Academy Ball

La Grande Dame of the Social Calendar, the Academy of Music Ball, arrived in style, as usual, on Saturday, January 26th. Some guests made the whirlwind rounds of private pre-party cocktail receptions, while others gathered in the opulent rotunda bar at the Ritz-Carlton to meet up with friends also attending, and to indulge in a glass of two of the lady Veuve before heading over to the concert at the Academy. Once all were seated (the house was packed, not only with Philadelphia notables, but people from all over the country), we were treated to an absolutely splendid concert by the always impressive orchestra. Renowned violinist Joshua Bell performed to the delight of all. Later, we spotted him after the formal dinner at the Hyatt Bellevue, dancing up a storm, twirling his bow tie (and managing to swing it on tempo too). The glamorous flock hopped from one dance floor to another and sipped champagne and wine in all the different rooms. By 1 am, when the bulk of the party had departed, late night revelers, determined to make the night last, clustered in the smoky library or headed upstairs to one or all of several post-parties, some with bouquets of the huge white lilies that had adorned the dinner tables.