Arguably one of the most coveted (and charitable) nights of Halloween is none other than Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project (NYRP) annual Hulaween—a spellbinding affair held in support of the city’s green spaces.
Last night marked NYRP’s 30th year of keeping New York green. The nonprofit, founded by Midler, partners with communities to restore parks, revive gardens, plant trees, and grow a more vibrant New York for everyone. Fittingly, the theme matched the mission: “Hulaween: New York, New York, a Helluva Town!”
As one guest dressed as Eloise quipped, “There is no one definition of New York.” The crowd proved her right—there were subway stops, Chrysler buildings, pizza rats, and one partygoer who earned a costume award for embodying every New Yorker’s quiet fear: death by falling A/C unit.
Midler herself leaned into her roots, arriving in denim overalls and glittering eye makeup as a playful nod to her showbiz sparkle and hands-on gardening spirit. Accepting the Catalyst Award, she joked, “I’m no longer a spring chicken, no longer a summer chicken, I’m not even a fall chicken. I’m an endangered chicken at this point!” Echoing the mission that has guided NYRP since 1995, she told the crowd, “Clean, green, open space is a right, not a privilege.”
Hosted by Busy Philipps, the evening sparkled with quintessential NY moments. Guests were treated to a surprise musical tribute from Billy Crystal alongside Marc Shaiman, Ben Platt’s rendition of “On Broadway,” and Andy Cohen (costumed as fellow Andy, Andy Warhol), honored with the Joan Kors Green Champion Award by designer Michael Kors in a taxi driver getup.
As the festivities wound down, guests were gently reminded to move along or risk being booted from Casa Cipriani’s storied halls. The City that Never Sleeps truly lived up to its name. – Lauren Sanchez