New York Restoration Project (NYRP) celebrated over two and a half decades of championing urban green spaces and community gardens with its 26th annual Halloween Gala – Hulaween and the Seven Deadly Sins. The NYRP’s signature autumn gala celebration raised more than $2 million. Hulaween 2022 took place Friday, October 28, 2022, at Cipriani South Street, 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan.
The evening welcomed 650 fantastically Halloween-costumed guests to Cipriani South Street at the Battery Maritime Building overlooking New York Harbor and Governor’s Island. The evening kicked off with ghoulishly tasty cocktails and mysterious passed hors d’oeuvres in the West Concourse, followed by a seated dinner in the Great Hall… well, at least for those whose ornate and outrageous costumes actually allowed them to take a seat.
“New York Restoration Project’s Hulaween and the Seven Deadly Sins brought down the house! Our much anticipated annual gala never ceases to raise both critical funds, and awareness of NYRP’s cleaning and greening work throughout our city,” said New York Restoration Project, Executive Director Lynn Bodnar Kelly. “Thank you to everyone who attended and donated in support of our parks and community gardens.”
NYRP’s 2022 HULAWEEN HONOREES:
• Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) received with NYRP’s 2022 “Green Visionary Award.”
o The Award was presented by Lynn Bodnar Kelly, NYRP Executive Director.
• Sondra Wenger, Head of Americas Commercial Operator Division, CBRE Investment Management, received NYRP’s 2022 “Green Goddess Award.”
• NYRP Trustee Samuel M. Ashner, managing Director at Winthrop Capital Partners, received NYRP’s 2022 “Green God Award.”
o These Awards were presented by NYRP Trustee and Board Co-Chair, Darcy Stacom, CBRE Chair and Head of NYC Capital Markets.
• Jane Krakowski, multiple award-winning Broadway, and television actress, received NYRP’s 2022 “Wind Beneath My Wings Award.”
o The Award was presented by actor and author Alan Cumming
Global pop sensation Ava Max performed a sparkling set for the enthusiastic celebrants; her performance set included, “My Head and My Heart,” “Kings and Queens,” “Maybe You’re the Problem,” “Who’s Laughing Now,” “Tattoo,” ”The Motto,” her chart-topping hit “Sweet But Psycho,” and the brand new single “Million Dollar Baby.” The memorable 2022 Hulaween evening rolled on till midnight with a dazzling, dancing, decadent after-party in the adjacent Long Hall.
NYRP SPECIAL GUESTS:
• Michael Kors, NYRP Trustee, and Lance Le Pere, 2021 Hulaween Honoree, served as judges for the Annual Costume Contest.
o The 2022 Costume Contest Winners are: Individual Winner: Susan Ashner, “Proud as a Peacock,” Runners-Up: Don Lemon and Tim Malone, “Envy” (The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle).
o Group Winner: Jonathan Collard and friends for “Let Them Eat Cake,” Runners-Up: Vernon Evenson and EvensonBest for “All Sins.”
• Hulaween Emcee Kerry Coddett, comedian, actor, and writer for Showtime’s Flatbush Misdemeanors • A septet of remarkable performance artists from House of Yes, the world-renowned Brooklyn nightclub and creative collective, slithered among and towered over the glittering partygoers as The Seven Deadly Sins Muses, embodying the excesses of Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth • Thorgy Thor, NYC Drag Performance Artist and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, served as Hulaween’s Red Carpet Correspondent, taking over NYRP’s Instagram platform @nyrp, with super-special on-the-scene photos and video content #nyrphulaween
HULAWEEN 2022 NOTABLES & CELEBRITIES INCLUDED:
• Susanne Bartsch, Nightlife impresario • Gio Benetiz, ABC News “GMA”
• Erik Bottcher, NY City Council Member (District 3)
• Alan Cumming, Actor, author, and Scotsman • Tommy DiDario, Correspondent, “Extra” and “The Rachael Ray Show”
• Chris DiLella, Senior Producer, CNBC Special Projects Unit
• Frank DiLella, NY1 Host “On Stage” • Nick “Farmer Nick” Cutsumpas,
“Plantrepreneur” Netflix host, and author • Luann de Lesseps, RHONY
• Christopher “Plant Kween” Griffin, Plant obsessed author, “You, Grow Gurl!”
• Dakota Lohan, HBO’s “Betty,” and “Irish Wish” (2023)
• Jon Boy, Tattoo Artist
• Don Lemon, CNN Anchor
• Cynthia Rowley, Fashion designer • David Rockwell, Architect and NYRP Trustee • Ginger Minj, Drag “Winnie Sanderson,” “Hocus Pocus 2”
• MR MS Adrien, Drag “Sarah Sanderson” • Gidget Galore, Drag “Mary Sanderson”
“HOCUS POCUS” HALLOWEEN-BASH CAST: Ginger Minj, Drag “Winnie Sanderson” in Hocus Pocus 2, MR MS Adrien, Drag “Sarah Sanderson,” and Gidget Galore, Drag “Mary Sanderson”
Nick “Farmer Nick” Cutsumpas, and his “plantrepreneur” team, created a special plant and flower wall with each of the Seven Deadly Sins – Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth – represented by a separate color in plants and flowers, including fall clippings from Sherman Creek Park in Upper Manhattan.
In addition to The Seven Deadly Sins, NYRP also identified the threat of an Eighth Deadly Sin: Climate Inaction. NYRP is no stranger to the impact of climate change, and the organization has taken action to help support resilient shorelines, create new green spaces, steward reforestation of the urban tree canopy, and provide new tree plantings throughout the diverse neighborhoods of New York City.
Super sinful, especially outstanding invitation art and images for Hulaween and the Seven Deadly Sins were created by NYC artist Bob Bottle.
