More than 275 costumed and black-tie guests celebrated late into the night on Saturday, Nov. 8, to raise funds for the 62nd annual Beaux Arts Ball — this year, carrying a “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” theme.
Revelers’ head-turning, good-versus-evil garb, mixed with dramatic event decor, and amazing raffles and prizes collectively, resulted in one of the most exciting and successful Beaux Arts Balls to date. Funds benefit the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, along with Beaux Arts projects that introduce underprivileged children to the world of art.
Beaux Arts Ball president Becky McCarron, alongside Ball co-chairs Meredith Kallaher and Anne Beaumont Neithardt, made sure that all “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” guests were welcomed with extraordinary excitement and entertainment from the moment they entered the historic Alfred I. DuPont Building — an incredibly apropos location to host such a spectacular event.
After climbing the building’s striking lobby staircase and entering the event space through an enormous, Savannah-inspired, wrought iron gate, guests mingled in a “Good” Auction and Cocktail ballroom, complete with mysterious white wire angels, green topiaries and white balloons, before being ushered into an “Evil” Dining ballroom, brimming with captivating blood-red table settings, glowing candelabras, and swamp moss-sprinkled centerpieces. Decor design and execution was spearheaded by the immensely talented and creative Beaux Arts member Coco Torre.
Miami’s oldest costume ball, featuring a sitdown dinner and dancing, drew brilliantly eccentric attire — including voodoo princess, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, and Austin Powers and Dr. Evil. Other creative costumes included a flock of black birds, angels and devils, and a group of creepy clowns — the evening’s costume winner because they were the perfect mix of good and evil.
With signature Grey Goose cocktails flowing, this year’s Beaux Arts Ball also featured an expansive silent auction, including more than 200 items valued at over $150,000; a first-ever Storied Wine Pull, and an exciting raffle with the top prize a $2,500 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus.
Emcee Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard greeted guests, announced the raffle winners and paid homage to the longstanding organization — currently celebrating 63 years of service.
She also emceed the Beaux Arts “Fund-a- Need” portion of the evening that raised more than $14,500, which will directly fund the organization’s outreach programs that seek to reach artists and children in our community to enhance art and art education. These programs have achieved acquisitions of over 50 pieces of art donated to the Lowe Art Museum, inspired more than 25,000 children at the Beaux Arts Art Camp and Classes, hosted over 5,000 students from underserved schools for a day of art education and hands on art projects, and supported artists and student artists with recognition and aid.
Beaux Arts Ball Sponsors included Title Sponsors City National Bank and Mercedes- Benz of Coral Gables and Cutler Bay. Additional sponsors included the Haggard Law Firm; Medina Family Foundation; UHealth; Ashley Cusack Realty; Driven Brands; High Boy Antiques; Multirace; Northern Trust; Leslie DeBauge and Les Levi; Habify; Hillary Littlejohn Scurtis Interior Designs; LNR Properties; Lowell International Realty; TUUCI; USA Bouquet; Windstorm Holdings Inc.; Neiman Marcus; SABMiller; Thierry’s Catering; Grey Goose; Kim and Tom Wood; Southern Audio Visual; Thierry’s Catering, and Allie Munroe.
Beaux Arts Executive Board members are Becky McCarron, president; Cristina Krislav, vice president; Samantha Murphy, corresponding secretary; Julie Nance, recording secretary; Jen Green, treasurer, and JJ Hansen, auxiliary treasurer.
For more information, visit www.BeauxArtsMiami.org.
