New York, March 26, 2009 – Influential young Manhattanites got behind the American Museum of Natural History in a big way, pulling in a great crowd for the 2009 dance. Tinsley Mortimer, Katie Lee Joel, Moby, Yigal Azrouel, Amanda Hearst and Sean Avery were just a few of the folks assigned to gala committees, and they gathered their friends.

Julia Restoin Roitfeld insisted that the gala’s green theme had nothing to do with the green dress she chose for the evening.  “Balmain did a green dress,” said her pal Derek Blasberg.  “Yeah, really random; I didn’t do it on purpose,” Roitfeld said. 

Jessica Alba swept in with husband Cash Warren, who said, “We’re here supporting our friend, actually.  He’s an artist, Damien Loeb.”   Loeb was on the host committee. 

Gala chair Milla Jovovich told us she’s a big fan of the museum.  “I’m so happy that everything is green tonight,” she said.  The menu was based on local and organic ingredients, and table décor was designed as “recycled impact”, with centerpieces of honeycomb corrugated cardboard surrounding natural moss and soy candles.

But not everything was earthy.  Guests didn’t feel guilty bidding on auction items like an outfit by Stella McCartney, tickets the designer’s fashion show in Paris and gold baubles from Judith Ripka, because proceeds support the museum. 

Jessica Alba photo: Luisa Johns/PKI