Social Diary 2/15/06 - The snows from the Blizzard of ’06 continue

The day after

Evening sky. Photo: JH.

The snows from the Blizzard of ’06 continue to dominate the pace of city life. I waited almost a half hour for a cab late yesterday morning because so few were coming along East End Avenue and even fewer were vacant for the growing number of customers (two or three on every block). When I finally did get one, my cabbie told me that traffic was terrible all over the city, especially because of the snowbanks created by the plows (and the snowed under vehicles).

The snows, however, did not cool the social set, that wide, vast network of energetic New Yorkers of all ages, stripes and interests. Monday night, for example, the Museum of the City of New York held its 20th annual Director’s Council dinner dance. And from all reports, it was the most successful.

This fund-raising (and fun-raising) enterprise had been guided for years by Mark Gilbertson, the social impresario of what used to be known as the Junior Set. The Junior designation has of course outlived its definition as time wears on (and more than occasionally wears out). Interestingly – and I would credit Gilbertson’s diligence along with his loyal and energetic band of supporters/workers – the Museum Ball (as it is known to its regular subscribers) is moving right up there in the ranks of Must Go/Must Do events on the annual winter calendar. This is because those “Juniors,” having grown up (and now raising their own “Juniors”), have taken more and more positions of leadership in the community. And because of the diligence and foresight of its supporters, it continues to attract the new junior set.

One telling indication is the Ball’s sponsorship by Oscar de Renta. Charity sponsorship, especially of a cultural nature, is directly related to a business’ marketing strategy. Because of the age and growing prosperity of the events subscribers and supporters, you can bet there were a lot of Oscars on parade that night and unlike a lot of other designers, the House of de la Renta does not “lend.”