In an unprecedented occurrence, three separate "Real Housewives of New York City" premiere parties were held Monday night. I attended all of them, and now you can be the judge as to which cast member owned New York, at least for one night.
Countess LuAnn de Lesseps had an early party, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lantern’s Keep in the Hotel Iroquis on 44th Street. The very early time raised some eyebrows from the late-night New York crowd, but she explained to me that she had to have an early celebration because she is the co-chair of a charity event that took place later that night.
"I'm so excited for the new season. The new girls are greater but I do miss the other ladies," LuAnn said. "I wish I could go to all the other parties but I am hosting an event later tonight." LuAnn's mother attended the event along with new housewife Heather Thomson and MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts, who was gushing about his upcoming wedding.
Of the new cast members, only Aviva Drescher was throwing a viewing party, which she referred to as the “official” party on the invitation. The event took place at Frames NYC at the much more chic hour of 8 p.m. The party's later start led to an early finish, however, since the party officially ended as credits rolled on the show's 90-minute premiere.
"Everyone told me not to do the show, but I'm happy that I did," said Aviva, who posed for pictures with former cast member Jill Zarin. "It's going to be an exciting season and I will admit I didn't always take the high road."
Finally, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan’s affair was at the fancy Serafina on the Upper West Side, and was sponsored by Ramona Pinot Grigio. I asked for a Skinnygirl margarita, which was met with an unamused response.
However, what might have been the best fete of the night didn’t belong to a "Real Housewife of New York," but rather Adrienne Maloof from the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" franchise. Adrienne and her husband, Dr. Paul Nassif, picked Monday night of all nights to have a party at Bishops and Barons on 14th Street to celebrate the launch of their skincare line and his New York practice.
With the Bravo ladies, Botox trumps booze every time.
