On Saturday February 22, 2025 The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust threw a once in a lifetime party in honor of Edward Gorey's 100th birthday. This spectacular event was attended by more than 120 people with connections to Mr. Gorey, each of whom were eager to celebrate his memory and share personal recollections and anecdotes.
The event took place from 8pm to 11pm at the Raines Law Room at The William, an inspired choice of venue that appeared to spring from one of Edward Gorey's elaborate rooms in his book The West Wing. The William is located just around the corner from the apartment where Mr. Gorey lived for years.
Unusual floral arrangements by Emily Thompson Flowers added a patina of faded gentility to the space, including the above extravaganza that greeted guests as they arrived in the front entrance hall. Throughout the evening, a turn into a room would lead to an encounter with an old friend or a new Gorey acquaintance.
Keeping an eye open to explore the nooks and crannies, guests could view pieces of original art, hand made puppets, and set pieces by Edward Gorey in glass fronted cases.
Themed cocktails were served throughout the evening as were delicious hors d'oeuvres. The signature cocktail of the night was Theoda's Pearls, a Hendrick's Gin based libation that slipped down the throat like Theoda sinking in the ocean (Theoda is the heroine of Edward Gorey's 1990 volume The Tuning Fork).
Artist Jeremy Nguyen delighted partygoers with his spot-on pen and ink caricature portraits, deftly created in a few short minutes as the sitter relaxed in a corner of the front room.
The guests arrived attired with sartorial elegance inspired by Edward Gorey's works.
Bats of all shapes and sizes fluttered about, adorning the flowing dresses, stylish suits and perfectly coiffed hairstyles of the guests. Each room became a living tribute worthy of the opening sequence from the PBS program Mystery! with spirited conversation and laughter replacing moaning sighs.
A fashion highlight of the evening occurred when Clifford Ross appeared in one of Edward Gorey's beloved fur coats. Edward Gorey had the extra large full length coyote coat dyed yellow and lined in yellow plaid.I was one of three guests (that I know of) who attended wearing an Edward Gorey "Ring of Power". Clifford Ross and myself wore one of Mr. Gorey's personal rings. Anne Bromer donned a petite ring that Edward Gorey gifted to her. The ring had belonged to Gorey's mother Helen and he commented on the fact that Ms. Bromer was probably the only person he knew that the ring would fit.
As the evening progressed, live music was provided in one of the back rooms by Papa Vega's Dream Shadows, a talented ensemble with an eclectic repertoire that provided the perfect atmospheric background throughout the evening.
The proceedings came to a climax as special guest artists Patti Smith and Jesse Paris Smith performed songs and a reading of Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies with musical accompaniment. Patti Smith regaled the crowd with her own story of meeting Edward Gorey in the 1960's when she worked at Scribner's Books, and her encouraging him to contact Andreas Brown of The Gotham Book Mart as a possible venue to sell his books.
(Cake photo courtesy Robert Greskovic)
The festivities were capped when an absurdly tall, five tiered birthday cake was presented to the assembled throng. Created by Danielle Konya of Vegan Treats bakery, the design of the cake was inspired by Edward Gorey's illustration from A Very Fine Clock. After a champagne toast to Mr. Gorey, the delicious cake was cut and passed to the party goers.
As the evening drew to its inevitable denouement, guests were presented with a limited edition program as a tangible remembrance of a perfect evening of celebration.
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