By Claire Coveney

As I walked through the topiary-lined entrance of Pink Elephant to enter New York Cares' Cirque de Soiree fundraiser, I left the busy city streets behind and entered a dream-like world of whimsy and fun. I was greeted at the entrance by a cocktail waitress in a sparkling, gold dress who offered me a glass of

champagne. What a way to start the evening! In the hours that followed, the guests were kept full by a variety of hors d'oeuvres (including delicious bite-sized beef dumplings) and well-quenched with champagne and top-shelf liquor.

Beautiful plants framed the plush red seats and candlelit tables of Pink Elephant. The entire room was bathed in a soft pink light that lent the space a "Midsummer Night's Dream" meets "Moulin Rouge" vibe that was uniquely pleasant. The large, centrally located, bar was stocked with only the best and staffed by prompt, courteous bartenders.

The Cirque de Soiree theme was realized by the revelries of Benny Blanco, Oiseaux, and magicians of Monday Night Magic.  A magician performing clever sleight of hand was stationed by the bar and a siren on stilts carefully wove her way through the crowd all evening. Hourly, a duo of slender aerialists

contorted their bodies on dangling chiffon ropes located in the back of the room. Their performance was incredible and their bodies twisted in ways that defied logic and captivated the partygoers which, with everything else this soiree had to offer, was no easy feat.

A silent auction took place throughout the evening and several corporate sponsors donated great prizes to auction off. Tickets to a Columbia Pictures movie premiere and after party, box tickets to a Yankees game, and an airline ticket to any Jet Blue destination to name just a few.  A portion of proceeds, of course, went to New York Cares, New York City's leading volunteer organization.

New York Cares was established in 1987 and has since provided New Yorkers with wonderful volunteer opportunities to help underprivileged citizens of New York. New York Cares offers flexible, online scheduling and provides those who have full-time jobs and other obligations an ideal way to lend a

helping hand in the ways and at the times that are best for them. A variety of projects are offered in all parts of the city and, on a given day, a New York Cares volunteer could be doing anything from tutoring in a public school in the Bronx, to cleaning up Riverside Park, or socializing with HIV/AIDS patients at

the Lower East Side's Rivington House. To learn more about New York Cares, visit www.newyorkcares.org.

The evening ended with goody bags filled with treats from various sponsors such as Economy Candy and Philosophy.  New York Cares raised close to $55,000 at Cirque de Soiree which will be used to continue their efforts to reach out to New Yorkers in need. The evening was a huge success and a night of merriment was enjoyed by all at Pink Elephant, a whimsical oasis nestled in the heart of Chelsea’s nightclub district.