Alexander Cockburn as Mensch

One night in April of 1998 there was a raucous party taking place in the ballroom of Manhattan’s historic Puck Building, the occasion of which was a celebration of the weekly newspaper New York Press’ 10th anniversary. The space was filled to fire-code capacity almost immediately at six p.m., and throughout the night, over 1500 people jammed inside, taking advantage of an open bar, the then-trendy cocktails passed around by representatives of some vodka company and the company of an incongruous and unmistakably jolly crowd. In one corner, men in suits conversed quietly; in another, lines of cocaine were snorted out in the open. Outside the Puck Bldg., mostly in the back, pools of vomit gave proof that it was a very successful affair.