D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A G EO F F R E Y B R A D F I E LD S E R V E D C H A M PA G N E W I T H R O R I C TO B I N O N E A ST 5 8 T H ST R E E T
Michael and Tara Rockefeller
neighborhoods around town, those who can often throw a cocktail reception for friends as well as others, like business associates. Then there are the purely social events where people run into acquaintances, old friends, neighbors, and friends of friends. Catching up. The holiday party scene, pre-Christmas, was as busy as usual. On a Wednesday night, Chris and Grace Meigher gave their annual Quest party at Swifty’s. This is a new version of a holiday office party: lots of friends and neighbors and readers joining the Quest staff as they enjoy the libations as well as Swifty’s inimitable fried zuc22 QUEST
Roric Tobin and Lynne Davis
Brian Zechman and Barbara de Portago
chini, the honeyed bacon, the toasted ham and cheese triangles, and the pigs in a blanket—all in a cozy rear dining room with the Christmas lights blazing in the window panes. Meanwhile, over at the Fifth Avenue aerie of Georgette Mosbacher (who was the lady in red as Mrs. Claus), there was a clamoring crowd in a festive mood. After, the hostess made an appearance at Sette Mezzo, where she turned heads in her totally red, shiny, sparkly “Lady Santa” outfit including her dress, stockings, shoes, and a cap. The following night at Doubles, George Farias and Ann Hearst and Jay McInerney
Geoffrey Bradfield
Gary and Carol Ross
Geoffrey’s Men in Red
hosted their holiday cocktail. This is an annual she-bang with 350 guests, featuring the great Doubles dessert buffet as well as trays and trays of hors d’oeuvre being passed. There was everything to keep everyone happy—and happy they were. There were many, many familiar faces, with friends who were chatting away and running into old friends and new friends. All under the holiday lights, it was a big crowd yet a cozy affair. A very prominent woman attending, who is wellversed on the party scene, exclaimed to a friend: “This is the best party in New York!” What a swell party it
was. Patrick McMullan was there and in his prime. On that same day was Michael’s, with a big pre-holiday lunch crowd. Around the room and then some: Jim Abernathy; Tom Goodman; Lisa Linden with Tom Allon, Suri Kasirer, and Richard Schwartz; David Sanford and Lewis Stein; Jon Steinberg; Rory Babich, C.E.O. of the NHL’s Florida Panthers; Debbie Bancroft with her daughter, Serena Bancroft, and friends; Cathie Black with Ellen Levine; Mickey Drexler of J. Crew; Barry Frey; Jack Kliger; Leonard Lauder; Connie Anne Phillips, publisher of Glamour; Philippe and Paula
PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N
Helena Lehane and Justin Concannon