Scene Last Night: Midler’s Hulaween, Stevie Wonder, Judy Gold
The Waldorf-Astoria’s art deco elevator doors opened and out walked Kermit and Miss Piggy, or rather, Brian Mullen, an investment banker, and Liz Mullen, an accountant, dressed as the Muppets.
Real-estate developer Douglas Durst arrived as a tree, Stevie Wonder -- who later performed -- was a skeleton pirate. Leyla Ertegun, a psychotherapist and daughter of the late music producer Nesuhi Ertegun, was a quadruple suicide. Her costume included syringe, knife, rope and bottle of pills.
New York Restoration Project’s Hulaween Gala on Friday night brought out all kinds of costumes.
“It’s a theatrical town,” said comedian Judy Gold, the emcee of the event, on a night off from her own “The Judy Show” off-Broadway. “We like to see so many kinds of people -- and we like to become them.”
“It’s all about creativity,” said Kate Lear, a lead donor to the event and the chairman of Ballet Hispanico. She was a maid, her husband, Dr. Jon LaPook, Robin Hood.
There were many dead people walking around -- a nod to the Day of the Dead theme. New York Restoration Project’s founder, Bette Midler, had tiny skulls and pink flower petals tucked into her headdress and bustle.
“You look fab but let’s cut to the chase: How do I look?” she said in her welcoming remarks. “Even dead, I look fabulous.”
(The event also clung to its perennial Hawaiian theme, with Midler accompanied by hula dancers handing out fresh leis to top donors. There were a lot of jokes about leis.)
Beaded Mask
Robert Diamond, a set decorator for “The Martha Stewart Show,” spent 52 hours on his sparkling green-beaded mask, part of his Emperor of the Butterflies costume. He learned to bead working for French fashion designer Thierry Mugler.
Later Diamond got to go up on stage, when designer Michael Kors gave him a prize in the costume contest.
“Don’t try this at home,” Kors said of Diamond’s costume. Kors himself was unrecognizable as a mariachi musician.
A highlight of the Mexican meal was grilled chicken with mole poblano. Chef Rick Bayless made 30 gallons of the mole sauce in Chicago, then simmered it in the kitchen of the Waldorf-Astoria for five hours. It contained almonds, sesame, peanuts, chocolate and various chiles.
Chocolate mousse was served in a skull-shaped chocolate shell.
Before Wonder got everyone dancing with Halloween- appropriate songs like “Superstition” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Midler gave awards to people who have helped the organization beautify New York City community gardens and parks.
‘Green God’
Durst received the “Green God” award. The project’s chairman and pro bono lawyer, Benjamin Needell, got the “Wind Beneath My Wings” award (with Midler’s song by that name playing as he walked on stage).
On the tables were candles featuring saintly images of Midler, and large skulls made of glitter and foam. The decor was designed by creative director Douglas Little, whose work can be seen in the windows of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Little’s face makeup gave him a rotting look, right down to the set of teeth in his right cheek. “In New York especially, people take costumes seriously,” he said. “It’s a gorgeous way of escaping.”
The event raised $1.9 million.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter at @amandagordon.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Brian Mullens, an investment banker, and Liz Mullens, an accountant.
Brian Mullens, an investment banker, and Liz Mullens, an accountant. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Real estate developer Douglas Durst received New York Restoration Project's Green God Award. "Bette, I'm being honored as Green God? I don't think my wife agrees with you," Durst said.
Real estate developer Douglas Durst received New York Restoration Project's Green God Award. "Bette, I'm being honored as Green God? I don't think my wife agrees with you," Durst said. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Stevie Wonder and Bette Midler.
Stevie Wonder and Bette Midler. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robert Diamond, set decorator for "The Martha Stewart Show," as Emperor of the Butterflies.
Robert Diamond, set decorator for "The Martha Stewart Show," as Emperor of the Butterflies. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Michael Kors announcing winners of the costume contest.
Michael Kors announcing winners of the costume contest. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Marnique Heath as Amy Winehouse and Malcolm Baker as Ronald "Pigpen" McKernan. They were part of "The 27 Club," a group of rockers who died at the age of 27.
Marnique Heath as Amy Winehouse and Malcolm Baker as Ronald "Pigpen" McKernan. They were part of "The 27 Club," a group of rockers who died at the age of 27. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Gladys Herreros, a legal secretary, wore a pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness.
Gladys Herreros, a legal secretary, wore a pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Erin Furey, who works on Martha Stewart Weddings, and Blake Ramsey, who works on Martha Stewart Living . Ramsey wore her "galaxy girl" costume, which she made for the magazine's special Halloween issue.
Erin Furey, who works on Martha Stewart Weddings, and Blake Ramsey, who works on Martha Stewart Living . Ramsey wore her "galaxy girl" costume, which she made for the magazine's special Halloween issue. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
"I’m not a bag lady I'm an eco-evangelist," said guest Braden Rhetts.
"I’m not a bag lady I'm an eco-evangelist," said guest Braden Rhetts. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Tilly Grimes, a costume designer, as a broken china doll.
Tilly Grimes, a costume designer, as a broken china doll. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Soprano Renee Flemming and Met Opera chairman Ann Ziff.
Soprano Renee Flemming and Met Opera chairman Ann Ziff. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, New York CIty Parks and Recreation Department.
Adrian Benepe, Commissioner, New York CIty Parks and Recreation Department. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Daryl Roth, Gary Rosenberg and Steven Roth.
Daryl Roth, Gary Rosenberg and Steven Roth. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Douglas Little's table decorations for the Day of the Dead theme.
Douglas Little's table decorations for the Day of the Dead theme. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hulaween
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Douglas Little designed the decor for the event.
Douglas Little designed the decor for the event. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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