For New Year's, Swells Knock 'Em Back, and Knock 'Em Down, in Paradise

PARADISE FOUND Curry and Kemble It's the New Year's party you're not likely to be invited to. Unless, that is, your name is Moby, Mariska Hargitay, or you were college roommates with Boykin Curry, the financier-playboy who's building an elite private community in the Dominican Republic, called Playa Grande.

Curry & Co. are throwing a major New Year's bash in the DR to celebrate their demolition of a recently acquired hotel—the Occidental—set to be torn down come January. The lavish 10 day affair is being planned by event impresario Bronson Van Wyck, who's stretching his party acumen to contend with the challenges of the raw parcel of land. Not content to rough it, the co-owners of the retreat and guests are being catered for in the Manhattan-style to which they are accustomed, flying in chef Gabrielle Hamilton of downtown restaurant Prune for the occasion. Crates of champagne are being specially imported, and guests can expect an extravagant fireworks show set on dramatic cliffs over the ocean as the clock strikes midnight. And as the socialites ring in the new year, their wrecking ball will pave the way for tropical domination.