It's not every night, or every year, or even every decade, that the Carnegie Museum of Art opens a new gallery. Friday the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries of Decorative Arts and Design were unveiled after being closed to the public since the late 1990s. A major re-configuration of the space reflected new thinking on the part of Jason Busch, the Alan G. and Jane A. Lehman curator of decorative arts.

From the first gallery, which features changing exhibitions, to the last -- with its suite of Rococo furniture from Mary Schenley's home -- the galleries are a stroll through history. If only cocktails could have been held there, as is done in other museums. The guests mostly stayed downstairs in the Hall of Sculpture, saving their first glimpse for another day if they hadn't already taken a peek. Socializing, after all, is the greatest part of celebrating.

With "Where Elegant Meets Eccentric" as its theme, the opening party was a sedate, civilized affair. Dinner in the Music Hall foyer followed cocktails, sending the black-tie crowd to beautifully set tables with a vaguely Victorian feel. Welcoming remarks from Mr. Busch, new museum of art director Lynn Zelevansky, board chair Bill Hunt (with Janet) and Carnegie Museums president David Hillenbrand (with Georgianna) led to a wonderful fall dinner prepared by Parkhurst -- mushroom soup, braised beef with root vegetables and a delectable hazelnut napoleon. The one dark spot in the evening was the bright house lights overhead. Ouch!

Among the many guests were Marcia Gumberg, Alice Snyder, Harley Trice and Lea Simonds, Nadine Bognar, Ritchie Scaife, Pam Bryan, Ellen and Jay Brooks, Ann and David Genter, Jay and Ranny Ferguson, Betsy and Bill Amis, Sally and Ned Randall, Sam and Joanie Kamin, Mernie Berger and Lowrie Ebbert and many members of the Baierl Subaru family, primary sponsors of the evening.

Mackenzie Carpenter's video program, "Omnivore," is available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.