AVENUE Family Reunion Allison Rockefeller and Helen Lee Schifter Nicole Hanley Mellon, Mark Gilbertson
P
erhaps nothing captures the essence of the The Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball more than the fact that its majordomo, Mark Gilbertson, receives acclaim and personal thank-you notes from guests within days after the event—on monogrammed stationery, of course. The writers say things like: “It’s like a family reunion”; “I saw everyone I ever wanted to see”; and “It’s the only party I want to go to.” And so it is, that 470 (a record) fairly like-minded souls gather every year to mostly see one other, plus enough other, new faces to spice it up. As in rosemary, not cayenne. My clever and intrepid colleague at the Wall Street Journal, Marshall Heyman, noted in his coverage that it’s a rare phenomenon that celebrities are not an important element at this party. Liam Neeson did create a stir a few years back, but it’s true: There is a low glitz-quotient, and (almost) no personal PR pushes, frantic elbowing in front of the cameras or theatrical dance dips for the little man in the blue coat. A big “almost,” again. Dennis Basso, on a starry trajectory since he had just dressed Michelle Obama for the Governors Ball, sponsored and dressed some of his favorite girls in attendance, including Jamie Tisch and Ashley McDermott. Co-chair Allison Rockefeller wore her grandmothers’s chic dress; and Renee Rockefeller set the standard in patterned evening pants. Tory and Nicole Miller wore their own, and why not? Marisa Noel Brown forgot the back of her jumpsuit, and no one complained. Christine Schwarzman glittered in a form-fitting gold-on–flesh (colored) dress; and Nicole Hanley Mellon reminded us that short and red unfailingly turns heads. Mark took to the podium, and began, “When I was a little boy . . .” to affectionate groans, then continued “. . . I was quite socially sophisticated for my age and was asked to start a committee in support of the Museum of the City of New York…”. Thirty-nine years later, and with many of the founding members still participating, the event has upped the ante, from $45 tickets to a level that has brought in almost $1 million, adding together the fall and winter events. Speeches that evening were short; dinner was delicious; and David Chang’s pulsating music lured guests to the dance floor—with everything on schedule, because these folks have big days dawning, every day. Gracing the evening were: Burwell Schorr, Alexia Hamm Ryan and Baird Ryan, Calvert and George Moore, Jamie Creel, Jill and Andrew Roosevelt, Tara and Michael Rockefeller, Peter Rockefeller, Marina Rust Connor, Viscount William Astor (who was cleverly seated next to his relative, Jackie Williams), Sara and Charles Ayres, Ros and Fran L’Esperance, Jeff Sharp and Dr. Douglas Steinbrech, Laurent Claquin (president of Kering Americas, as in Saint Laurent, Gucci, etc. . . . and a divine dinner partner). Also on hand: Jared Goss, Kristin Clark, Lisa and Brian McCarthy and more gentle folks like them. ✦ 26 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2014
Charlie Ayers, Sara Ayres, Christine Schwarzman and Stephen Schwarzman
Jamie Tisch
Rachel Hovnanian and Michael Cominotto Renee Rockefeller and Jill Roosevelt
Burwell Schorr, Dennis Basso and Ashley McDermott
NICHOLAS HUNT/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM
All the familiar faces gather at The Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball