Tamara and Arjun India

After a wonderful wedding in NY ( See below) Tamara and Arjun invited me to travel to India for their second wedding. It is hard not to be swept away by all the colors and flavors, textures and sights that make India so different.

April Town and Country Magazine

I just got the newest edition of Town & Country Magazine with the beautiful Hilary Rhoda on the cover. Don't forget to turn to page 40 to see my latest party photos. Here is a sneak look.

My Birthday

It all started last week when I called Bill Tansey to ask him if he could send me a few dead roses that I could pull apart and scatter the petals on my floor for my birthday party." No worries" said Bill and so I didn't give the matter another thought. Saturday morning and there was a knock on my door and there they were!!! 525 red pink and orange roses in 7 big buckets. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. So much for pulling the flowers apart. There was no way! Sunday started well with lots of calls, emails and text messages. I love Facebook Birthday's. At 1 pm Martha arrived with her bags of tricks and she waved her magic wand and transformed my place into a world of color. Next I rushed down town to pick up the food from the very best Indian Restraunt in NY Bombay Talkie. This little gem of a place is on 9th Ave and 22nd St. Rominey was so helpful with the menu and she came in on Sunday to make sure everything was perfect which it was. I had an India taxi driver who helped me get the food uptown and told me he was getting very homesick from the wonderful aroma of the food.
At 3 pm Akiyo arrived to set up and get ready to do henna on all my guests. She was extraordinary. Her website is www.akiyohenna.com. She did something special on every person. As the birthday girl I got a treat. After doing my arm in regular henna she then did my hand in gold. Yes I feel fabulous! It will last a week and so hope I get to see you all before it wears off.
Thelma was the next to arrive and I have to say thank you for all her help with the food. Next came all my friends and each and everyone of them brought life and sparkle with them.
At 6 pm the first half left and someone said they guessed it was all over but then the next wave of guests arrived and we kept on happily eating and drinking and laughing and talking. Thanks to everyone who made it such a great day by blessing me with their presence and thanks for the presents!!! They were great too!!

Snow

Love Julie xoxoxo

The Museum Of the City of New York Winter Gala

On Tuesday Night had me racing uptown to the Museum of The City of NY for their Winter Gala. This year it was a sea of color with only a few women in black. David Chang was the DJ extrodinaire and at the end of the night no one wanted to go home. I have to say Christian Leone had the women flying and back bending on the dance floor like Fed Astaire meets breakdancer. Alexandra Lebenthal looked great in her Kim Hicks gown and her husband survived the evening giving me his Superman pose to prove it as he headed down the stairs. Great Night and lots of fun. Farewell to Jerry Gallagher who is changing jobs at the Museum. It has been really faantastic working with you.

Happy 70th Birthday Mum!

I promised my Mum I would email her a photo from our family trip to New Zealand to celebrate her 70th Birthday 4 days ago. She has been back in Sydney 2 days and already has her album done but was missing a photo of herself to add to it. Yes no surprises here, my Mum takes great photos. She never really took any as we were growing up but now that she is an avid bush walker ( which really means adventure hiker who goes on journeys into the uncharted back country of Australia) she has a little Cannon that I gave her a few years ago with which she takes amazing photos of the places she visits and the people she meets along the way.>

Mehendi Party New Delhi

Today a friend of mine asked me how it was to be photographing in India. I told him that I am so inspired by the colors and the flavors. I love the chaos and the constant vibration of so many people. And yet at night everything becomes still. At 3 in the morning there are no sounds, unlike NY that alway rumbles.
So here is why I love it. These little snaps from my iphone make me smile.

Tamara and Arjun NYC

It is 7.15 pm and I have a plane to catch in less than 3 hours! Why am I still at my desk? I just had to get this post up before I left NY. Yes I am on my way to Delhi to be a guest at Tamara and Arjun's Indian wedding following their beautiful event just over a week ago at the Essex House here in NY. Arjun's family made the trip to be here and now he and Tamara will return to his home town where his grandmother is hosting over 800 guests on Sunday. Of course in Indian culture there will be several days of parties to attend.
As for New York it was a wonderful night. The very talented James Abel designed and planned the wedding. He always makes such beautiful flowers and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
So next blog will be from India.
Bye for now
PS the slideshow can be seen at www.julieskarratt.com/tamaraandarjunnyc

Sting in Philadelphia

Saturday night I was having a great time in Philly. Sting came down for the Philadelphia Orchestra Gala. He was all smiles before the gig that he helped to make a sold out event. The Academy of Music is a great hall for listening to music and visually I love the amazing chandelier. The show was fantastic and so was the dinner that followed at the Bellevue.

Preston Bailey's Book Party

What an amazing celebration it was last Thursday Night for Preston's Book launch. I had been photographing a makeover story all day for Town & Country and as so it was only fitting that I was about to go and see what kind of a makeover Preston would do at the Lexington St address. I was so excited. The room was filled with so many people that I knew. Joan Rivers arrived and did her thing hugging Preston. Vivia looked amazing and beautiful as she ran around making sure all was in order. Marcy was as always, hot and fab as she made certain we were all where we should be and the guests looked stunning. That makes for fun photo taking!