It was still early on Thursday evening at Casa Cipriani in downtown Manhattan, but Lionel Richie thought he knew how his night would end: “Buckingham Palace is going to call us and ask, ‘How did it go?’”
Mr. Richie, who had just walked a red carpet and was getting bombarded with selfie requests, was co-hosting the King’s Trust Global Gala, a fund-raiser for the organization started in 1976 by then Prince Charles that helps millions of underserved youth globally.
The night drew more than 300 people including the actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Drew Barrymore, the musician John Legend, the stylist Law Roach and the model Kate Moss. It raised more than $1.4 million.
The event, in its third year, was a collaboration between Mr. Richie, a longtime friend of King Charles, and Edward Enninful, the former editor in chief of British Vogue and co-chair of the event.
“I grew up with the Trust helping members of my family and friends,” said Mr. Enninful.
The night also coincided with King Charles’s official return to duties after he disclosed that he had cancer.
The monarch wasn’t in attendance, but Dominic West, the English actor who played him in the last two seasons of “The Crown,” was in the crowd.
“The poor guy, he has been a bit out of action,” Mr. West said. “He needs our help.”
Dinner opened with a pun-filled speech by King Charles, delivered via a representative, that referenced some of Mr. Richie’s biggest hits: “I’m glad Edward and Lionel are there to make sure you are, ‘Dancing on the Ceiling’ and ‘All Night Long.’”
After a dinner of baby tricolor beets and salmon with leek sauce, the night closed with a performance by Mr. Legend of Mr. Richie’s song “Hello” and a standing ovation from the audience.
Laughing, apparently at the response, Mr. Legend said, “I just decided to do that 20 minutes ago.” — A.K.
A Car Auction in the West Village
On Wednesday, Pharrell Williams, Louis Vuitton men’s creative director, blocked off a sliver of Morton Street.
Around 300 people packed an open garage on a quiet West Village street to mark the opening of an online car auction from Mr. Williams’s auction house, Joopiter, which aims to make objects owned by high profile figures easier to buy.
Celebrities and artists ogled over the 12 rare, custom and eclectic vehicles that ranged from a Mitsubishi truck-turned-camper van to a Porsche from Daniel Arsham, the artist, located between Seventh Avenue South and Bleecker St.
Passers-by stopped to see what seemed like celebrities hanging out in someone’s renovated garage.
The crowd included Tobe Nwigwe, the rapper and singer, and Martica Nwigwe, his wife, who were tucked away in a corner as guests, like the fashion designer Kim Shui, carefully squeezed around the cars to take photos. Rosé, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, snaked through the crowd.
Some guests trailed the servers holding trays of cocktails or small bites of mushroom canapés while others, like the actress Dianna Agron and LaQuan Smith, the fashion designer, made separate brief appearances. A stack of “Pharrell-isms,” Mr. Williams’s book of quotations, were at the entrance.
Mr. Arsham talked to other guests next to his Porsche, one of the many cars in his collection (he said that he does drive them all).
In the early evening, Mr. Williams arrived dressed in a cowboy hat and a lot of Louis Vuitton. He hoped the event would be a space for different people to connect, he said.
He reflected on how the auction house had expanded in the last year. “These opportunities are not afforded to people who look like me,” Mr. Williams said. “Man, it’s a crazy time.” — M.G.
