By Drew Grant 5/30/12 9:36am

Menace to Society

A Faustian bargain!

Menace to Society: Press for Success

Becoming a socialite is a grueling slog even in the best of circumstances. And I’m not in the best of circumstances. I don’t really know anyone or have any money, and while I’ve gotten plenty of ink over the years, it’s not the kind on the society pages (it’s on my shoulders, calves, upper arms, forearms…).

But nobody does it alone. Cinderella had a Fairy Godmother and a bunch of little birds. I had an editor, a stylist and a photographer lending occasional advice, but it wasn’t enough. I needed a publicist. And I knew of only one man for the job: R. Couri Hay. Read More

By Drew Grant 5/17/12 12:07pm

dinner parties

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Fairytale Satire for Russia, White Swans, Vodka and Jay McInerney: Janna Bullock Debuts “Allegories and Experiences”

Yesterday evening, The New York Observer wove around the horrific obstacle course that is trying to find a cab in Times Square in order to jet up 14 East 82nd St. The partially-remodeled space, owned by Russian real estate mogul and artist Janna Bullock had been turned into a three-floored gallery for Ms. Bullock’s premiere exhibition, “Allegories and Experiences.”

Over bites of fried sage and copious amounts of vodka, we mingled with some of New York’s artistic jet-setters, surrounding the two hosts of the evening, Ms. Bullock and Jay McInerney. Read More

By Drew Grant 3/05/12 1:01pm

red carpet

9 Photos

Heather Swicicki and friends

Socialites Awkwardly Holding Dogs on Red Carpet for Smith Valliere’s Humane Society Toast

(Photos via Patrick McMullan)

Posing on the red carpet is an art, and most of the rich and fabulous have already mastered select “looks” that they know accentuate their best features.

Because these stances are done hundreds of times per year, its tough to teach old dogs new tricks. Or to put it another way, you can’t teach socialites how to react to having old dogs shoved at them as props. (Because let’s be honest, there’s very few ways to look elegant when holding someone else’s baby or pet on the red carpet.) Read More