Better than Ezra

TriBeCa Nightclub Duane Park was sizzling last evening, with tasteful stripteases by Pandora, (pictured left) and Amber Ray and the trumpet sounds and ivory ticklings of a special Saturday-night cabaret act. (The restaurant recently began offering performances on select Saturdays to meet the great demand for weekend shows.) Among the patrons enjoying the night were banker Daniel Ezra and his wife, Lizzie da Trindade-Asher, who gathered more than two dozen of their closest friends on the occasion of Daniel's birthday. Many members of this very international crowd had traveled quite a distance to wish Daniel well, including from as far afield as Sweden. Another couple jetted in from Puerto Rico. After all the songs were sung and cigars had been passed around, the party people decamped to Kiss & Fly, where a little of both took place. The night finally wrapped near sunrise. All in all, a birthday to remember.

For more photos, click here.

Venice, Vidi, Vici

There are many times when you might feel like wearing a mask in Manhattan (whether you're recovering from a long night out or perhaps you simply don't care to be recognized while you're doing your Saturday errands.) But every now and again, you get to wear a mask in this city and not feel the least bit guilty about it. Last night's Primavera a Venezia soiree (a spring ball) was sponsored by the Standing Committee of Young Friends of Save Venice (which includes Olivia Chantecaille, Luigi Tadini and Susan Shin) as well as the Patrons & Restorers Committee, which includes such supporters as Roberto Cavalli, Thong Nguyen, Alison Minton, Caroline Meeresseman and Elizabeth da Trindade-Asher and her husband, Daniel. Asher (who's pictured here in a hat by milliner Leah C. Couture), provides this first-person account of the event, which was held at the Bowery Hotel: “The evening consisted of drinks, dancing and dessert. Proseco flowed all night as party revelers danced to the tunes of DJs Andrew & Andrew. Mountains of chocolate decorated the room in the form of brownies, cookie sandwiches and profiteroles.

"A silent auction included creations from Will Cotton, Simon Doonan, Dylan's Candy Bar, Anthony Todd and Matthew White of White Webb. Proceeds from this evening will go to the restoration of San Sebastiano, which holds the largest single collection of paintings by sixteenth-century artist Paolo Veronese. In January 2007, Save Venice launched a campaign to restore Veronese's decorative treasures, including frescoes, wall paintings and altarpieces, which have been housed at San Sebastiano since 1555. "The mission of Young Friends of Save Venice is to introduce supporters to the artistic patrimony of Venice and to instill in them the desire to help preserve the city's timeless [and sometimes imperiled] treasures."

For more photos, courtesy of Leah C. Couture, click here.