The Most Memorable Parties of 2019
Our 2019 parties recap features inaugural events, big anniversaries, new friends, longtime supporters, and some famous faces.
Actors Julianna Margulies and Alan Cumming at Bard College's SummerScape gala. (Photo by David Teng)
There’s nothing we at RI love more than covering the region’s galas; it’s the perfect opportunity to visit with wonderful old friends, meet interesting new ones, and taste the delicious food and drink produced right here at home. That’s why picking only a handful of parties for our year-end wrap-up is always so difficult. We’d like to thank the residents of this region for being so generous with their time, talent and funding of organizations that improve the quality of life in our area and make residing here a joy. Below is a sampling of the galas, gallery openings, fetes and festivals that make our jobs so fun. (Click here to relive all of 2019’s parties.)
TurnPark Art Space Got Experimental The West Stockbridge sculpture park and creative space blurred the boundaries of art with edible sculptures and a performance that mixed art, dance and classical music in an outdoor ampitheater.
Alan Cumming Entertained Bard College's SummerScape Gala Crowd Cocktails along the Hudson River preceded an al fresco dinner, where Bard honored Fisher Center co-founders Martin and Toni Sosnoff, and Julianna Margulies introduced a performance by Cumming.
Shakespeare & Company Celebrated Old Friends and New Ideas The Lenox theater company debuted a dramatic collaboration with special effects pioneers Douglas and Julia Trumbull that included the donning of 3D glasses.
Winnakee Land Trust Held "Milkeed and Monarchs" at a Riverside Estate Guests "swarmed" to Chiddingstone, a private Hudson River estate, to honor their friend and neighbor, currant farmer Greg Quinn.
Jacob's Pillow Swung Into Summer Highlights included a world premiere by Trey McIntyre, an electric performance by Caleb Teicher & Company, and the presentation of this year’s Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award to choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.
Olana's Summer Party Sweated It Out On the hottest day of the year, the New York State historic site celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Rip Van Winkle tale, as the crowd gazed at the bridge named for the character.
Light Into Night Offered Haiku and Hijinks at Art Omi Supporters raised funds and partied with all the artistic flourish the institution is known for, including pop-up performances scattered throughout the evening.
There Was a Lot to See at Merwinsville Hotel's Annual Art Show The art exhibit was the Hotel's 32nd annual, but that's new compared to its 19th-century beginnings.
CLC Celebrated Columbia County Columbia Land Conservancy recognized three extraordinary women for the differences they’ve made for the people and region.
Austen Riggs Turned a Century Old A reception, awards ceremony and musical performance came in the middle of a conference on the mental health crisis in America.
The Cary Institute Kicked The Tick This fundraiser, held at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, helped raise money for the Institute's research into Lyme disease prevention via The Tick Project.
Greenwoods Counseling Powered Through a Power Outage The electrical outage and a little rain didn't stop the guests from dancing up a storm at this “Cocktail Party with a Twist.”
ASAP Showed Off for its 20th Birthday The after-school arts program put its assets — the students — front and center at a gala held at The Gunnery in Washington, Conn.
South Farms Spring Soiree Brooklyn Chef Ryan Brown created a seasonal dinner in the newly renovated White Barn, Connecticut’s largest historic farm venue.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
