Park Avenue Armory held its annual Snowflake Lounge on Monday, a family holiday party packed with young art aficionados and their parents. This year’s Snowflake Lounge was co-chaired by Abigail Baratta, Drew Barrymore, Emma Bloomberg, Hélène Comfort, Heidi McWilliams, Lara Meiland-Shaw, Claire Milonas, and Deborah van Eck. Sponsored by Moncler, the event raised over $200,000 to support the Armory’s Arts Education programs, focusing on creative, outside-the-box thinking for students from under served public schools.
The exquisitely restored Armory resembled a castle, making it the perfect place to fulfill children’s fantasies of fairy tales and Hogwart’s. A tall, glittering Snowflake Queen on stilts greeted guests, as carolers announced the season. This being the Armory, there was creativity to be found in every inch of the Thompson Center. Kids were invited to decorate Armory-shaped cookies, create ornaments and decorate bags.
“This event has become a New York City staple during the Christmas season,” said Comfort. “It gathers families in a traditional way for the holidays, and also shows them an historical palace. We’re so lucky – it’s been going on for seven years, and we hope it will go on forever.”
A dexterous juggler and a contortionist kept young guests entertained as they waited to have their pictures taken with Santa. A virtual reality room replaced faces with masks. A children’s choir, headed by Armory Teaching Artist, Kate Bell, treated the audience to a performance of Jingle Bells and Jingle Bell Rock, as Nina Garcia and Dan Barber looked on.
Armory Artist-in-Residence Reggie ‘Regg Roc’ Gray and the D.R.E.A.M. Ring performed and taught dance lessons in flexing, their signature dance style from Brooklyn. A full buffet with burgers and many sweet treats was a focal point, and gave kids the energy to dance the afternoon away in the Armory’s Board of Officers room, with music by 12-year old DJ Owen. He clearly has a long career ahead of him.
