Mayor Eric Adams attended a high-profile birthday gala for billionaire businessman and media owner John Catsimatidis on Friday evening after saying he would remain in the New York mayoral contest, Page Six reported.
The event, held at Cipriani 42nd Street and billed as the 77 WABC radio gala, brought together roughly 500 guests under a "black tie glamour with patriotic sparkle" dress code, according to the Page Six account. Chandeliers at the venue were lit red, white and blue and performers dressed as American icons mingled with attendees.
Guests at the gala urged Catsimatidis to consider another run for mayor; he politely declined, the report said. When his wife, Margo Catsimatidis, was introduced as the evening’s host of sorts and described playfully as the "First Lady of New York City," the ballroom broke into sustained cheers, according to people at the event.
Adams, who has faced questions about his political future, attended the gala after publicly vowing to remain a candidate. The Page Six story also cited conversations and connections that tie Catsimatidis to multiple New York political figures, including Adams and Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa.
The report said that former President Donald Trump phoned Catsimatidis recently to express concern about what might happen if Zohran Mamdani, described in the story as a socialist Democratic front-runner in some contests, prevailed in November. The account did not detail the substance of the call beyond that characterization.
Catsimatidis, a longtime New York businessman and owner of WABC radio, marked his 77th birthday at the annual gala, which drew a mix of family, radio colleagues and city power brokers. The event’s theme and guest list underscored the intersection of social, media and political influence in the city as the mayoral campaign continues.
Adams’s appearance at the gala came amid a crowded news cycle around the mayor’s office and the broader race for City Hall. Local and national figures have periodically courted Catsimatidis in recent years, and his gatherings have at times served as venues for political networking.
Representatives for the mayor and for Catsimatidis did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Page Six published the initial account of the event and related phone calls.
The mayoral race in New York remains closely watched for its potential to reshape the city's policy direction and to influence national political conversations, particularly as candidates from multiple parties and political traditions compete for votes.