Networking At Hotel Gansevoort And American Friends Of The Louvre Benefit

by ERIC SPEAR · June 25, 2008

Another busy night socializing is responsible for my afternoon weariness. Two wonderful events, the LGBT Networking event and The American Friends of the Louvre benefit have, like many other events, made my morning vanish and my afternoon slow.

I began my evening sharply at six atop the Hotel Gansevoort where the view is just as unique as the hotel. Anually Paul Wiess, Esq., holds a networking event annually for the LGBT community. 600 men and woman in banking and law (and a couple from the fashion industry, of course) gathered on the rooftop to enjoy an amazing food spread and refreshing cocktails.

There were cocktail waitresses aplenty and hor'dourves being served by good looking caterers. Confusion set in when, for the first time in history, the line for the men's room was horrifying where there was none for the ladies. The men begged for access with none granted, proving that even in the LGBT community, we have our disagreements. In attendance was guestofaguest friend Charles Lorum of Warner Music, esquire and party boy Michael Benevento, and many I have cross-networked with at the Harvey Milk Institute benefit in East Hampton.

From there I jumped onto the West Side Highway en route to Espace where the American Friends of the Louvre benefit was being held. My companions were none other than social debutante Larissa Whitney and her equally charming brother Maximillian. Everyone was dressed in their "french chic" party bests and enjoyed interesting and wonderful hors d'oeuvres that went beyond your typical crab cakes. One of the most appealing was the French-inspired mini pomme frites cones.

We browsed the silent auction that presented items such as a joint London/Paris vacation and beautiful artwork and jewelry while sipping top-shelf cocktails. Who could ask for anything more? Also among the guests were YPC members David Chines and Channing Norton as well as YPC co-chairs Kipton Cronkite and Olivia Chantecaille and other n otables such as John Craver and the dapper Kalechi. Emma Snowdon-Jones, Kellie Carey of Kellie Cary Jets, Catherine Forbes, Gustaf Demarchelier, Vivian LaPointe and Devorah Rose… just to name a few!