Bette Midler Announces Second Annual HULAWEEN BENEFIT for NYRP 10/31

A star-studded capacity crowd is expected at the annual Hulaween benefit for Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project (NYRP) on Friday, October 31, 2008 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.  A crowd of over 1,000 guests will be entertained by Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine.  In addition, Emmy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin will perform her "D List" stand-up comedy throughout the evening as iconic American designer Michael Kors peruses the crowd for winners of the annual costume contest.

In addition to those celebrities involved in the evening, expected to attend are Kareem Abdul Jabar, Martha Stewart, Pink, The B-52's, John McEnroe and Patti Smyth, Suze Orman, and more to follow in the coming weeks.

Alice Waters, the internationally acclaimed chef from Chez Panisse in Berkeley, will receive the "Wind Beneath My Wings" Award for her pioneering advocacy for locally grown and sustainably harvested food that has become a model for restaurant and home cooking all over the world. A special committee of celebrity chefs has been formed to honor Waters by making their signature appetizer for the cocktail party. They include: April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig and The John Dory; David Chang, Momofuku Noodle Bar;  Tom Colicchio, Craft; Lisa Fernandes, Mai House;  Kurt Gutenbrunner, Wallse, Café Sabarsky, and Blaue Gann; Jonathan Waxman, Barbuto; and Andrew Zimmern, SuperTarget Meal Adventure Guide and Host, "Bizarre Foods," The Travel Channel.

Dress for the event is "Costumes or Else" and celebrity event planner Robert Isabell will create the ambiance that this year will be themed "A Ghoulish Green Market" as a further tribute to Waters.

For the first time, NYRP is opening up the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom's balcony to accommodate more guests than ever before.  Balcony tickets are available for $630 which includes pre-dinner cocktail party, dinner, and the evening's program with Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine's performance.

In addition, the NYRP Junior Committee, "The Buds," will hold an after-party disco and casino night in the Astor Room on the Third Floor of the Waldorf-Astoria at 10:30pm. Tickets for The Buds after-party are $150.00 per person.  "The Buds" have pulled out all the stops!  Scott Melker will be the DJ again – he also DJ's for Kanye West and Wu Tang, and is sought after on the international party circuit including the MTV Music Awards. In addition, there will be a casino – Blackjack, Texas Hold 'em, Roulette, and other games for those who want to "rest" in between dances. An open bar completes the perfect package for a Halloween Extravaganza on a Friday night!  Note – The Buds after-party is a stand-alone event, and attendance at the main Hulaween gala is not necessary.

For tickets and information about Hulaween or the Junior Committee Buds after-party call Buckley Hall Events (914) 579-1000 or visit www.nyrp.org.

Photo coutesty of wbr.com