Head to Head with the White House: New York's Stately Dinner for The New York City Ballet

	Julia and David Koch

Mayor Bloomberg may have worn a red tie to reference the rich hues of India at the White House State Dinner last evening, but he just as eaisly could have been representing New York's (holiday) red state of mind the same evening: At New York City Ballet's opening night, red was the favored color: Balanchine's "Rubies pas de deux" was on the program, in which red costumes sparkled, as they did in the world premiere of "Naive and Sentimental Music" choreographed by Peter Martins, which included bright red costumes designed by Liliana Casabal of Morgane LeFay. And then there were the guests, representing New York's power grid: the ladies, of course, dressed in red; the tables decorated with an assortment of deep red and orange flowers, and the dinner napkins, yes, red. The lady in red who made the biggest splash: Julia Koch, wife of David H. Koch, after whom the ballet's home has been named, in recognition of his $100 million gift. Mr. Koch, too, wore red: not a tie, but rather ruby and diamond studs he bought at Tiffany & Co. Were there lobbyists and heads of state? Perhaps not, but there was Bill Cunningham snapping away for The New York Times, Sean Driscoll of Glorious Food presiding over the serving of Baked Alaska, and the company of New York City Ballet taking over the dance floor: Now that's a party.

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