The Manhattan flagship store of French jeweler Mauboussin was the lovely setting for a cocktail party for El Museo del Barrio's 2009 Gala. The Rockwell Group designed store is a five story marvel, filled with beautiful jewels, watches and modern art.

The party was hosted by El Museo’s Gala Chairman Yaz and Valentín Hernández and Isabel and Ruben Toledo. Guests were treated to cocktails and pastries and delectables created by Bouchon Bakery. El Museo’s chairman Tony Bechara greeted an enthusiastic crowd which included designers Reem Acra, Christian Cota, Gemma Khang, Kai Kuhne and Angel Sanchez. Guests included Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey, Mexican super model Liliana Dominguez, Yanna Avis, Melissa Berkelhammer, Geoffrey Bradfield, Christine Cachot, Marjorie Reed Gordon, Ann Rapp, Samantha Thompson, Richard Turley, Carmen Ana and Joe Unanue, and George Wayne (be sure to scroll down for party photos). El Museo supporters are a fun and fun loving group. Paradoxically, the party had both a small town feel and an exotic vibe; after all, New York's Spaniards were celebrating.

The 2009 El Museo del Barrio Gala will honor Luis Ubinas, the President of the Ford Foundation, and Emilio and Gloria Estefan. Here is a quote from the press release (Jonathan Marder + Company ): "El Museo’s Gala ’09 is planned for Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. In a first-time collaboration, artist Ruben Toledo, together with children from El Museo’s Classroom Connections program, will create a whimsical gallery of sixty-eight portraits, including some of the most famous faces in Latin American history and culture, as well as leading Latino New Yorkers. The portraits as well as El Museo’s limited edition cigars also designed by Ruben Toledo will be sold at the gala to benefit the museum. "

And also from the press release: "El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969, and is New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, representing the diversity of art and culture in all of the Caribbean and Latin America. El Museo has had a significant impact on New York’s culture, and is a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. Currently El Museo is undergoing a $22 million-dollar facelift, which will be completed this fall."

The El Museo’s Gala ‘09 will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street on Wednesday May 20, 2009 with cocktails at seven o'clock and dinner and dancing at eight o'clock.
Ticket Prices: Table of ten: $100,000, $50,000, $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000
Individual: $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 Junior: $350. For tickets, contact Karen Hershey event consultant at 212.343.1920 and Khevents@aol.com.

For more information about El Museo del Barrio, log onto elmuseo.org

For more information about mauboussin.com

For more information about Isabel and Ruben Toledo: New York Cool's Coverage of the Couture Council's Artistry in Fashion Award Honoring Isabel Toledo