In January, the actor Jeff Goldblum, producer Keith Addis and Sting filed into the socialite Bettina Zilkha‘s candy-yellow-striped foyer on East 79th Street for an evening the socialite was hosting for La Mer cosmetics and Oceana, the ocean conservation organization.
Waiters were hired to serve champagne, white wine and
Since the big scary recession sent everyone scurrying on home, the smaller parties that formerly were held at public places like Cipriani’s, Madison Avenue boutiques and clubs like 1Oak—product launches, book parties, birthday celebrations—have become more rare. It’s not that people have stopped partying—they’ve just taken their parties to friends’ townhouses and sprawling co-ops.
Certainly New York socials have always enjoyed hosting parties in the intimacy of their homes, where the gossip columnists and party crashers can be easily kept out and Patrick McMullan’s cameras only show up by invitation. (To be fair, Vogue‘s Billy Norwich called this even before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. In the September fashion issue of the magazine, Mr. Norwich wrote that socialites like Lauren Remington Platt, Maggie Betts, Barbara Bush, and Jessica Joffe were staying home and hosting intimate dinner parties instead of walking red carpets. But back then we thought he was just being silly.)
In December, Fresh, the beauty care company, hosted a cocktail party to launch a new scent at the midtown home of Lily Rafii Band, designer behind the line Felix Rey and wife of Bill Clinton aide Doug Band. In January, designer Sari Gueron hosted an intimate dinner at her Tribeca loft. Ruffian designer Claude Morais recently celebrated his birthday at the West Village apartment of his close friend Antonia Thompson, a senior associate at Robert Burke and Associates. On Valentine’s Day former Domino editor at large Tom Delavan and creative director Sarah Costello hosted a party at Mr. Delevan’s home in the West Village. And Ms. Joffe recently celebrated her birthday with an intimate dinner at a friend’s house.
For Mr. Morais’ birthday, Ms. Thompson cooked his favorite—a classic French veal stew with mushrooms and cream. Guests helped build a fire in the fireplace, they hung out in the library and looked out at the view from their hostess’ spacious eighth-floor apartment overlooking Washington Square Park.
“It’s a special moment to have a home-cooked meal. Being at home is very reassuring and it’s very warm,” said Mr. Morais. “I think it’s like beyond the economy even because sometimes it costs the same to have everybody over as to host something out. But it’s that sense of privacy that you don’t get at a restaurant. You’re in someone’s home among their artworks and books. It’s intimate.”
In a few weeks, the socialite Serena Merriman will send out invitations to her 30th birthday party, which will be held at her parents’ oceanfront home in Little Compton, Rhode Island, where 20 or so of her closest New York friends will be invited to stay all weekend. Double Cross vodka has already agreed to supply the alcohol.
“It’s more of a destination birthday,” Ms. Merriman told the Daily Transom. “It’s just such a treat for everyone to be able to get out of New York. I usually try to do some sort of fancy dress-up theme, but in New York you don’t usually get to do that because people are always going to five places in one night. And so people are reluctant to dress up.” (Ms. Merriman hasn’t finalized the theme yet.)
Ms. Merriman agreed that over the winter months, many events that she’s attended have been held at private residences.
“I don’t go out as much anymore, but when I do, it’s almost always at people’s homes,” she said.
