Last Night's Parties: BAMcinemaFest Kicks Off, Billy Joel & Gartha Brooks Duet

by Mara Siegler · June 17, 2011

    Noah Baumbach helped kick off BAMcinemaFest; Jeremy Kost and friends glam outfits upstaged performers at the Box; Chuck Schumer hung with Asian businessmen at the Waldorf; Sir Ben Kingsley turned up at an eyewear event; Ramona Singer continued to make crazy faces; Gartha Brooks and Billy Joel sang a duet and more. Last night's parties ain’t goin’ down (‘til the sun comes up).

    SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME 2011 Annual Awards Gala

    Where: The New York Marriott Marquis Hotel

    Who Was There: Alexa Joel, Billy Joel, Allen Toussaint, Barry Mann, Nikki Jean, Cynthia Weil, Chrissie Hynde, Bill Medley, Drake, Dwight Yoakam

    Other Details: Songwriters whose names you don't know, but whose tunes, like Madonna's "Like A Virgin," were honored during last night's event. Performances included Dwight Yoakam performing "Superstar" with Russell; Boz Scaggs and Toussaint doing "What Do you Want the Girl to Do"; and Trisha Yearwood doing a Hal David Medley. Chaka Khan sang Ashford and Simpson's "I'm Every Woman," and Drake performed his hit, "Best I Ever Had." Gartha Brooks and Billy Joel performed "Shameless," together. [Via]

    BAMcinemaFest OPENING NIGHT & NY Premiere of WEEKEND

    Where: BAM Rose Cinemas

    Who Was There: Noah Baumbach, Fran Drescher, Tom Cullen, John Cameron Mitchell, Christopher Farley, Andrew Haigh, Benny Safdie, Genevieve Jones

    Other Details: Last night's BAM cinemaFest opened with Weekend, directed by Andrew Haigh with Tom Cullen, and Chris Ne. After the screening, guests head to a party to tip back Brooklyn Brewery beer and Bear Flag wine to the tunes of DJ Idlemind, “The Appropriate Agent”. Fran Drescher was in the house.

    JEREMY KOST: IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN Book Launch and Party

    Where: The Box

    Who Was There: Sharon Needles, Veruca La Piranha, Jeremy Kost, Jordan Fox, Susanne Bartsch, Epiphany, Christian Siriano, Miles De Niro, Kayvon Zand

    Other Details: The fabulous crowd put on their best glitter and feather costumes and hit up adult dildo playground the Box to celebrate Jeremy Kost's new book It's Always Dark Before The Dawn, a collection of Polaroids of drugged out club kids, glamorous drag queens, and hard partying celebs.  [Via]

    Legendary Eyewear Persol Magnificent Obsessions Exhibition Opening

    Where: Center 548

    Who Was There: Famke Janssen, Shenae Grimes, Lance Bass, Emma Snowdon Jones, Terry Gilliam, Rupert Friend, Daniela Lavender, Sir Ben Kingsley, Ryan McGinley, Rebecca Minkoff, Mick Rock, Vincent Piazza

    Other Details: Persol, the Italian eyewear brand, celebrated the debut of Magnificent Obsessions, the first in a series of three exhibitions uncovering the obsessive craftsmanship within the filming of great movies like Taxi Driver, Darjeeling Limited and Vertigo.  The evening brought out a ton of celebs, including Sir Ben Kingsley. [Via]

    Party for American Cancer Society [Take a look at photos HERE!]

    Where: Greystone Development, 180 East 93rd Street

    Who Was There: Sherri Abruzzese, Doug Bennett, Richard Steinberg, Gopa Dobson, Joseph Abruzzese, Michael Levine, Mary Levine, Bill Koeningsberg, Peter Davis, Logan Scott, Jaime Gregory, Peter Gregory, Dr. Penny Grant, Melissa Berkelhammer, Kathleen Giordano

    Other Details: Sherri Abruzzese, Gopa Dobson and Muffie Potter Aston partnered with Peter Davis and Avenue Magazine to hold a pre-party (every party must have a pre-party warm up!) for their August 20th event in the Hamptons, Festive in Flip Flops.  RHONY's Ramona Singer came out, drank some wine, and made crazy eyes at the camera for the American Cancer Society. Be sure to to take a look at more photos HERE!

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    50 OUTSTANDING ASIAN AMERICANS in Business' 10th ANNIVERSARY Gala [Take a look at more photos HERE!]

    Where: Waldorf Astoria

    Who Was There: John Wang, Chuck Schumer, Peter Lee, Sapna Parikh, Naina Sharma, Deven Sharma, Anjali Sharma, Binot Banaik, John Kim

    Other Details: Senator Chuck Schumer turned up as an unscheduled guests and took the stage to speak with a five-star list of Asian-American business execs. Be sure to take a look at more photos HERE!

    FASHION DELIVERS Presents PAY IT FASHION FORWARD 2011 Fundraiser

    Where: Shang

    Who Was There: Tanya Lewis Lee, Rachel Roy, Mary Alice Stephenson, Philip Bloch, Coco Rocha, Mickey Boardman, Fern Mallis, Kelly Bensimon

    Other Details: Fashion Delivers presented its fourth annual "Pay It Fashion Forward" event at Shang to honor Steven Alan, Mickey Boardman, Coco Rocha, Rachel Roy, and Mary Alice Stephenson. All net proceeds from the event will go towards providing relief for the victims of the southeast tornado and flood victims.[Via]

    Co-Op's Alan Philips' Blowout Birthday Bash [Take a look at photos HERE!]

    Where: Co-Op

    Who Was There: Alan Philips, Linda Frago, Mia Moretti, Caitlin Moe

    Other Details: CO-OP Food & Drink in the Hotel on Rivington came alive last night, as over 200 guests celebrated the birthday of owner Alan Philips. Close friends, including girlfriend and fashion designer Gelareh Mizrahi who hosted the evening, enjoyed a private wine pairing dinner prepared by Chef John Keller.  Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe provided the music and a giant cake with sparklers was served for the occasion. Be sure to take a look at more pics HERE!

    The Box Mickey Boardman Jeremy Kost Peter Davis Mick Rock Billy Joel Emma Snowdon-Jones Kelly Bensimon Genevieve Jones Christian Siriano philip bloch Melissa Berkelhammer Alan Philips shang Mary Alice Stephenson Rachel Roy Waldorf Astoria Fran Drescher Fern Mallis Kathleen Giordano Coco Rocha Rebecca Minkoff Rupert Friend Lance Bass Famke Janssen Shenae Grimes Caitlin Moe Terry Gilliam Susanne Bartsch John Cameron Mitchell Chuck Schumer Mia Moretti Noah Baumbach Drake Ryan McGinley center 548 Sir Ben Kingsley Vincent Piazza Jordan Fox Kayvon Zand Peter Gregory Greystone Development Sherri Abruzzese Richard Steinberg John Wang Peter Lee Sapna Parikh Naina Sharma Deven Sharma Anjali Sharma Binot Banaik John Kim 50 OUTSTANDING ASIAN AMERICANS in Business' 10th ANNIVERSARY Gala BAMcinemaFest OPENING NIGHT & NY Premiere of WEEKEND BAM Rose Cinemas BAMcinemaFest Tom Cullen Christopher Farley Andrew Haigh Benny Safdie JEREMY KOST: IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN Sharon Needles Veruca La Piranha Epiphany Miles De Niro Legendary Eyewear Persol Magnificent Obsessions Exhibition Opening Daniela Lavender Party for American Cancer Society Doug Bennett Gopa Dobson Joseph Abruzzese Michael Levine Mary Levine Bill Koeningsberg Logan Scott Jaime Gregory Dr. Penny Grant SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME 2011 Annual Awards Gala The New York Marriott Marquis Hotel Alexa Joel Allen Toussaint Barry Mann Nikki Jean Cynthia Weil Chrissie Hynde Bill Medley Dwight Yoakam Tanya Lewis Lee FASHION DELIVERS Presents PAY IT FASHION FORWARD 2011 Fundraiser Linda Frago Co-Op's Alan Philips' Blowout Birthday Bash