A Star-Spangled Night in New York City
Red, white, and blue lights shot up the lofty walls of the historical Columbus Citizens Foundation as a jazz band played wildly and a “tipsy” prohibition flapper danced, head-to-toe in gold, on the expansive sweeping staircase…
In the spirit of America's upcoming 250th birthday, this past week, Revel Rouge celebrated a star-spangled 70th birthday at the Columbus Citizens Foundation (CCF) on the Upper East Side. Founded in 1929, the CCF celebrates and preserves Italian heritage and culture, offering a historic space that came alive throughout the evening. A block from Central Park, the townhouse, originally designed in 1892, featured breathtaking old-world architecture which perfectly complemented the evening's Americana-inspired theme.
The celebration moved through three distinct rooms, each more immersive than the last. The front room was the Founding Fathers’ room, displaying a world from 1776 to the early 1800s. The room unfolded as a cocktail hour with feather quills, ink pots, aged books, and historic documents, such as the Constitution, scattered throughout the space. Life-sized Abraham Lincoln and George Washington cardboard cutouts stood nearby, overlooking the space. This room also featured a female George Washington, who invited guests to take part in an interactive experience of signing the “Declaration of Andrew” with their name. The document was inspired by the Declaration of Independence, allowing guests to “approve” Andrew’s 70th year of life and wish him a bright future.
The middle room transported guests to the Prohibition era of 1920 to 1933, where Danny Lipsitz and the Brass Tacks set the tone with an energetic mix of swing and jazz. The piano was topped with a large floral arrangement, in red, white, and blue tones, while the “tipsy” flapper danced to the rhythm of the music. Furs draped around the space, cigar boxes rested on tables, and fedoras completed the atmosphere of vintage elegance.
The final room was a seated dinner, themed between 1956 and the 1990s with deep red sparkly tablecloths and beautiful floral arrangements. Once guests were seated, Comedian Joe DeVito delivered a stand-up set of political satire. After the first course, New York City’s top Frank Sinatra impersonator sang two songs, adding another layer of immersion into the time period for guests. As dinner came to a close, native New Yorker, DJ Profess took over, bringing the night to life.
After dancing the night away, guests left with red, white, and blue popcorn and a small keepsake history book recounting the past 250 years of American history, each finished with a striped ribbon. Although the celebration had come to an end, the excitement and spirit of the evening lingered long after the guests stepped out into the warm New York City night.
