This week marked DIFFA‘s Annual Dining by Design fundraiser. The event is DIFFA’s largest fundraisers of the year and takes place during Architectural Digest’s Annual Design show. Dining by Design brings together designers from all over the country each presenting a new and exciting tablescape for the sake of a worthy cause. Each Designer is provided an unfinished space to transform into an imaginative decadent dining experience. Each one a definitive representation of the artist’s mindset and aesthetic sense. Though most provide a fanciful and extravagant image of dining, they can all be used for inspiration in any humble abode. We encourage anyone with a passion for pretty things or philanthropy to attend this fundraiser for DIFFA.
DIFFA is a national organization that helps raise awareness and grants funds to various organizations that aid in the fight against HIV/AIDS and or provide assistance to people living with or impacted by the disease. Since its inception over 30 years ago, DIFFA has provided over 41 million dollars to HIV/AIDS organizations across the nation. The four-day fundraising event began on Thursday, March 17th and will run through Monday, March 21st.
On the evening of this year’s launch, we attended “Cocktails by Design” a fun cocktail party filled with media, artists, and industry insiders. The raw space of pier 92 was truly transformed into a magnificent showroom. Each installation stood alone like a small room complete with walls and flooring. While there, we wandered around mingling with excited designers and sponsors enjoying the fruits of their labor. In addition to viewing the dining installations created by some of the top artists and designers in the field, we also enjoyed cocktails and small bites from some of the city’s top eateries. Some of the restaurants who participated in the evening’s festivities included: STK Steakhouse, North Square Restaurant and Strip House. Guests also enjoyed specialty Patron cocktails and a selection of beer from Brooklyn Brewery.
In the days following the cocktail party, the general public was invited to view the installations. For a small fee of $30-$40 anyone could walk through the venue and marvel at the inventive settings. Tickets also include free entry to the Architectural design show just one pier away. The architectural design show is where many of the top luxury home brands gather to showcase some of the newest and best in home decor and design.
Monday, March 21st marks the end of the expo but also features the biggest fundraising event the annual “Dining by Design Gala” a unique dining experience among the installations. This event offers fans of design the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the elite in the design industry. Tickets are still available for Monday’s dinner and best of all proceeds got to DIFFA so they may continue their charitable work with HIV and AIDS. For more information on this event and the many ways you can lend your support to DIFFA please go to DIFFA.org. Dining by Design may end soon but DIFFA’s work is far from done, check out their site for more events and remember donations are accepted year round.
Check out the gallery below for a few of our favorite designs.
Photos: Erik Bardin