As Cleopatra once dissolved a pearl in vinegar to win a wager, New York’s elite blurred the line between past and present at an evening where art, fashion, and philanthropy converged in spectacular form.
By the Cultural Affairs Editorial Team
On Friday, April 25th, the storied halls of The Plaza Hotel transformed into a vision of Venetian grandeur for Save Venice’s annual Un Ballo in Maschera. This year’s theme, The Banquet of Cleopatra, drew inspiration from Giambattista Tiepolo’s 18th-century Baroque masterpieces depicting the legendary feasts of Mark Antony and Cleopatra—raising over $1.2 million for the preservation of Venice’s historic art and architecture.
Guided by the vision of creative director and ball Co-Chair Bronson van Wyck, The Plaza’s ballroom became a meeting place of ancient empires—Venetian and Egyptian. A reproduction of Tiepolo’s famed oil painting served as the centerpiece, while the space shimmered with golden obelisks, overflowing fruits, glittering crystal, and a regal palette of cerulean, vermilion, and imperial gold. The design, inspired by the legendary romance of Antony and Cleopatra, embraced extravagance, celebration, and the art of living beautifully—an ethos brought to life by his team with theatrical flair.
More than 400 guests gathered beneath the ballroom’s soaring ceilings, dressed in fashion that recalled the lavish mythos of antiquity. Gilded column gowns, sheer veils, and ornate feathered masks turned the evening into a living fresco of ancient fantasy. Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Oscar de la Renta mingled with designers Alexandra O’Neill, Bach Mai, and Nell Diamond of Hill House Home. Among the glittering guest list: Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Tiffany Haddish, Padma Lakshmi, and Peter Brant Jr., each adding their own flourish to the evening’s visual drama.
Tastemaker Jenna Lyons presided over the night’s Ceremony for Outstanding Masks, awarding opulent prizes that embodied the spirit of the evening’s indulgence. Most Creative Mask went to Yu-Chi Lyra Kuo and Devin Finzer, who received a gift certificate from Oscar de la Renta; Mona Patel won Most En Thème Mask and with it, Pasquale Bruni’s Ghirlanda necklace in 18K rose gold; and Bonnie Comely claimed Most Venetian Mask, earning a Chef’s Tasting Experience for four at Casa Tua’s private club.
As the final course gave way to festivity, 80 Young Friends joined the celebration for late-night drinks, dessert, and dancing. DJ Olivier Meiji kept the energy alight well past midnight, spinning a soundtrack that bridged centuries and sensibilities.
Save Venice’s Un Ballo in Maschera remains a rarefied philanthropic event: a living tableau of culture, beauty, and intention. As Cleopatra understood, true luxury lies not in what we possess, but in the beauty we dare to bring to life. Step inside the evening’s gilded spectacle, where myth met masquerade at every turn.
The Banquet of Cleopatra
