Événement

Linnaean Libation League No. 7: Black, White, and Evergreen Ball

In the dark winter months when stillness sets in, BBG's Linnaean Libation League (LLL) presents a winter event celebrating the frosty beauty of the season and brightening the night. 2013's winter soiree is inspired by Truman Capote's famous 1966 Black and White Ball at another New York institution, the Plaza Hotel. At the LLL's Black, White, and Evergreen Ball, the glamour of the original masquerade party will be updated in a fresh Brooklyn spirit for a glitzy evening, Garden style.

Guests are encouraged to arrive clad in black-and-white fashions evocative of the 1960s or another era. VIP ticketholders will enter BBG's new glass-walled Visitor Center for a flute of Ca' Furlan Prosecco Cuvée Beatrice, courtesy of Regal Wine Imports, and a special tour of the award-winning Weiss/Manfredi-designed building before promenading through the Garden to BBG's glass-enclosed Palm House, aglow with hundreds of white lights.

Guests will select a handcrafted black-and-white mask as the ball gets under way. Traditional 1960s cocktails, featuring the Botanist gin, handcrafted by Bruichladdich, will be at the bar, to be enjoyed with hors d'oeuvres and light bites reminiscent of the era. LLL's ballroom décor adds a botanical twist of evergreen to the Plaza party's original gold candelabras and red tablecloths, and lines from Capote himself will greet mingling guests, all against the sonic backdrop of a swinging '60s playlist from Handpicked Music.

At 8:30 p.m., a special guest will offer homage to the great Capote and his iconic literary landscape of New York City, and to the marvelous greenery that inhabits it. Soon after, a black-and-white dessert bar featuring historic Brooklyn chocolatier JoMart Chocolate's confections and dark chocolate ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery will continue the merriment to the last bite. And throughout the evening, a photo booth with brightly colored props will illuminate the winter night and provide guests with a visual memory of this unforgettable evening.

Tickets are $30 for general entry and $45 for VIPs (limited number available). Advance purchase required and includes a free subscription to Brooklyn Based; black- and-white attire encouraged.