The Queen Sofia Gold Medal Gala



Abe Rosenthal dramatically reenacting a "woozy" scene from his infamous "crazy period." (image via nysocialdiary)

Neither did we know that yesterday, after having our monthly lunch ast Michael's with David Patrick Columbia, our favorite social chronicler, he was off to spend time in the society of personnages almost -- but not quite -- as fabulous as The Corsair. From NYSocialDiary:

"Last night at the Pierre. The Queen Sofia Spanish Institute of New York held The Gold Medal Gala, a reception and dinner in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain, chaired by Oscar de la Renta, Chairman of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute; and honoring Julio Iglesias, Dr. Henry Kissinger, and Mrs. Beatrice Santo Domingo. The evening was under the honorary patronage of President and Mrs. George W. Bush and Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. Senator Hillary Clinton also attended the dinner and was seated on the right of Mr. de la Renta, with Queen Sofia to his left (and he, to her right of course).

"... There were several long dresses with trains last night. And lots of jewels � more than one usually sees as these occasions. Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman was in the crowd � an unusual occasion for the now dowager of what makes up the top tier of what is now described as New York society. Also in the crowd I saw Mr. and Mrs. Sid Bass, the very regal looking Nancy (Mrs. Henry) Kissinger, Carroll Petrie who was with John Christensen and her daughter Andrea, the Marquessa de Portago who has just finished a book of photography on Native American culture; Rafael the duc de Feria, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. The prince and the duke soon learned on meeting that they were wearing the same Royal Oak watch by Audemars Piguet, except Prince Dimitri�s was accompanied by a wristlet with one large black pearl ..."



Prince Dimitri to Rafael the duc de Feria, "Dukey: check out this here pimped out bling." (image via nysocialdiary)



The Black Pearl. (image via nysocialdiary)