A dinner and party at Raoul's, the iconic SoHo French bistro, celebrated its 50th anniversary in partnership with Moda Operandi. The event drew a crowd of regulars and celebrities including Chloë Sevigny, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Sedaris, and Dave Gahan, who reflected on the restaurant's history as a haven for artists and its role in the neighborhood's transformation from a gritty gallery hub to a tourist destination. Karim Raoul, the founder's son, spoke about the restaurant's enduring family-run ethos.
This gathering matters because Raoul's symbolizes the cultural and artistic evolution of SoHo over five decades, serving as a nexus for the art world, fashion, and entertainment. The presence of gallerists, artists, and collectors underscores the restaurant's deep ties to the visual art community, while the nostalgia for the area's former gallery scene highlights ongoing shifts in New York's art geography. The event also illustrates how art-world figures and institutions continue to anchor social and cultural life in the city.