An AD House Party! Celebrating Amy Astley’s New Book at Fabiola Beracasa Beckman’s Home

With the holiday season in full swing, a Tuesday night gathering at the West Village townhouse of Architectural Digest December cover star Fabiola Beracasa Beckman captured the festive spirit perfectly—equal parts intimate and worldly. The occasion brought together New York’s cultural inner circle to celebrate Architectural Digest’s global editorial director Amy Astley and the launch of her new Rizzoli publication, AD at Home.

From the moment guests stepped inside the 1820s Federal-style residence, the evening announced itself as something special. A Sol LeWitt mural greeted arrivals in the entryway, setting the tone for a night steeped in art, design, and thoughtful hospitality. Inside the dining room, a lavishly decorated Christmas tree—wrapped in cascading ribbons and glowing lights—nearly obscured the Picasso ceramics lining the walls. Beneath its branches, burgundy-and-pink Architectural Digest totes held pristine copies of AD at Home, ready to be taken home.

“This house is made for a celebration like this,” Beracasa Beckman said of her historic home. The event was co-hosted by Derek Blasberg—who authored Beracasa Beckman’s AD cover story—alongside Julianne Moore, Amanda Brooks, Rachel Feinstein, and John Currin. Blasberg reflected on their long friendship: “Fabiola and I have known each other since I was in college. She’s an inspiring wife, mother, and accomplished filmmaker—and she also happens to have impeccable taste.”

Throughout the evening, the house buzzed with conversation and familiar faces. In the parlor, Astley relaxed on a chaise beside artist Brian Donnelly—better known as KAWS—as the two flipped through the pages of AD at Home. Nearby, Anna Wintour shared a laugh with Marc Jacobs, whose green checkered suit was perfectly matched by his coordinating acrylic nails. Chloë Sevigny, adorned in Tiffany & Co. jewelry, arrived with her husband and gallerist Siniša Mačković. Also in attendance were Athena Calderone, Jeremiah Brent, Lauren Santo Domingo, Jon Batiste, and Douglas Friedman.

As guests circulated, Beracasa Beckman offered informal tours of her home, leading curious visitors through its many design-forward spaces. One highlight proved especially popular: the basement spa, which Diane von Furstenberg reportedly found irresistible.

“Amy deserves a celebration like this,” Astley said of her hostess. “Fabiola is extraordinary—the ultimate host. Her attention to detail is unmatched.” That eye for detail was evident everywhere. Fireplaces on the ground floor crackled warmly, garlands adorned with dried orange slices wrapped around the stairwell, and gingerbread houses were displayed beneath gilded silver mirrors.

Still, the true centerpiece of the night was the food. Astley called it “a buffet to end all buffets”—and it lived up to the claim. Acquolina Catering delivered an abundant spread featuring intricate crudités, raspberry-studded cakes, and palm-sized prawns. Silver bowls filled with pomegranates sat nestled among green taper candles, while custom tins of caviar stamped with the AD at Home logo quickly became the most coveted item of the evening. By night’s end, not a single tin remained.

As the celebration stretched on, guests naturally gravitated toward the cozier living room, where the lighting was lower and the atmosphere warmer. Champagne bottles were popped, glasses raised, and conversations lingered late into the evening as friends toasted Astley’s achievement and gathered close to the fire—exactly the kind of night