NEW YORK CITY — No one throws a party quite like Jay Gatsby.
As "The Great Gatsby" whirls into theaters with a booming soundtrack and swooshes of glitz and glitter, celebrate its lacquered version of '20s New York just like Gatsby would: with some drinks, frosty jewelry and, of course, fantastic parties.
Here are a few suggestions for how to enjoy the movie's opening weekend:
Manhattan:
Before the 10 p.m. show at AMC Loews Kips Bay 15, do some ultra-decadent window shopping at Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue near 57th Street, where the storied windows have been done up in Gatsby-style dripping jewels and shimmering champagne towers.
You can also step inside to see the store’s Great Gatsby Collection, a line of glitzy jewels — like a diamond-encrusted headpiece — designed for and worn in the film. For more glitter, head Downtown to the Prada store at 575 Broadway for its exhibition of costumes worn in the movie, including Daisy’s playful party dress.
Can’t afford to book The Plaza Hotel’s Fitzgerald Suite, the gilded, Gatsby-styled hotel room on the 18th floor, for $2,800 a night? Try the lobby instead. The famed hotel, an old haunt of F. Scott Fitzgerald that makes a cameo in his novel, is all things Gatsby this month.
Stop in at the bar, which has been reinvented as the Moet Champagne Bar, complete with a “Moet Imperial Gatsby Cocktail.” The hotel is also offering a jazz and cocktail-fueled “Gatsby Hour” on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at its Rose Club, as well as 1920s-inspired dishes at all its restaurants and Jazz Age-themed gifts at its shops.
Brooklyn:
Start the evening with a drink at one of Williamsburg’s speakeasy-themed bars, like Rye or Hotel Delmano, with their old-fashioned mahogany bars and 1920s vibe, before catching the show at 10 p.m. at Williamsburg Cinemas.
Then, over the weekend, nurse a cocktail hangover at the Brooklyn Flea Market, held on Saturdays in Fort Greene and on Sundays in Williamsburg. Vendors will pay tribute to the film with Gatsby-inspired, vintage fashion, like draped, cream-colored gowns and glittering, beaded clutches.
Farther Afield:
To make a weekend out of the opening, try a trip to Long Island’s Gold Coast, home to the opulent estates thought to have inspired the setting for "The Great Gatsby." Most of the roughly half dozen mansions are open to the public, and visitors can stroll the lush grounds once privy to the scandals of the '20s elite.
If you’re still partying months later, check out the 8th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party at Governors Island on June 15 and 16 and Aug. 17 and 18. Visitors are invited to dance the weekend away dressed as Jay and Daisy in flapper dresses and smart suits. The event will feature a Charleston Dance Contest, a vintage portrait photo booth, and a tug-of-war competition — and, of course, some jazz. For the not-so-light-afoot, there will also be dance lessons, as well as some liquid-courage cocktails and Brooklyn Brewery Beer.
DIY:
Why not throw your own version of Jay Gatsby’s weekend-long parties? Several sources are offering how-to guides on putting together a roiling, '20s-themed affair. For help, see OK! Magazine’s compilation of recipes and festive attire and CNN’s list of reader suggestions, covering everything from ‘20s themed bites to Art Deco-style decorations.
Not a partier? Post-show, how about popping on the film soundtrack and reading the book? The entire soundtrack, including songs by mega-stars Jay-Z, Florence + The Machine and Lana del Rey, is available on NPR.
