The Central Park Conservancy Gala Goes Mod for a Good Cause

On a quiet school night in the Upper East Side, ambient purple lights and the soft hum of music lured guests to Rumsey Field for the annual Central Park Conservancy gala. This year’s theme was all things mod, a nod to the ’60 era where shift mini-dresses, color-blocking, and playful Pucci prints reigned supreme. The spectacular evening was presented by Harry Winston and served as the kick-off event for a multi-year partnership with the Conservancy. The evening raised 1.4 million dollars towards maintaining the park as an iconic haven and community loved by locals and tourists alike.

Esteemed co-chairs for the evening Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman, Bill Lafer, Jill Lafer, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter were joined by notable guests including Mayor Eric Adams, Sue Donoghue, Martha Stewart, Indre Rockefeller, Charlotte Groenveld, Dayssi Kanavos, Paul Kanavos, Katherine Murdoch, and Elyse Newhouse, to name a few.

Before guests settled into their seats, the president and chief executive officer of the Central Park Conservancy, Betsy Smith, stood to say a few words. “The Central Park Conservancy’s annual gala is a wonderful celebration of New York’s most iconic landmark, one that highlights the professionalism and hard work of our staff, volunteers, and supporters,” she began. “The sustainability of Central Park is up to all of us, and I am grateful for the dedication of so many supporters who bolster the Conservancy’s work in preserving the Park as a place of respite and renewal for all.”

On the menu, guests enjoyed a shrimp cocktail parfait followed by beef bourguignon, a main course that would put a smile on Julia Child’s face. On theme, the decadent room was filled with ’60s accents like patterned tablecloths, a jam band playing the hottest hits of the decade, and fresh bouquets of colorful daisies.

However, the groovy looks of the night stole the show. Vogue’s Lilah Ramzi looked dashing in a darling Malcolm Starr dress from her impressive vintage collectsion. Nearby, Alessia Fendi donned a vintage sequined shift dress straight from her grandmother’s closet. Not to mention Beverly Nguyen’s bubblegum pink feathered frock by Chanel and the custom mod-inspired suits worn by Jake Mueser, Matt Woodruff, and Chase Winfrey. To say that attendees took mod to a whole new level would be an understatement. 

Once the clock struck 11 p.m., a fresh flock of guests dressed to the nines joined the buzzy crowd for the Young Associates after-party. Co-hosted by Zach Weiss and Isabella Massenet, the post-dinner affair brought guests including Prince Achileas-Andreas of Greece and Denmark, Jeremy Batoff, Sam Dangremond, Eric Goldie, Serena Miniter, Stephanie Nass, Architectural Digest’s Madeline O’Malley, Sophie Sumner, Pritika Swarup, Charly Sturm, Cecily Waud, Molly and Sam Moorkamp to their feet out on the dancefloor. But the fun didn’t end there. A trolley patiently waited on the corner of 5th Avenue to transport enthusiastic partygoers to the next stop of the night, The Ritz Carlton New York, Nomad. Expansive views of the city’s skyline and craft cocktails by William Grant greeted guests upon arrival to the hotel’s very own rooftop cocktail bar, Nubeluz. Known as a jewel box in the sky, Nuebeluz is the brainchild of restauranteur and chef José Andrés. While all good nights must come to an end, the monumental support for Central Park will live on.