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En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme ... in addition to sheltering original copies of Cervantes’ immortal magnum opus, The Hispanic Society of America holds close to a million fantabulous thingamajigs related to the Iberian Penisula, from paintings to sculpture to numerous archeological artifacts, as well as a comprehensive research library for the avid Hispanophile. Founded by one Archer M. Huntington in 1904, the Washington Heights museum constitutes a magnificent window into all aspects of Spanish, Portugese, and Latin American history.
At the palatial 583 Park Avenue (de cuyo nombre quiero pero no consigo acordarme ... quizás porque el local no tiene nombre!), a total of 900 glittery goblets and 2,100 units of cutlery neatly arrayed on generously bouqueted and becandled cinnamon-colored tablecloths awaited roughly 300 dignitaries from Spain and the Americas on the occasion of presenting the Hispanic Society of America Sorolla Award to selected individuals for their exemplary furtherance of Hispanic culture worldwide.
And the Sorolla went to: acclaimed Spanish artist Miquel Barceló, known for occasionally compounding his paints with seaweed and Vesuvio’s ashes; construction tycoon Rafael del Pino y Calvo-Sotelo; and Eugenio López Alonso, President of La Colección Jumex in Mexico City, the largest Modern Art collection in the Americas.
Chairman George Moore had brought his wife Kathie, and ivory tickler Bob Hardwick had brought his splendiferous Sound to ensure una larga y muy exitante fiesta de gala.
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