JOE MINTON’S BIRTHDAY

John Bobbitt, who is known for a wicked sense of humor, gave fellow designer Joe Minton a copy of Decorating For Dummies Monday night at his birthday party. “Thanks for giving it to me after you’d finished reading it,” Joe shot back. The bash was full of decorating types and their clients, including Loyd Taylor, Anne Bass, Betty Blake, Oatsie Charles (visiting from Newport, RI), Ted Pillsbury, Claire Barry, Nancy Dedman, Jacque Wynne, and Nancy Lemmon.

Joe and Jacque stayed up until 2:30 in the morning Googling various people and topics, including the Titanic. Betty Blake’s mother was on the same lifeboat as Mrs. Astor, it turns out. According to Joe, Google has the life boat numbers, the people who were on the boats, and what time they left. Until that night, Joe hadn’t Googled anything before. Next morning, Joe got up at the crack of dawn, as did Betty, for our photo shoot at Betty’s spectacular Gold Crest apartment. There’s no souvenirs from the Titanic there, but there is an amazing collection of Syrie Maughm and Jansen furniture, which Joe reupholstered. Check out D Home’s March issue for the story and photos.