Erotic, Hypnotic

The National Arts Club showed off its lusty side last night (who knew?) during a night devoted to the study of eroticism. Hosted by artist Annika Connor and designer Danielle Schachter, the evening featured theatercraft, music, visual art and even an exploration of chocolate as an aphrodisiac. Engaging just about every sense (with the excpetion of touch) the salon was designed to titllate, and did not disappoint. Capping off the evening with Champagne and "Love Potion" bon bons by chocolatier Jacques Torres, the night's guests could not help but exit the Gramercy Park landmark feeling a little frisky. Anyone who didn't clearly wasn't paying attention.

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(Image at left is a portrait by photographer Sol Lang.)

When Joe Six-Pack Met Joe the Plumber

There were a batch of Joes, but no average Joes (or Janes) at the National Arts Club last night, where a "Heroes & Villians" Halloween ball brought out creative types aplenty. Among our favorite costumes: a frightening duo from AIG; a moose impaired by Sarah Palin; the Bailout Package; a Gossip Girl; and a regal young woman who called herself the Duchess of Democracy. Outside the Club, the streets of New York were filled with revelers in seriously clever get-ups. If only Halloween fell on Friday every year.

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A Heidi Halloween

Whether you're at Heidi Klum's bash tonight at 1Oak or down in Gramercy Park at the National Arts Club's "Heroes and Villains" black-tie ball, we wish you much merriment tonight. And if you're looking to be scared out of your wits (as if the plethora of Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber costumes weren't enough to give you a decent fright), pop over to Blood Manor, where you'll encounter enough petrifying ghouls to last you till next October 31.

Digging Up a (Very) Old Menu

This evening, members and guests of the National Arts Club, the historic organization based in the townhouse once owned by New York governor Samuel J. Tilden, were treated to a dinner reminiscent of a similar one given in the same room 100 years ago. A quick scan of the history books will confirm that the year 1908 was not especially noteworthy, but one of the highlights for New Yorkers in the know a century ago was surely the soirée given to honor Spencer Trask, on January 22, 1908. A former president of the National Arts Club, Trask was also a noted philanthropist whose generosity helped fund the New York Public Library and to underwrite the work of Thomas Alva Edison. He is also credited with providing the financial assistance that enabled Adolph S. Ochs to reorganize the flagging New York Times. Flash forward to the present, the roomful of twenty-first century patrons started the evening with Bronx Cocktails and Manhattans (both created from recipes circa 1908) before tucking into baked trout duxelles and pan-roasted jumbo squab, again prepared from vintage menu descriptions. For now, the theme of next year's dinner remains unannounced, but our money's on it having something to do with 1909. Wager, anyone? %%showphotos [setid=72157603905648223]%%