El Museo 2011 Gala
Most of us would probably recognize the “Vanity Fair” cover photos of Princess Diana leaning on her elbow, Paris Hilton hiding her bare breasts with her arms, Gwyneth Paltrow’s gauzy gaze. Recently New York City’s Hispanic museum, El Museo del Bario, recognized Mario Testino, the photographer behind those—and hundreds of other—memorable images. At this year’s spring gala, El Museo honored the Peruvian-born photographer with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Actress Kate Winslet made the presentation in front of a fashion-savvy crowd at Cipriani’s 42nd Street. Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, topped in an oversized white fur shrug, was escorted by Billy Norwich, while Donnatella Versace walked the red carpet in a corseted floor-length black gown doused in sparkles, and one guest donned a notable bronze silk gown by Valentino. Courtney Love, swathed in black sequins, arrived just as dinner was served.
Event Cochair Yaz Hernandez greeted guests wrapped in a white jersey gown by Narcisco Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Elizabeth da Trindade-Asher, representing Macchu Pisco liquor, one of the evening sponsors, was ruffled in a Carolina Herrera gown in bright yellow reminiscent of the layer of froth floating on the complimentary Pisco Sour cocktails.
Trindade-Asher wore a bold black plumed evening “fascinator,” one of several created for her by Leah C millinery. A vision in red, Leah C herself was crowned in one of her altitudinous feather creations. Seven models the height of basketball superstars strolled around in identical black wrap skirt cocktail dresses by Honduran designer Carlos Campos. A roomful of photo opportunities, the evening was a worthy tribute to one of the world’s great fashion photographers.
End of Elaine’s
Memory may well record that the only thing worse than the food at Elaine’s was the mob scene at the door on closing night.
Just before midnight, with the maitre d’ peering out to protest that the bar was closed, they ran out of clean glasses, and the crowd exceeded the fire laws. Tony the bodyguard at the front door held his ground against the ragtag group surging in to be among the last patrons of the artists and writers’ longtime unofficial clubhouse.
A Russian blonde bulging out of low-cut lace repeatedly kissed Tony’s bald head, as a pudgy horn-rimmed preppie scrawled a handwritten plea for admission for himself and his date, “from New York Magazine.” All to no avail. So they pressed against each other, a batch of Irish hopefuls who’d clearly tipped a glass or few, guys with motley facial hair or too many tattoos, would-be socialites busily texting—all shouting urgent reasons they deserved to get in. But no dice.
I came by without a good excuse of my own since I’d never been a regular. I didn’t have the status, and over the years Second Avenue and 88th Street had been too remote for easy stop-bys. But I do have my own nostalgic memories—attending an early ‘90s Oscar party, huddling with Elaine, PR maven Bobby Zarem, and Memphis marvel Pat Kerr Tigrett at one of the prized side tables, singing along to the score of “Subways Are for Sleeping” with
Three days before, I’d already stopped by to walk through the saloon rooms just once more. Even then I didn’t recognize any familiar faces, and Thursday night confirmed how much the scene had changed. As the crowd parted, not a single one was recognized. The people clamoring to get in were ignorant of the very writers and artists who had made this bar the place to be. So they surged and shouted, unaware that history was passing right by as Stuart Woods, Harry Benson, Lewis Lapham and Gay Talese walked out of Elaine’s for the very last time.
pictured: Kate Winslet presents El Bario Lifetime Achievement Award to Photographer Mario Testino
