Tuesday, September 24, 2024. Noticeably cooler yesterday in New York, as if Mother Nature is reminding us that the Seasons are (or will be) changing and we’ll need to dress a little more warmly.
On yesterday’s Diary we covered some of the more memorable parties of the previous week. Included was a “birthday” dinner party that Scott Currie hosted for himself at The River Club marking his 60th birthday. It was a black-tie affair here in Manhattan. Scott’s business is a high end public relations firm dealing with matters beyond publicity and with a corporate clientele.
The private club space was transformed into the legendary El Morocco nightclub by superstar event designer Preston Bailey complete with the famous blue-and-white zebra stripes on a carpet outside and on the chairs and banquettes. There were even giant white palm trees and cactus the club was known for down to exact reproductions of the orignal ashtrays and matchbook boxes on every table.
The 90 guests in black tie and long gowns included Martha Stewart, actor Stephen Baldwin, Melissa Rivers and Hollywood legend George Hamilton mixing with Candace Bushnell, Dorinda Medley, Nikki Haskell, Queer Eyes’ Thom Felicia, New York Council Member Erik Bottcher, Peggy Siegal and designers Dennis Basso and Elie Tahari among others from New York, LA and Europe. It was a real only-in-New York gathering, and that little black tie signed it.
Joan Rivers’ daughter Melissa made toasts noting that Currie was the son her mother never had. In drawing attention to the fabulous design of the room with the tables resembling the tables at the old Elmo’s, she also confessed her mother would have loved this party because of her propensity for taking things from every restaurant and hotel she ever visited.
“An unattended housekeeping cart was her holy grail,” Melissa reported, adding “she’d encourage guests to ‘take anything from the table that’s not nailed down as keepsakes of the evening.’”
For those who couldn’t grab the limited supply, there were gift bags at the exit with more, including decks of original El Morocco playing cards with a note from the host thanking them for attending and noting that “Birthday gifts will still be accepted through the end of 2024.”
Before going to the party on a Saturday night, I first pulled that little voice complaining about going out on Saturday night (after a week of “et al”) and what’s more in black tie. As they used to say in New York including at Elmo’s: “Oy.”
However, looking at the extraordinary invitation with the backside decorated with that blue Zebra stripes of Elmo’s; and knowing the room — and seeing that Scott went to the trouble to get the room for his own party — I figured he’d gone to all that trouble for a reason, so poor David broke down and put on his black tie and went his way.
First of all, it was a beautifully organized dinner, a la birthday party and guests “dressed” for it in that special lighting with the décor very impressive on the eye. The men looked very at home in their black tie, while the women were really dressed for “that kind of evening” — very glamorous, truly.
But in actuality, it was a “party,” a party-party where the guests were having a good time being there, and looking wonderful and sharing it all with each other. And being very impressed also. A Good Time For All … And an almost historic look at New York today, using El Morocco to remind us.
Happy Birthday Scott (again!) for giving us all that especially good Saturday night in little ole Noo Yawk!
