The New York social circuit has entered a new era of exuberance, which means that a smashing round of parties is about to take place. The economy has a lot to do with it, but so do the people behind the events. The mostly female group of philanthropists who take responsibility for throwing the parties are savvy and experienced in their roles, and they’re asking for more: of their institutions, of their friends, and of the professionals they hire to execute the events.

The party everyone will be talking about, before and after it happens, is the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit. Yes, everyone already talks about this event, but this year it will be different, thanks to a new event designer: David Monn. Only two years in the business, he is already working on the city’s most prestigious affairs.

Mr. Monn hit the ground running with his first commission, the New York Public Library’s fall gala in 2003, which he won with the help of board member Gayfryd Steinberg. Then he took on the opening of the Time Warner Center, a party for 4,000. He made himself golden, however, when he presented a totally different – yet beautiful – design for the next fall library event.

This impressed guests for the second year in a row, among them board trustee Anna Wintour, who is one of the driving forces of the Costume Institute event and well known for spotting new talent. Being taken under Anna’s wing in this case is a major coup for Mr. Monn, who is replacing perhaps the best-known name in the industry, Robert Isabell. We have to call attention to this, as Mr. Monn would be the last person to do so on his own.

Mr. Monn is an utterly unpretentious, friendly, and elegant man, raised in rural Pennsylvania, who says he feels blessed to have found his calling after several years in the jewelry business. Feeling blessed, in Mr. Monn’s case, means working very long hours and going to extraordinary lengths to obtain the effect he’s aiming for – lush without extravagant spending.

Those going to the affair on May 2, which costs more than $2,500 a ticket, should expect whimsy and remarkable attention to detail (at one birthday bash, Mr. Monn lined up the stripe of the place cards with the stripe of the napkin). The party, which celebrates the opening of a new exhibit on Chanel, will be a transporting experience.

A sense of humor is everything to a great party, so we’re especially enthusiastic about the celebration of April Fool’s Day, planned by Friends of New Yorkers for Children. What a delight to see the serious socialites – Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Renee Rockefeller, and Susan Shin are among the chairwomen – playing pranks on one another and their guests for a good cause. The event takes place on April 8 at the Mandarin Oriental.

Then there are the causes that mean everything to New Yorkers, which support aspects of New York life that make this city livable. No matter what the design or theme, these events draw a crowd of good people, and good people make for good parties.

New Yorkers for Parks has two social events this season. The first, for park enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s, takes place April 6 in the outdoor courtyard of the Tank, a bar in Times Square. The second is the fancy annual dinner at the Mandarin Oriental on May 9. Co-chairwoman Elizabeth Cooke Levy notes the importance of the organization in bringing funds and attention to lesser-known parks throughout the five boroughs (in other words: parks other than Central Park).

We have nothing against supporting Central Park, though, and the date to do something good for it, if you’re a lady who likes hats, is May 4, when the Central Park Conservancy hosts its annual Frederick Law Olmsted Luncheon, held in the Conservatory Gardens.

For those who live north of Central Park, the Harlem YMCA is an integral institution to the neighborhood, providing education and recreation to all ages. Its Black Achievers in Industry Awards Dinner brings together accomplished black professionals from all over the country. Youths enrolled in Y programs as well as college-age Y scholarship winners are also present for an inspiring evening. This year’s event will be held March 31 at the Sheraton New York.

Helping bring art to New York City schools is the Center for Arts Education. Its benefit, honoring the president of the Carnegie Corporation, Vartan Gregorian, will be April 11 at Christie’s. And if you’re going to go out once, and you’re not on a diet, there is one must-attend event: Taste of the Nation, featuring generous tastings from more than 50 New York City restaurants. Do not eat lunch on May 11.