Knock on the Pearly Gates or Tour the Circles of Hell at Young Lions’ Annual Benefit, April 24, 2003

New York, NY, March 31, 2003 -- Dante: The Devil and the Divine, The New York Public Library Young Lions’ annual benefit, will be held on Thursday, April 24, in the Bartos Forum of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Halos or horns? Taking its theme from The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century poetic journey into the afterlife, this year’s party is sure to inspire devilish and delightful costumes and décor. The fun begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m.

This year’s party co-chairs are Eliza Reed Bolen, Belle Burden Davis, Hannah Griswold, Punch Hutton, Jacqueline Sackler, and Stacey Bendet Wiener. Proceeds will be used to purchase books for The New York Public Library through the Young Lions Fund for International Fiction. “Benefit” tickets are $150 and “Patron” tickets are $250, if purchased ahead of time. Tickets purchased at the door, if available, will be $200. To purchase tickets, please call 212.930.0730.

Décor by Mark Musters of Musters & Company will transform the Library into visions of heavenly and infernal fun. In a twist on tradition, this year party-goers will enter the Library on Fifth Avenue. After a brief sojourn in heaven, revelers will descend to the wild party circle of hell -- the Bartos Forum -- where diabolical D.J. Johnny Dynell will spin. Entertainment will be staged by Chi Chi Valenti. Hors d’oeuvres, finger foods, and desserts will be prepared by Creative Edge Parties. To take a breather from dancing, party-goers can return to paradise to relax with light-as-a-cloud music and heavenly libations from the bar.

Each year, the Young Lions benefit committee turns to the Library’s collections for inspiration. This year their imaginations were inflamed by the many rare editions of The Divine Comedy housed in the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. “Dante: The Devil and the Divine” is the fifteenth annual benefit for younger Library supporters. Known for its imaginative fundraisers, the Library has previously hosted “What a Glorious Evening!” and benefits in years past have included “POP: A Tour Through the Candy-Colored '60s,” an “Explorer’s Ball,” and a “March Hare’s Ball.”

Our special thanks to Oscar de la Renta for their generous sponsorship of the party. Additional support has been provided by Vanity Fair and Dooney & Bourke.

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Contact: Sabina Potaczek, Herb Scher 212.221.7676.



 

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