The Tamesis
Thursday night’s opening night preview of the Winter Show proved once again that what’s old is new again and that the world of antiques is anything but stodgy. The event draws a stylish crowd to the Park Avenue Armory for an evening of revelry that balances appreciation and exploration with high spirits.
Now in its 72nd year, the Winter Show remains New York’s longest-running art, antiques and design fair; regularly hosting more than 70 international dealers, showcasing thousands of vetted and coveted historical items from the past 5,000 years. “Some dealers have been with us for 60 years, while others are enjoying their first year here,” Winter Show executive director Helen Allen Smith told us Fashion. “It’s definitely exciting.”
This year’s opening night event honors Caroline Kennedy, a long-time Winter Show supporter who frequently attended opening nights with her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, highlighting the multigenerational legacy that has long been woven into the fair’s fabric.
Includes Michael Bloomberg, Reed and Delphine Krakoff, Tonne Goodman, Peter Marino and Cynthia Rowley Guests and exhibitors sipped Manhattans, espresso martinis and neat spirits while browsing this year’s impressive catalog, which included everything from original Winnie the Pooh manuscripts to an 11-carat Tiffany ring dating to the 1920s. pass Appetizers Garlic buns, black river caviar, duck-top sweet potato pancakes and pigs in blankets kept guests well-fed and buzzing among exhibitor booths.
The heart of the evening remains philanthropy. Proceeds from the Winter Show will support East Side House Settlement, a Bronx-based nonprofit that provides educational and career opportunities to more than 14,000 residents of the Bronx and northern Manhattan each year. Under the leadership of Executive Director Daniel Diaz, the organization has expanded its annual funding from $3 million to $30 million; a testament to how heritage initiatives have evolved into powerful engines of contemporary impact.
The winter display is open at the Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue) until February 1, 2026.
