I’ve been to countless parties and mansions over the years but I think this is the first time I’ve set foot in a Hamptons Castle. I was a guest of the iconic Sir Ivan Wilzig - former banker turned musician and philanthropist — at one of his legendary parties. This year, the mission was to recreate the atmosphere of Woodstock and to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Sir Ivan is a banker-turned-singer, peace activist, and television celebrity. He is the eldest son of Siggi B. Wilzig; Auschwitz survivor, legendary financier and philanthropist. He decided not to pursue his family’s multi-billion dollar banking business and reinvented himself as a musician.
Guests arrive at Sir Ivan’s “Castlestock” party at the Hamptons
The purpose of the party was also raise money for Sir Ivan’s “Peaceman Foundation,” a philanthropic organization that gives money to worthy charities that fight Hate Crimes and also treat victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sir Ivan describes himself as a “technippy” artist- a word he concocted to describe the type of music he sings and enjoys. He uses techno produced tracks for the beats and hippy lyrics for the vocals.
Castlestock turned out to be a beautiful flower fest with an aura and ambiance that recreated the spirit of Woodstock. There were huge plastic daisies everywhere and mats on the grass with flowers strewn over them, canopy beds with hippy-clad stuffed bunnies, and plenty of scantily clad flowered bikini women walking and dancing (think Hefner parties mingled with the vibe from Coachella).
Large plastic daisies lined the cobblestone walkway leading to the back of the castle
At the center of the backyard was an infinity pool strewn with sunflowers.
At the front of the castle was a giant plasma screen that showcased some of the golden Woodstock oldies. Guests could lounge on the expansive deck chairs and enjoy the music (music from The Who, Jimmy Hendrix and other Woodstock notables filled the Hamptons air).
A giant screen replayed Woodstock’s golden musicians/ Photo courtesy of Bryan Reesman
Guests who came to Castlestock included Countess LuAnn de Lesseps from The Real Housewives of New York and several magazine and newspaper editors. The charming Mina Otsuka was dressed as a white Woodstock bunny and entertained the crowd with her dancing for several hours.
Mina Otsuka Entertained the crowd for hours
The crowd wore “flowers” – the dress code of the event, and all guests “sparkled in white” thanks to the black lighting surrounding the castle.
After a dinner buffet and lots of vodka shots at the open bar, guests went into the “discotheque” of Sir Ivan’s castle to hear his rendition of Kumbaya (part of his new album, I am a Peaceman). Sir Ivan, dressed in eclectic panoply of prints wore a peaceman cape doused in rainbow colors:
The back of Sir Ivan’s Peaceman Cape
I hug a “hippie” Castlestock bunny
Myself and Kristin Booker of “FashionStyleBeauty“ strike a pose
After a lot of dancing, we returned back to the city in our chartered Hamptons Jitney, totally happy and blissful having experienced surreality and beauty in Water Mill, NY. Sir Ivan recently became a TV star after appearing as a finalist on the primetime NBC Sci-Fi Channel hit series “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” At around the same time, he performed on VH1′s “The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons,” the Travel Channel’s “Grand Castles of America” and the WE Channel’s “Single in the Hamptons.”
Thanks to Sir Ivan for a splendid evening and for raising awareness of the importance of peace in this world. For more information on Sir Ivan and the Peaceman Foundation, visit his site.