The White Party

James Deering built his Italianate mansion in 1916 and was perhaps the first rich, gay man to realize just what delights the tropics offered. John Singer Sargent was one of the first, famous visitors and was captivated by the formal gardens and little details like the indoor/outdoor pool, the solid gold bathtub, and an encounter with Lillian Gish at the pool. For over two decades his home, Vizcaya, has played host to The White Party.

There was a lot of discussion about how well-attended the twenty-fourth White Party would be; no one knew just how many people would still fork out $150 a ticket plus drinks in times like these; the estimated cost for a couple reaches nearly $1,000, if done right. Apparently, there are still many who will.

You could land a plane on Mario's nipples and still have space to spare.

And, one day, we had Enrique balance a martini glass on his bubble-butt; if that's not talent, I don't what is.

Deering constructed a Spanish galleon out of coral rock so that he could row out and picnic. At one time, he employed over 10% of the workforce of Miami.

When he built it, Deering's home was well in the wilderness outside of Miami; now it rests in the middle of it. It is so sprawling, though, that you still can't imagine that it is anything but the remote fantasy Deering planned. Its 180 acres contained multiple gardens and lagoons, cow pastures, citrus groves, tennis courts, yacht harbors, and a village to supply the main house with flowers. In the nineties, Madonna lived next door.

The guests and their outfits speak for themselves.

Miss Elaine Lancaster; a white goddess in her own right.

At the end of our extraordinary evening, The Admiral of The Atlantic saluted The Admiral of The Pacific with a kiss; it was smooth sailing.