Daily Front Row

2010 March 16

East Side Social Clubbing

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Debbie Bancroft
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) It’s just lunch! Except when Debbie Bancroft is hosting, well, anything can happen. Yesterday afternoon, the social maven hosted a lunch for Calypso along with the brand’s president, Jen Foyle, at the East Side Social Club. Naturally, the restaurant’s demi-owner PMc himself was in attendance. All the better to document the mid-cod moments of Fern Mallis, Jill Fairchild, and Daniel Benedict!

Gigi Mortimer and Courtney Moss, who launched their fur accessories collection Glamourpuss NYC at Calypso for Fall 2009, were hot off a successful showing at Coterie. “The retailers really sought out our booth!” Mortimer enthused. “We had a really, really great time.” Are trade shows the new cocktail parties? Well collectively, the lunching ladies are becoming increasingly enterprising…

Meanwhile down the table, raddichio salad and mushroom ravioli (avec truffles) was served. Andrew Saffir talked motherhood with Cristina Greeven Cuomo, on maternity leave thanks to enfant number 3. Other topics of conversation: the relative merits of Marrakech, the potential transfer of business from Sant Ambroeus to Jean-Georges Vongerichten's new place, the Mark, and the films to watch next month at the Tribeca Film Festival. (Shrek 3 is opening; consider yourselves warned.) "I design about 200 pieces a season," said Calypso's head designer Elisa Miller. "So I don't get out much for lunch. This is much better than eating at a deli in Long Island City!"

As almond cookies and biscotti were served, McMullan invited guests to his annual St. Patrick’s Day gala, happening on Wednesday night at Santos Party House. “You don’t have to come,” he warned. “But you do have to be invited!”
ASHLEY BAKER