Nothing Formal, Just a "White Tie Affair"

Fresh from their appearance at this weekend's Bamboozle music festival, band The White Tie Affair held an after-party at The Gates, in Chelsea. Not yet officially opened, The Gates also hosted a weekend fête for The Real Housewives of New York City. The Chicago-based members of The White Tie Affair (who nonetheless don't seem to wear ties, white or otherwise), cite musical influences from Stevie Wonder to The Police and are currently touring the country performing songs from their debut album, Walk this Way.  The party's venue, The Gates, will open officially this weekend, as the lounge's pre-selected "ambassadors" (125 élite members of the city's social set) and their guests will be marvel over the stunning lounge's marbled walls (reported to be worth $2.4 million) and bronze detailing. Managed by owners Danny Kane and Rod Surut, the space is the former home of restaurant The Biltmore Room (2002–2006). This time, here's hoping that the Gothic iron gates that lend the space its name remain open for a many years to come. 

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Breakfast with the Beautifuls

He called it a "breakfast with the beautiful people" and designer Marc Ecko did not disappoint. Gathering a passel of actors, athletes, models and downtown types who know how to party, the designer opened up his Chelsea studios for an unofficial celebration of his new collaboration with Google. Sugary cereals on the buffet table summoned up oodles of childhood nostalgia, as did the DJ's selection of remixed 80s hits. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If every brush with cold cereal could be as hot as this one, you'd be hard-pressed to find a New Yorker who'd possibly disagree.

Smart Car for Smart People

Get Smart is not just the name of this summer's most anticipated movie (starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway). It's also an admonition to New Yorkers looking to find a parking spot. Yes, the ultra-low emission Smart Car is here and what better occasion to promote it but Earth Day? And thus, a group of stylish believers gathered at the Pace Wildenstein gallery, in Chelsea, last night, to sip cocktails and to hop in the so-called Smart fortwo. Needless to say, the "two" in question had better not be New York Knicks, but for the rest of us, hopping around the streets of NYC is about to get a lot more fun. Prices start at just under $14,000.

Happy B-Day, Byblos!

The New York air was chilly last night, but thoughts inside Chelsea hot-spot Pink Elephant were of a place far warmer. St. Tropez, to be exact, headqauarters of the legendary Hôtel Byblos, which has hosted everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Mick Jagger. The south of France home away from home for the world's glitterati turned forty years young in 2007 and is just getting around to celebrating. The hotelier chose Manhattan to kick off a four-month fête that will bring the allure and sex appeal of the iconic resort to the world's great cities. Perrier-Jouët champagne kept lips well-lubricated as a birthday cake topped with sparklers made the rounds. Celebrity DJ Jack E (whose mixes can be found on the compilation CD Hotel Byblos Saint Tropez, kept the atmosphere wild and festive, spinning tunes till the wee hours of the morning. Next stop on the Byblos bus tour is Los Angeles, where this weekend lucky revelers will party at the Playboy Mansion. The music continues in Moscow (March 4); London (March 6); Paris (March 18); Milan (March 20) and finally, in Cannes, just in time for the film festival, on May 21. %%showphotos [setid=72157603947118408]%%