Attire

Cocktail attire or dress in the spirit of the 1930s & ‘40s

Tickets

For RSVP and ticket prices please download the Buffet Party response form.

Exhibition

The Buffet Party: Entertaining with American Ingenuity explores how the fashion of entertaining at home, buffet style, initially arose out of necessity due to economic and lifestyle changes during the Great Depression. Following the example of Eleanor Roosevelt in the White House, many budget-conscious hostesses turned to the self-serving buffet party as a way to entertain on a grand scale without the requirements of a traditional seated dinner. In the 1930s & ‘40s the buffet party skyrocketed in popularity and became a phenomenon in its own right – an American essential.

Silent Auction

Here is your chance to own extraordinary objects from the exhibition so you too can host the perfect buffet party in your own home!

The silent auction will feature smart-looking, streamlined, and functional accessories from the 1930s & ‘40s to help you entertain with style and ease, including a wine cooler by Rockwell Kent, Canapé Tray and American Modern dinnerware by Russel Wright, and a Coronet Coffee Urn by Walter von Nessen, plus much more.

Proceeds from this very special evening will support the BGC Scholarship Fund, which provides vital financial assistance to graduate students pursuing the study of the history of decorative arts, design and culture.