By Joel Goodrich
What a week! From an extraordinary gala at Opera Garnier, one of the world’s most iconic buildings, to the hot, new Alain Ducasse restaurant floating on the Seine River, lunch at the Paris SoHo House, and more, it was indeed a fantasy week in the City of Light!
Paris buzzed with the celebrity-studded annual gala at the one and only Opera Garnier. Sponsored by Rolex and Chanel, the event paid tribute to legendary ballet star Patrick Dupond, who passed away in 2021. A glittering mix of international figures in the entertainment, fashion, and social worlds attended, including Whitney Peak, Vanessa Paradis, Clara Luciani, Alma Jodorowsky, and Woodkid.
The evening began with a cocktail reception in the extraordinary building’s central atrium, followed by a breathtaking performance by the Paris Ballet. Next, dinner was served in the Grand Ballroom, the architecturally dazzling, almost fantasy-like space as if the Hall of Mirrors met the Sistine Chapel. We had the pleasure of sitting with Jeanne Hoefliger, director of the American Friends of the Paris Opera & Ballet, a fascinating mix of American patrons from across the United States. Finally, we went to the after-party, as only Parisians know how to do it. Wow! With a mix of the patrons plus the ballet dancers, the energy was through the roof, and we danced until three in the morning. Talk about joie-de-vivre—it was a perfect end to an unforgettable evening.