All photos by Lieba Nesis
The Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education held its annual fiesta on Monday, October 21, 2024, at The Plaza Hotel with cocktails beginning at 7:30 PM. Honorees Wes Gordon, Creative Director at Carolina Herrera, along with James Borynack, Adolfo Zaralegui, and Lucy Doughty, set the stakes high as ladies in their best and brightest came out to impress and pay homage to the youthful 36-year-old Gordon.
Fern Mallis
Casita is a beacon of hope for the Hispanic community. Its state-of-the-art facility in the Bronx serves over 15,000 youth, family, and community members of the South Bronx and East Harlem communities every year, allowing them to present musical, dance, and theater performances and feature art exhibitions and installations.
Felix Urrutia, Jackie Weld Drake, Adolfo Zaralegui, Lucy Doughty, Prince Dimitri, Wes Gordon
Founded in 1934 in East Harlem by sisters Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan, who provided nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support to the struggling Latino community, the foundation has since expanded. In 2009, it inaugurated a 90,000-square-foot six-story educational and cultural facility in collaboration with the Department of Education, which has allowed Casita children to flourish.
Jean Shafiroff
This dinner is one of my favorites due to the magnificent venue, the lavish black-tie attire, the Bob Hardwick-sound music, the spirited dancing, and the under-two-minute speeches of honorees. Much of the Center’s success can be attributed to “Living Legend Award” recipient Jackie Weld Drake, who spends the entirety of the year raising funds and awareness for the pivotal organization.
Elizabeth Steimberg, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Janna Bullock
Jackie received a lengthy standing ovation, at which time the biographer, novelist, and Park Avenue socialite gave a one-and-a-half-minute speech thanking all those who came to support her for this historic evening—as fellow chairman Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia looked on with adoration.
Wes Gordon
A similarly brief Wes Gordon, noted the importance of art as he dedicated his award to his husband Paul Arnhold whom he remarked “he couldn’t do anything without”. Wes was raised in Atlanta, and attended the Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London, before starting his eponymous line upon graduation in 2009.
Muffie Potter Aston, Sharon Loeb
In 2018, Wes became the Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, in charge of ready-to-wear, fragrance, beauty, and eyewear; his rise in the uncompromisingly fickle fashion world has been exceptional.
Lucia Hwong Gordon, Lucy Doughty, Yulay Volquez
Tonight’s event was more elegant, exciting, and crowded than any year prior. However, a couple of surprising no-shows included designer Carolina Herrera, who often attends, and the legendary artist Tony Bechara, who hadn’t missed a Casita fiesta in 26 years prior to this year.
Ken and Maria Fishel, Sharon Bush, Bob Murray
At $1,500 a ticket, this evening, which included delightful dancing, delectable food, and the Plaza venue, was one of the bargains of the social circuit. Guests enjoyed the chicken dinner along with indulgent chocolate mousse.
At 11 PM, the crowd began exiting into the balmy, 80-degree New York environs after having experienced one of those magical evenings that could only occur in the Big Apple.
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