Out & About
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
A showhouse is like a museum. But when designers hang out in their rooms to greet guests in black-tie, well, then it’s a really fabulous party.
The President’s Preview of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Showhouse on Wednesday gave designers and their friends a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labors before a few thousand guests arrive. A dinner followed at the Metropolitan Club.
The K Company – the club’s dance troupe for high school students, whose most famous alumna is Jennifer Lopez – performed, helping guests see what their efforts make possible.
Thom Filicia started his room quite late in the process. Peers at the showhouse marveled. “I told them, I do it in 4 1/2 days on television, and there I’ve got four queers bothering me,” he said, referring to his co-stars on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”
Mario Buatta said that he turned Mr. Filicia down for a job several years ago, because he was too good-looking and would steal his clients. “In fact, he’s sitting next to two clients right now, so I better get back to the table,” Mr. Buatta said.
A strong sense of camaraderie has developed among the designers. Larry Laslo did his part by setting up a bar in his room. Mark Kusek of Red Branch Decorative Imaging helped Richard Mishaan when a decorative painting job in his room went awry. Mr. Kusek reproduced the design on a computer and was able to print it on wood veneer with adhesive backing.
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Merce Cunningham’s dancers were the life of the party at the company’s benefit on Monday night – the day after its founder’s 87th birthday – which honored artist Robert Rauschenberg. As the dancers boogied into the night, Mr. Cunningham watched from the sidelines, leaving near midnight.
