Daily Front Row

2006 October 26

A Bewitching Ball

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(NEW YORK) It was lucky number 11 for the Central Park Conservancy’s Halloween Ball—a must on the calendars of high-society costume aficionados now for over a decade. The Enchanted Forest event, which raised over $950,000, took over a tent in the park’s Rumsey Playfield for an evening of delectable dining, dancing, and some outrageous costumes. The décor was decidedly spooky, with human-sized bugs and Venus fly-traps setting the stage and black rose petals scattered about the scene. After a feast of squash and pear bisque, braised short ribs, and Black Forest bombe, the judging began. And the stakes—winners took home Diabolo pens and his and hers watches from Cartier—were deliciously high.

The picky panel included Patrick McMullan, clad in judges’ robes for the occasion, Ross Bleckner and Phillip Bloch. After deliberations, the prize for Best Female costume went to Christina Brice, who dressed as a post-beheading Marie Antoinette; Best Male costume went to Nick Kurzon, who appeared as a poker table. A NASCAR theme garnered Susan Shin, Christine Cachot Williams, Mona Wyatt, and Tracy Stern a Group Costume Award for their ensemble effort as pit crewmembers from Talladega Nights. Other show-stoppers included Richard Mishaan as Count Dracula and his wife Marcia in a witch hat; Hunt Slonem as Henry VIII; Byrdie Bell rocking the Marie Antoinette theme in black gown and white hair; and Robert and Susan Cochran as cyclist Floyd Landis and his “steroid-happy” doctor.

Also spied incognito? Rory Tahari, Coralie Charriol Paul (in an Octoberfest theme with her husband Paul), and David Byrne in a Mexican wrestling mask. For those who weren’t dancing under the trees on Wednesday, there are still five costume shopping days before the real deal—so crib some ideas and get shopping.
SARAH HORNE