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Home / Art & Culture
Art & Culture

Fêtes: A Night to Remember in New Orleans

By Sara Ruffin Costello on April 30, 2018

Party planner to the Obama White House pulls off epic New Orleans tricentennial bash. 

© Michael Blanchard

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“Tonight marks the first time this historic building has ever displayed people of color on its walls!” beamed Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Historic indeed for a city frequently found smack in the center of controversial debates surrounding race and history. But the mayor is no stranger to firsts and the evening was a full-tilt celebration staged at Gallier Hall–the legendary Greek revival building that formerly housed City Hall, now tastefully refurbished by First Lady Cheryl Landrieu. It is the Big Easy’s tricentennial, an occasion which dovetails with the twilight of Landrieu’s mayoral term and a new chapter for the city itself. 

To pull off the high profile gala whose packed guest list included celebrities, city officials, socialites and, of course, politicians Landrieu’s team tapped Bryan Rafanelli, the ultimate insider’s guy, skilled at pulling off tight-security parties for both the Obamas and the Clintons. Rafanelli planned for just under a year to get this important night right. Handsome in black tie (and looking like Tom Cruise’s stunt double), the event planner swept through the 1850’s era rooms for one last check while explaining his inspiration, “every party has a story to tell and tonight is an opportunity to reflect back New Orleans past and present.” Alongside the First Lady, Rafanelli oversaw every detail of the evening while making certain to tap local businesses to execute the vision. Guests were wowed by hundreds of regionally grown cherry blossoms arranged by florist Kim Starr Wise, which stretched to the top of the entrance hall’s tall ceilings.

Up a sweeping stairway of black and white marble on the top floor, rows of flags representing the sixty-two nations that influenced the city–including Haiti, France, and Spain–stood watch over the cocktail hour. The supper, a thoughtful blend of cuisines for which New Orleans is famous, was dreamed up by caterer Joel Dondis and served in twin ballrooms each painted a different, historically accurate hue. But all anyone could talk about were the menu cards. First Lady Landrieu worked with Yonder Design to conceptualize the allegorical scene, which crawled around the menu’s borders and referenced native flora and fauna (including, but not limited to, the brown pelican, magnolia blossoms, iris, blue crabs, jasmine, camellia, and ferns from the lowlands). While tapping his foot to musician Shannon Powell aka "The King of Treme,” Rafanelli mused, “these are not just parties, these are moments that historians will look back on and describe the way in which we lived.”

 
Michael Blanchard

Bryan Rafanelli and Mayor Mitchell Landrieu

Michael Blanchard

The Entrance Hallway

Dramatic vases of local cherry blossoms lined the entrance hallway as guests arrived.

Michael Blanchard

First Lady of Haiti Martine Moïse and Daughter

Michael Blanchard

First Lady of Haiti Martine Moïse with Son and Daughter

Michael Blanchard

First Lady of Haiti Martine Moïse

Michael Blanchard

Flags of 62 Nations

The flags represented the 62 nations that have had an influence on New Orleans including France, Spain, and Haiti.

Michael Blanchard

The IBERIABANK Ballroom

The color palettes in the IBERIABANK Ballroom reflected the city’s coral pinks and greys to perfectly compliment the triptych painting on the wall by local artist, George Dureau. The tablecloths alternated in different corals and tables were topped with white Amaryllis flowers, local to the state.

Michael Blanchard

A Table Design in the IBERIABANK Ballroom

Michael Blanchard

The IBERIABANK Ballroom Table

Michael Blanchard

Mark Walsh, First Lady Cheryl Landrieu, Mayor Mitchell Landrieu, and Bryan Rafanelli

Michael Blanchard

Mayor Mitchell Landrieu

Michael Blanchard

Mayor Mitchell Landrieu

Michael Blanchard

The Menu

The custom designed menu, created by Yonder design, featured many of Louisiana’s natural wonders including the brown pelican, magnolia, iris, green frog, blue crab, lemon, jasmine, camellia, azalea, great blue heron, turtle, and ferns from the lowlands.

Michael Blanchard

New Orleans Police Chief Michael S. Harrison and Wife C.C. Harrison

Michael Blanchard

Party Guests

Michael Blanchard

Party Guests

Michael Blanchard

Actress Patricia Clarkson and Actor Bryan Batt

Michael Blanchard

Sara Ruffin Costello and Paul Costello

Michael Blanchard

The Leventhal Ballroom

The décor in the Leventhal ballroom was inspired by the river and the lake of New Orleans, exemplified by the watery Japanese style blue and green table linens. Irises, one of the state flowers, and the source for the symbol of New Orleans–the fleur de lis–of varying heights served as centerpieces.

Michael Blanchard

Walter Isaacson

Michael Blanchard

Welcome Ceremony

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