SEEN: 10 Best Parties of 2011
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Go-Go dancers Cassie Shafer, Renee Smith, Jamie Murphy and Kaitlyn Dann at the "British Invasion party" for the Aspinwall Riverfront Park. -
Honorary chair Linda Johnson Rice and Carnegie Museum of Art curator Louise Lippincott at the national gala premiere of "Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story." -
Paul Hennigan, Shirley Jones and Richard Rauh at Point Park University "The Playhouse Rocks Starmakers" -
Chairs Dr. Michael White and Rick LeBeau at the Mattress Factory Urban Garden Party. -
Maddy Landi of kNOTDance at Pittsburgh Glass Center's Hot and Sticky. -
Lady Hayat and Lord Peter Palumbo at the Royal Wedding Reception to benefit the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. -
Asha Carroll and Hans Tashjian at Attack Theatre's Dirty Ball. -
Elsie and Henry Hillman at the Hillman Cancer Center Gala -
Queen Hilda and King Freddie Fu at the Epilepsy Foundation Mardi Gras. -
than 900 guests filled the ballroom of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for the 2011 Pittsburgh Heart Ball. -
The Civic Light Opera Guild's 56th annual Pink Frolic Ball, "Glama Rama," had a Dorothy Draper setting. -
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Music du Monde gala brought internationally renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter here for a special concert conducted by maestro Manfred Honeck. -
Jane Krakowski's cabaret performance followed an elegant dinner at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's "Not So Plain Jane." -
Pittsburgh Public Theater's Red Hot gala announced its new season in a novel way, with models wearing banners with the titles of the plays. -
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Pointe in Time Ball included an elegant welcome from PBT students in the Omni William Penn lobby. -
Honorees at the Pittsburgh Opera's Maecenas XXVII Gala were Jim and Kathe Patrinos and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, With them is opera general director Christopher Hahn, right.
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What makes a great party? With close to 400 benefits, galas and events this year, the ways to measure are many. In Seen we chronicle the good people who are engaged in making Pittsburgh an even better place to live. But what was most interesting in 2011 was how little the uncertain economy seemed to impact many of the benefits. Pittsburghers continued to be extremely generous in giving both their time and money. Whether it be the arts, culture, education, health or social services, millions were raised each month -- and sometimes in one night -- all to benefit the local community. Here are our picks for the best parties of the year.
-- Marylynn Uricchio and Patricia Sheridan
1. "British Invasion Party" for the Aspinwall Riverfront Park
In terms of pure fun, the jolly good "British Invasion Party" was a blast. The sold-out event attracted more than 500 guests in support of a grass-roots movement to purchase 8 acres of riverfront property for the Aspinwall Riverfront Park. Complete with go-go dancers, the Beatles Tribute Band and lots of miniskirts, the bash at the Fox Chapel Golf Club had energy and synergy, dinner and dancing and a younger crowd.
2. National Gala Premiere of "Teenie Harris"
The focus was on the national gala premiere of "Teenie Harris, Photographer: An American Story" at the Carnegie Museum of Art. "Each picture tells a story, and seeing them blown up so big brings you into the moment," said honorary chair Linda Rice Johnson, chairman of Johnson Publishing (which publishes Ebony and Jet magazines). The black-and-white-themed party presented by the Women's Committee of the Carnegie Museum of Art included the 21st Century Swing Band and a dinner of couture comfort foods.
3. Point Park University "The Playhouse Rocks Starmakers"
The 75-year history of the Pittsburgh Playhouse was celebrated during the benefit for Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts. More than 400 guests turned out for the gala at Stage AE, which featured Gary Racan and the studio e Band and terrific performances by the conservatory students. Honored were Richard Rauh and actress Shirley Jones, who called the Pittsburgh Playhouse "my alma mater of 60 years."
4. Mattress Factory Urban Garden Party
They came from Hollywood to the North Side for the Mattress Factory's uber-hip Urban Garden Party, which sells out year after year. It was a mob scene in the best sense of the word, with close to 1,000 guests arriving in waves for first-rate people-watching. The Hollywood theme attracted a bevy of Audrey Hepburns, some gorgeous drag queens and numerous starlets and swashbucklers.
First Published January 3, 2012 12:00 am
