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CNN Live Today

Party Time!

Aired December 31, 2003 - 10:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the plans for place and the ball is ready to drop on one of the biggest New Year's bashes in the country in New York's Times Square, but it's not the only cool place to ring in the New Year in the Big Apple. We have the inside scoop on some hot holiday party spots.
Joining us now for more on that is "New York Post" fashion editor Libby Callaway.

Good to see you, Libby.

LIBBY CALLAWAY, "NEW YORK POST": Hey, Fredricka. Happy New Year.

WHITFIELD: Happy New Year to you.

Of course, the No. 1 destination spot in the Big Apple, Times Square, how might it look different, aside from the security which we've done a pretty good job of covering.

CALLAWAY: Well, you know, the last couple of years, I think that people have sort of been staying away from times square, they've been a little bit freaked out, and this year -- I can tell you, I work on Times Square -- it is packed. There are so many tourists out and about and ready to party in Times Square tonight, Wearing their 2004 glasses and their noisemakers in hand. It's going to be a really big, fun party, I think.

WHITFIELD: Wow, so people of all walks of course, converging on Times Square. Let's talk about the more exclusive crowd and where some of these folks go. The Hudson Hotel, which is apparently all of the rage lately. That's one of the big spots, why?

CALLAWAY: Right, absolutely. It's a Ian Schraeger (ph) Hotel in midtown. It has this amazing atrium out back, an open air place, and the cast of "Taboo" is hosting a big party there. It's "Taboo," the Boy George musical on Broadway right now. They're going to be there. Boy George is going to be spinning, 195 bucks will get you an open bar all night. However, there's no free wine there; it's just liquor drinks and beer, I think. And Boy George playing all the dang time.

WHITFIELD: Well, that's actually not bad for New York standards s it?

CALLAWAY: Oh, no, not at all. Exactly, anything under $250 is cheap. WHITFIELD: Wow. OK, Cafe Carlisle, a real trademark spot in New York. Bobby Short is always a fixture there. What makes it special this year?

CALLAWAY: Well this, year there will be a six-course dinner including caviar and champagne. Bobby Short's going to play two sets there. It's just really like the height of elegance in New York. It is like any day, but you know, New Year's Eve, people are going to be dressed up and really ready to have a wonderful, elegant time, and that's going to cost $500, so it better be fun.

WHITFIELD: Wow, no chump change, no kidding.

Now what are folks wearing to some of these very elegant engagements. It seems like they really are pulling out all the stops this year.

CALLAWAY: Oh definitely. I think the last couple of years, people have been sort of -- you know, there's been sort of a dour mood over the entire county, but now the economy is getting better, we're celebrating, you know, catching Saddam Hussein, like, people are ready to, like, bust out their bling bling and some brightly-colored dresses. So no black dresses. It's all about turquoise, and red and purple, bright, colorful, flashy fabric. So look for ladies in that.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, now, what about for the guys? Is it kind of more of a funky, casual evening kind of look, less of the, you know, tails and the tux?

CALLAWAY: You know, it's funny. I was talking to a friend last night who said he went in to rent a tux yesterday, and that he was worried about it being the day before New Year's and there not being any tuxes left. Apparently, there are a lot of tuxes left, which leads me to think that guys are doing the dressy casual type thing. It seems so strange to say dressy casual for guys, but they do it, too. Sort of like Tom Ford of Gucci always dresses up jeans with a really nice tuxedo coat and an open-collared white shirt, sort of that I'm cool type of look.

WHITFIELD: But the guys aren't strictly into color. It will probably still be a plaque and white kind of thing or the dark colors...

CALLAWAY: Right, it's all about complimenting your lady, though.

WHITFIELD: Right, it always is.

All right, the social club. This place is not necessarily officially open yet. It being on 27th, between Madison and Fifth. What makes it a hotspot tonight.

CALLAWAY: Well, whatever the models are, it's going to be a hotspot. And there are two modeling agencies, Women's (ph) and Supremes (ph), that are hosting a party there. So you will be able to rub elbows with some beautiful ladies, and that always makes for a great night. WHITFIELD: Yes, but then who gets to get in there.

CALLAWAY: Well, once again, you've got to buy a ticket.

WHITFIELD: Anybody can just buy a ticket?

CALLAWAY: You buy a ticket, but you know, tickets everywhere are going fast. They've been on sale for about a month now. So if you have any designs to going out to one of these hot clubs, get on the phone right now.

WHITFIELD: No kidding. All right, Libby Callaway, fashion editor of "The New York Post," thanks very much.

CALLAWAY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And have the best of celebrations, and keep it safe this evening.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thanks, you, too.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 31, 2003 - 10:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the plans for place and the ball is ready to drop on one of the biggest New Year's bashes in the country in New York's Times Square, but it's not the only cool place to ring in the New Year in the Big Apple. We have the inside scoop on some hot holiday party spots.
Joining us now for more on that is "New York Post" fashion editor Libby Callaway.

Good to see you, Libby.

LIBBY CALLAWAY, "NEW YORK POST": Hey, Fredricka. Happy New Year.

WHITFIELD: Happy New Year to you.

Of course, the No. 1 destination spot in the Big Apple, Times Square, how might it look different, aside from the security which we've done a pretty good job of covering.

CALLAWAY: Well, you know, the last couple of years, I think that people have sort of been staying away from times square, they've been a little bit freaked out, and this year -- I can tell you, I work on Times Square -- it is packed. There are so many tourists out and about and ready to party in Times Square tonight, Wearing their 2004 glasses and their noisemakers in hand. It's going to be a really big, fun party, I think.

WHITFIELD: Wow, so people of all walks of course, converging on Times Square. Let's talk about the more exclusive crowd and where some of these folks go. The Hudson Hotel, which is apparently all of the rage lately. That's one of the big spots, why?

CALLAWAY: Right, absolutely. It's a Ian Schraeger (ph) Hotel in midtown. It has this amazing atrium out back, an open air place, and the cast of "Taboo" is hosting a big party there. It's "Taboo," the Boy George musical on Broadway right now. They're going to be there. Boy George is going to be spinning, 195 bucks will get you an open bar all night. However, there's no free wine there; it's just liquor drinks and beer, I think. And Boy George playing all the dang time.

WHITFIELD: Well, that's actually not bad for New York standards s it?

CALLAWAY: Oh, no, not at all. Exactly, anything under $250 is cheap. WHITFIELD: Wow. OK, Cafe Carlisle, a real trademark spot in New York. Bobby Short is always a fixture there. What makes it special this year?

CALLAWAY: Well this, year there will be a six-course dinner including caviar and champagne. Bobby Short's going to play two sets there. It's just really like the height of elegance in New York. It is like any day, but you know, New Year's Eve, people are going to be dressed up and really ready to have a wonderful, elegant time, and that's going to cost $500, so it better be fun.

WHITFIELD: Wow, no chump change, no kidding.

Now what are folks wearing to some of these very elegant engagements. It seems like they really are pulling out all the stops this year.

CALLAWAY: Oh definitely. I think the last couple of years, people have been sort of -- you know, there's been sort of a dour mood over the entire county, but now the economy is getting better, we're celebrating, you know, catching Saddam Hussein, like, people are ready to, like, bust out their bling bling and some brightly-colored dresses. So no black dresses. It's all about turquoise, and red and purple, bright, colorful, flashy fabric. So look for ladies in that.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, now, what about for the guys? Is it kind of more of a funky, casual evening kind of look, less of the, you know, tails and the tux?

CALLAWAY: You know, it's funny. I was talking to a friend last night who said he went in to rent a tux yesterday, and that he was worried about it being the day before New Year's and there not being any tuxes left. Apparently, there are a lot of tuxes left, which leads me to think that guys are doing the dressy casual type thing. It seems so strange to say dressy casual for guys, but they do it, too. Sort of like Tom Ford of Gucci always dresses up jeans with a really nice tuxedo coat and an open-collared white shirt, sort of that I'm cool type of look.

WHITFIELD: But the guys aren't strictly into color. It will probably still be a plaque and white kind of thing or the dark colors...

CALLAWAY: Right, it's all about complimenting your lady, though.

WHITFIELD: Right, it always is.

All right, the social club. This place is not necessarily officially open yet. It being on 27th, between Madison and Fifth. What makes it a hotspot tonight.

CALLAWAY: Well, whatever the models are, it's going to be a hotspot. And there are two modeling agencies, Women's (ph) and Supremes (ph), that are hosting a party there. So you will be able to rub elbows with some beautiful ladies, and that always makes for a great night. WHITFIELD: Yes, but then who gets to get in there.

CALLAWAY: Well, once again, you've got to buy a ticket.

WHITFIELD: Anybody can just buy a ticket?

CALLAWAY: You buy a ticket, but you know, tickets everywhere are going fast. They've been on sale for about a month now. So if you have any designs to going out to one of these hot clubs, get on the phone right now.

WHITFIELD: No kidding. All right, Libby Callaway, fashion editor of "The New York Post," thanks very much.

CALLAWAY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And have the best of celebrations, and keep it safe this evening.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thanks, you, too.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com