The Glamorous Dinner Parties of Alice Mason
Alice Mason was renowned for hosting extravagant black-tie dinner parties that captivated New York City’s elite. For years, she curated events that became the talk of social pages, but she never anticipated that one particular gathering would unravel a deeply held secret from her past.
As a distinguished Manhattan real estate agent catering to the affluent, Alice typically organized six lavish dinner parties each year, each accommodating 56 guests—equally divided between men and women, with couples kept to a minimum. Attendees at her soirées often included the crème de la crème of high society, featuring luminaries such as Barbara Walters, Bill Clinton, Gloria Vanderbilt, Alan Greenspan, Norman Mailer, Estée Lauder, Mary Tyler Moore, and Jimmy Carter.
In an interview with The New York Times, Alice once shared her secret to the success of her gatherings: “The key to my parties is the small tables,” she explained. “That way, people do not have to talk only to the individuals on their right or left. They can engage with the entire table.”
This particular gathering, held around 1990, celebrated her only child’s engagement—Dominique Richard. Over three decades later, Dominique reflects on that night, recalling it as “glamorous and fabulous,” in true Alice fashion. However, what resonates more profoundly now is the impact this event had on her relationship with her mother. A plus-one invited by a guest would ultimately create a lasting rift between them.
In the cutthroat world of New York’s real estate, the significance of appearances cannot be overstated. The careful arrangement of a rug or the strategic placement of a lamp can significantly influence a sale. Alice Mason crafted her illustrious career by artfully constructing beautiful illusions, yet this particular guest would expose the meticulously staged facade of her own life.
