New York grande Pierre knows how to throw a party. Last night, the elegant Taj Mahal Hotel celebrated its 95th anniversary as a beacon of Upper East Side glamor with a “Red Diamond” gala, bringing together local residents, diplomats, stars and influencers for an unforgettable evening of retro Manhattan magic.
Nearly 500 guests, ranging from silver-haired stars to young Gen Z tastemakers, dressed in black tie, toasted the Hotel Pierre’s storied history in its famed ballroom. Sipping champagne under sparkling chandeliers, party-goers were transported to a more elegant era, when the hotel hosted everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and Aristotle Onassis to Audrey Hepburn.
The entertainment is a love letter to old New York: a Marilyn Monroe impersonator croons while Deanna Furst depicts partygoers and professional ballroom dancers in satin and sequins twirling around the stage. Historical treasures, such as archival photos and a 0.6-carat pink diamond valued at $195,000, are displayed without fanfare (or security).
While the evening paid homage to Hotel Pierre’s glorious past, the crowd also reflected its vibrant present. Among those spotted among the sea of tuxedos and gowns: hotel guests, foreign dignitaries, reality stars, Instagram celebrities and even the odd baby or two, nestled in the arms of a couture-clad figure. This night proved that, nearly a century later, the Pierre Hotel can still create indelible Manhattan moments.
“I was transported back to a Gilded Age pageant,” Lola Tash told the Observer. The Canadian actress and brains behind the satirical, relatable meme account “My Therapist Says” is “another reminder of why New York is so amazing.”
“The Hotel Pierre is my second home in the United States,” Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe told the Observer. The prince said his godmother stayed at the Hotel Pierre, noting that “my happiest memories are here” and calling the historic hotel “the love of my life.”
Experiencing the hotel’s film history first-hand is a highlight at Grace Aki. Aki told the Observer that the glistening gallery of treasures behind glass display cases made the evening “even more special”.
“It was like walking into history,” Viola Manuela Ceccarini described the event. “The elegance, tradition and energy of the room – witness generations of excellence come together under the red diamond, a symbol of timeless prestige and the enduring spirit of New York.”
“Everywhere I go, I see New York’s elite—beautiful celebrities, even Marilyn Monroe!” Lori Altman quipped. “The fashion, the food, the hotels — it’s all great!” Altman told the Observer . “It was a lavish celebration,” Namani Shqipe said.
