Bright Lights, Small City
Wednesday June 10, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

Jay Gatsby is alive and well and partying in Montauk. However, he seems to have changed his name from Jay Gatsby to Jay McInerney. The parties, however, remain the same if the one Jay McInerney hosted this weekend at the Montauk Yacht Club is anything by which to judge. The six-hour long, themed festivities boasted lawn tennis, a clambake and 1920’s inspired cuisine. The banana cream pie and pineapple upside down cake were obvious – though I’m convinced that steak transcends the ages.



The dress code might have been as strict as in Jay Gatsby’s day. Brooke Geahan looked like a modern day Daisy Buchanan in her sweeping frock and feathers, while Katya de Solis sported a cocktail hat and jumpsuit. Every woman seemed to revel in the opportunity to break out her best summer whites – in spite of the fact that the unexpected cold meant that heat lamps had to be rolled out, and the tent was enclosed after nightfall. 



The men were no less sartorially enthusiastic. Decked out as they were in white suits – Tom Wolfe, alas, was not invited, though he surely would have felt right at home – each looked every bit the young Nick Carraway. The fashion all made for a very impressive spectacle when swinging on the dance floor to the Fitzgerald Follies (after we’d worked up our courage with sips of champagne or Hendrick’s Gin martinis).



Patrick McMullan, the ne plus ultra of society photographers, was in attendance to take in the merriment. Everyone was quick to mention Patrick’s son Liam’s recent engagement after a whirlwind, month long courtship. Liam exclaimed that he has found his soulmate. Patrick seemed to agree, noting only that he wasn’t crazy about Liam tattooing his fiancée’s name on his bicep but that the rest seemed very nice.



Of course, given the general merriment, it might have been easy to forget the real reason for the party, which was to celebrate McInerney’s new and wonderful work How It Ended. The collection of short stories deals with the themes of class warfare which are present in all of McInerney’s work, from Bright Lights, Big City to The Good Life.



Samples, such as a young man learning about his wealthy girlfriend’s horror that he works part time as a waiter, were read to great comic effect by Claire Danes and her fiancé Hugh Dancy.



Jay McInerney also read a memorable section from “Philomela,” which comes from my favorite of his works, Model Behavior. The quip,“ ‘I’m so tired of all this glamour,’ said my glamorous girlfriend,” drew chuckles from more than a few of the men in attendance. Given the day’s festivities, the glamour was in no way sickening. And afterwards we bore on, Jitneys against the current, borne back ceaselessly to Manhattan.