Anything But Blue ... Michael Stipe Meets Mario Batali

11 December, 2004 – The singer’s ears were painted blue, the cocktails were blue, and even most of his guests wore blue, but there was nothing somber at all about Michael Stipe’s private bash at the ultra-classy Italian Wine Merchants near Union Square this Saturday night. In a marriage of great food and beautiful people, guests turned out at this Mario Batali & Joe Bastianich wine store/eatery where delicious wine and hoards of antipasti were served to over 200 guests to celebrate the amazing R.E.M. front-man.

Eating and drinking well in to the night were Maggie Gylenhall, Stephen Dorff, Helena Christensen, Heather Graham, and others. Brothers Owen and Luke Wilson stopped by for a while, and even the elusive Uma Thurman and her hotelier boyfriend Andre Balazs made a brief appearance to say hello to Mr. Stipe, who was perfectly friendly and relaxed all evening.

“The food alone was enough of a reason to be there,” said nightlife investor/developer Lisa Gregg Steinmetz; “Even without the impressive turnout, I couldn’t get over the sheer amount of delicious food and the consummate professionalism of Mario and Joe’s staff.”

The partying lasted well past midnight and was topped off by the perfect nightcap, as guests moved on to socialize at the Meatpacking’s Soho House and dance till 4AM at ultra-hip new club NA.