It’s no longer at The Tunnel or the Hammerstiein Ballroom. It’s no longer “the” event of the season but Dining by Design’s star still hasn’t been extinguished, it’s only slightly dimmed. For the past several years the event has moved to a new home in Pier 92 linking it’s carriage to the Architectural Digest Show occurring at the same time in the adjoining Pier 94.
9507Pier 92 doesn’t hold the same cache as previous venues but the tables make a valiant attempt at holding up the prestige of former dinners from years gone by. After all, the event this year celebrated its twenty-first anniversary. It’s grown after having spawned sister events in such cites as Chicago, Kansas City and Los Angeles.
In 2018 New York is the sole survivor as far as I know, the grand dame that still generates revenue for a total cure of a disease that continues to affect millions worldwide. This table designed by Gensler + Knoll = Evenson Best chose to fold a thousand origami cranes in honor of the 123,887 New Yorkers currently still living with HIV/AIDS.
One thousand cranes in a rainbow of color fluttered over their poignant and touching table.
Some of the big contributors who have produced tables year after year were here again
Ralph Lauren set an exquisite table in a manor distinctively Lauren with the perfect restraint and cool ambiance of an alfresco dining tableaux
David Rockwell, one of the founding members of the event was back again with a table ringed in carpeting strands from the Rug Company
Interior Design Magazine, a long time sponsor of the event was again on hand with its very architectural construction placed at the very end of the space, a fitting period to the event’s many designs.
Over the past several years design schools have been asked to participate usually under the mentorship of an established designer. This striking red dining room was designed by the School of Visual Arts under the mentorship of Tyler Wisler
And this elephant in the room was the design entry by the Pratt Institute with the mentoring of Barry Richards.
Tables ranged from the deco inspired black and white of Hok + Florim + Teknion/Studio TK/Luum + FCI
To the more colorful table designed by Wesley Moon for Luxe Interiors + Design creating a bouquet of springtime behind panels of translucent drapery
There were tables that were destination inspired like this Moroccan table designed by Alessandra Branca for Benjamin Moore.
Or this Southwest version put together by One Kings Lane for the New York Times, a table that captured the real heat of the event
As always there were tables that zinged and stabbed with their boldly aggressive approach. Jeffrey Beers International + Akdo + Maya Romanoff + Walters made a lasting memory with this dynamic table
And Arteriors tableaux of scarabs in their art and wallpaper was creepy and beautiful all at the same time. As appealing as their design was to the eye I’m still not so sure how it would set with my stomach if I were to be seated there for a three course dinner.
Even though the show has thinned out over its twenty-one year run I’m still hoping for a year twenty-two. The cause is still very relevant and still needs its advocates. You go DIFFA. Your work saves lives and what could be more important than that.
THE GALLERY
Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield, 1957
Joe Shere, photographer
No comments:
Post a Comment