Shelby's social diary
Three-tiered birthday bash with piano bar, Hermès piñata & more is celebration to remember
No ordinary birthday party would do for Hines exec George Lancaster (demuring on his exact age). But it was a number significant enough to warrant a three-tiered bash that centered around his role as chairman of the Stages Repertory Theatre board.
The party began in one of Stages' two theaters that was transformed into a chic piano bar for a champagne reception prior to the 100 guests taking their seats in the other theater for the psychologically wicked Veronica's Room. Not exactly typical party fare. But with much-loved Sally Edmundson in the lead role in tandem with acting powerhouse James Belcher, it was surely a night to remember.
After the 90-minute thriller, guests rolled over to Armandos for a decidedly more upbeat gathering which was a recreation of the eatery's late-night Thursday dance parties. Guests slurped potent margaritas, chowed on munchies and celebrated with a giant birthday cake sporting the GCL monogram in gold leaf. Above the dance floor was an enormous piñata, made in the form of stacked Hermès boxes in the traditional orange and brown. As the piñata broke, the crowd was showered with GCL logo tank tops from American Apparel.
The lucky GCL tank recipients included Stages' Kenn McLaughlin, Carolyn Farb and Atticus Lyons, Larry Horton, Molly Pipes Meltzer and Louis Selig, Tara Simon, Alexa Georges, Sara Dodd, Greg Fourticq, Michael Landrum, Brenda and Bradley Jones and Jim McAlister and Oscar Arcos.