The Alpha Workshops + Halloween = Masquerade Ball

The Alpha Workshops hosted their 4th annual Masquerade Ball last night at the New York Design Center, and once again the combination of Kenneth Wampler of Alpha and Jim Druckman of the Design Center staged a winning celebration. The theme this year was “C’mon Get Happy” and amidst the loud music, dirty martinis, and miniature burgers and chicken pot pies, much of the crowd seemed to get in the spirit of things, if dancing, drinking, eating, and reveling qualifies.

The Masquerade Ball offers the New York design community a chance to kick up their heels and cut loose, and to benefit a worthy foundation in the process. With all the creative talent and big personalities on hand, there was bound to be a few Kodak moments. Where else can you see Salvador Dali (Dal’ee, I was told) photographing and chatting with the Mona Lisa? Or Oscar the Grouch, can and all, dancing with a bouquet of flowers? Or, for that matter, Amy Lau of Amy Lau Design, dressed as a cheerleader, doing a split and getting back up?

As to favorite costumes, in addition to the Marx Brothers, who accompanied me to the party, there was a terrific zombie Carmen Miranda, an enthusiastic Lady Ga-Ga, and a cute Minnie Mouse I never managed to photograph. And there was a young woman dressed as a chicken, feathers included. She was a good sport, flapping her arms for pictures. I didn’t ask her what she thought of the chicken pot pies.

Photos by Larry Weinberg.