New York Parties: Private Views [Hardcover]

Jamee Gregory (Author), Eric Striffler (Photographer)

Book Description

Release date: October 5, 2010

An insider’s view—an invitation to imaginative private parties at the elegant homes of New York’s most celebrated hosts. Seasoned experts share entertaining secrets. Join Jamee Gregory as a guest at some of New York’s most exclusive private parties. Visit the homes of savvy tastemakers from the worlds of fashion, finance, and design, including Michael Kors, Evelyn and Leonard Lauder, Tory Burch, and Jamie Drake. Observe them behind-the-scenes, shopping at farmer’s markets, arranging flowers, decorating tables, choosing menus, dressing up dining and living rooms, terraces and gardens, and themselves, with great style, ready to receive friends. Follow the Manhattan sociable set’s gatherings throughout the year from SoHo cocktails and Fifth Avenue splendor to a Bridgehampton tented dinner and a Millbrook hunt breakfast, revealing how they entertain with flair. From Porthault linens to plastic glasses, in jeans or evening dress, at elegant holiday celebrations, imaginative birthdays, or an intimate brunch, this book features innumerable inspirational events. Sophisticated party givers discuss what makes a celebration a success—from memorable invitations and cocktail recipes to seating, and special welcoming touches. Dazzling portraits of unique rooms full of glamorous guests show parties unfold. Informative close-up photographs capture details of carefully orchestrated get-togethers, offering the reader myriad ideas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Must-Read Books: Social fixture Jamee Gregory depicts fabulous at-home affiairs in New York Parties: Private Views." ~Harper's Bazaar

"[Jamee] Gregory, with photographer Eric Striffler, put together New York Parties: Private Views (Rizzoli), a high-octane compendium of 15 brunches, lunches, and dinners given by top-tier hosts. But just because the pages are filled with all the right people living it up in all the right places - fashion designers Tory Burch and Michael Kors, cosmetics executive/philanthropist Evelyn Lauder, decorator Jamie Drake, and architect Campion Platt, among others - don't think the book is all unattainable glamour." ~Elle Decor

"New York Parties: Private Views offer an insider's view of what makes a gathering unforgettable. It also shows how to cope with the unexpected." ~Huffington Post

"With her latest book, Gregory, a philanthropist, seasoned entertainer, and contributing editor at Elle Decor, delivers a deeper look into the spectacular homes she visited in her first book New York Apartments: Private Views by capturing them while at their most spectacular - when filled with elegant flower arrangements, soft lighting, the aromas of good food, and the conversation of friends." ~W

About the Author

Jamee Gregory is also the author of New York Apartments and a contributing editor to Elle Decor. Gregory serves on the boards of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the Boys’ Club of New York, Venetian Heritage, and the Central Park Conservancy.

Eric Striffler is a frequent contributor to several leading design and travel magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847834034
• ISBN-13: 978-0847834037
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 9.2 x 11.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Behind-the-Scenes View of New York Parties November 10, 2010

By L. M. Keefer TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If you've wondered what it would be like to plan or attend a party in a great location like New York, with a generous budget, and florists, chefs, and caterers at your disposal, this book shows you. What is refreshing about this book, its take-away message seems to be do whatever you want. Don't stress to impress. Mix high and low budget items, express your own personality and priorities. There's a mix of formal and informal parties so you can see different approaches and styles to entertaining which is the way we live now. The parties are not all glitz and glamor, but show the range of options in entertaining in New York City.

The book takes you behind the scenes with photos of 15 New York parties. It features holiday parties to Sunday brunches to a Hunt breakfast to parties in the Hamptons--then you see how the parties turn out once the guests arrive. Hosts of the parties include such style-makers as Tory Burch, fashion designers Michael Kors and Zang Toi, and interior designer Jaimie Drake. The book features centerpieces, silver and dishes used, menus from appetizers to desserts, wine and beverages served, music played and entertainment offered. A sampling of tips from this book:

*Guests like to recognize the food they're eating--it's okay to offer classic, simple food. (Michael Kors)
*Use one scent throughout the house & have food for every diet (Jaimie Drake)
*Ask someone to bring a new face--strangers make conversation fun. (Zang Toi)
*Have guests describe a book, art or experience they relished--email them to attendees.
*Seat all the bores at one table--just kidding--the author said this is an adage NOT to follow. Besides, who can be boring at parties like these?...

Although each party featured is unique, there was a consensus on offering healthy food, have diverse guests, you can mix high and low items such as Crate & Barrel glass with Baccarat crystal, and it is okay to cater the event or get take-out. Michael Kors recommends asking restaurants to make a dish you'd like to serve, even if the dish isn't on their menu. (As an aside, having recently worked at a restaurant, I can attest we worked with patrons to supply food needs from lobster bisque soup to curry chicken salad to a favorite salad dressing for their parties. And as a volunteer in charge of back-to-school lunch for my sons' high school staff and Teacher Appreciation Day, I worked with 30 area restaurants who were delighted to create dishes--for free or at cost for the educators--so know how accommodating eateries can be. They know that supplying food for parties can bring new customers to their door, and are usually complimented you appreciate their food enough to serve it at your own party--best to call the restaurant owner or manager to tell them what you're looking for and they'll offer up options you may not know about.)

This book isn't intimidating, but suggests possibilities. There are close-up photos of appetizers, dishes, centerpieces, and table settings. Favorite photos include: chocolate mice with gilded tails, cakes which resemble gift boxes, and Tory Burch's gold mugs for coffee. Author Jamee Gregory said she is inspired by Henry James' quote: "To be a person on whom nothing is lost." This beautifully-crafted book allows you to be that in the intimate views of these fun New York parties. Read more ›

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars NOTHING SPECIAL May 16, 2011

By J. Smart

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book at a book party/fundraiser where the author spoke on the book. i couldn't believe how pretentious she was. Jamie droned on, and on and on for over 45 minutes and added nothing insightful to a typical, uninspired book. Boring andedotes were endless, she was the only one amused. Additionally, the author was ungracious to those there to hear her and to the hostess with unending demands. Sorry i had to purchase this book, will never again purchase or support anything else this woman does.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Pretentious and Horrible April 10, 2011

By jjnla

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The title of this book suggests a glimpse into the rarefied world of New York City society entertaining; one expects artistic and unusual presentations. Unfortunately what is delivered is shoddy and thrown together; simply a collection of photos of extremely mediocre dinner parties given by the author's friends. No doubt, Jamee Gregory has been able to cajole a wide variety of people she has contact with to 'showcase' their attempts at entertaining, however, the results are pretentious, unenlightened, and simply boring. You will learn however, how to order take out food from a local restaurant and rearrange it on your own plates before your guests arrive. The many pictures of Ms. Gregory at all the dinner parties serves to illustrate that this book was viewed by the author more as a showcase for her own coiffed image than for an enlightened tutorial in entertaining. The treacly, nonsensical text only serves to cement Jamee Gregory's place in line at the guillotine in the coming revolution. DO NOT BUY this book...you will be sorely disappointed. It is a good thing that Amazon has a generous return policy that I was able to take advantage of.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read with Fabulous Photos! January 11, 2012

By Reading Rocks

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased Jamee Gregory's book titled "New York Apartments" so I knew that I'd also be purchasing this book about New York parties. Again, it doesn't disappoint. This book consists of different types of parties (holiday, summer bbq, brunch, etc). She talks about the person who is the host, how the party prep is done, and then how the actual evening progressed -- all accompanied by great photos. This is another book where I have to ask "do people really live like this?" Photos show apartment and home interiors. One of the dinners given by her friend, Hillary Geary Ross for the Duke of Marlborough shows the Ross apartment which is to die for. There are no recipes in this book or bona fide party-giving tips. It's more of a narrative with lots of photos. If you enjoy looking at interiors and/or seeing the "beautiful people" at home parties, this is the book for you. Like her first book "New York Apartments" one should settle in a comfortable chair and slowly absorb each page.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars New York Parties: Private Views January 1, 2011

By George A. Hoskins

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was expecting much more from this book. I would not buy it again. I was hoping to see large, expensive, one-of-a-kind parties, but instead got run of the mill ordinary block parties.

5.0 out of 5 stars How the rich party February 20, 2013

By victorianman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautiful book gives you many idea's not only the dishes and flowers but the decor in a home or apartment.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Photos November 10, 2010

By Ronald Veltman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautifully photographed in locations not seen anywhere else. A great peak at New Yorkers at their best.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Invited Views November 10, 2010

By Diana

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jamee Gregory is a delightful writer, I enjoyed reading her descriptions as much as I did viewing the photos. Fabulous!