New York Botanical Garden Celebrates 20 Years Of Its Winter Wonderland Ball

By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Angela Pham and Joe Schildhorn

THE SETTING: A gorgeous winter night in New York was the recent setting for the 20^th annual New York Botanical Garden’s Winter Wonderland Ball. The evening drew 500 of America’s most notable sociables for an evening of winter revelry that those fortunate enough will long remember.

THE STYLE: The black-tie patrons appeared in their finest winter chic attire. Women wore impeccable, monochromatic gowns in jewel tones, with neutrals of whites and blacks as the most popular. while the men sported a mix of traditional tuxedos and ensembles with velvet dinner jackets that created a festive vibe.

Guests began the evening under the breathtaking Palms of the Gallery dome located on the Garden grounds for lively cocktail hour. The festivities then moved to the stunning Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for the evening’s program where guests dined on an exquisite multi-course meal. The fun continued as partygoers stayed into the wee hours of the morning dancing the night away that capped an evening of wintery perfection.

THE PURPOSE: The event, chaired by Alex Assouline, Georgina Bloomberg, Peter Brant Jr., Sarah Chilton, Martin Dawson, Anne Hathaway, Gillian Hearst, Hilary Rhoda, Ariana Rockefeller and Texan native Natalie Bloomingdale raised over $350,000 for the Center for the New York Botanical Gardens Children’s Education Program which serves over 90,000 students and 3,000 teachers annually.