The Brooklyn Public Library celebrated its 125th birthday on Sunday by bringing back the People’s Ball. Unlike the Met Gala — an exclusive, invitation-only event, where tickets start at $35,000 — this gala was held in the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, and attendance was democratized. All New Yorkers were welcomed as guests to celebrate their unique style, fashion and energy at the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza.
The event, which was hosted by the writers Isaac Fitzgerald and Scaachi Koul, featured performances by Opera Gaga and Paris the Hip-Hop Juggler. The guests of honor included models from Grandassa, a venerated African American agency, and the Harlem Institute of Fashion.