Debut May 7, 2007
Posted by 68thandpark in News.trackback
It was just two months ago when I first descended the steps into New York society. It was just less than two weeks ago when I became the lead debutante, with the crown gracefully atop my head. And here I am, fully as James Kurisunkal, minutes away from rolling cornfields in Illinois, aged eighteen years, with interests in grand duchesses and Manhattan’s even grander Mortimers.
I’ve been to all of the balls (naturally by way of Patrick McMullan), I’ve been fitted (it was an obvious stretch for whichever designer), and I’ve been in the Post. It’s a simple fact that every glorious debutante of our age deserves a proper and befitting coming out and I refused to give myself anything else.
Yesterday, I was but an unknown deb; this morning, I liken myself to a Miller.
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Socialite Rank was gone, but the day it shuttered a new Website assumed its place. “The Crown became ours this morning,” announced Park Avenue Peerage. “We give you this pledge: we will rule (and chronicle) justly.” Former Socialite Rank commenters immediately mobbed the boards. “It will be just like old times,” wrote a commenter who calls herself Countess Olenska. “Welcome me back, girls!” A commenter named Insider observed, “It’s the SR Reunion 2007.”
In the next few days, Park Avenue Peerage would acquire thousands of new readers. And then it would cause its own stir by profiling a girl who normally stays out of the party pages, preferring instead to surf Belle-Île-en-Mer. Jules Kirby, a “champagne-swilling” blonde, nearly blind in one eye, drove PAP commenters to the heights of hysteria. “Ooooh, Jules!” one gushed. “I love the fascination with the most useless people on the planet!”
Again, New York socialites began to speculate about who could be behind the Website. It was clear to all that PAP had to be run by the ultimate insider. An outsider never could have known about Jules. Most placed their bets on Kristian Laliberte, so obviously bruised by Socialite Rank and a member of the junior set often featured on Park Avenue Peerage. “It’s Kristian,” Valentine said. “Yes, it’s Kristian,” said Olga. “We’re 1,000 percent sure.”
But, as is always the case, the one revealing secrets is not an insider at all: He’s an 18-year-old college student who runs the site from his dorm room. “I live in Urbana, near a farm,” he whispers when I call. “Oh, my God! I’m not supposed to reveal anything. I’m like—I’m not even white! Do you know how fucking riotous this would be? I am not the poster child. You would not even believe what I look like.”
His name is James Kurisunkal. He’s a freshman at the University of Illinois whose fascination with society developed when he began surfing the Internet at the age of 9. The son of Indian immigrants, a library clerk and a nurse, Kurisunkal was precocious, but not in the usual way. He spent his adolescence reading The Book of Royal Lists. “I’m schooled in the Fields, the Swifts, the Pullmans, the Masons, the Armours, the Ogdens,” he says. “And then we have the Pritzkers and Crowns—oh, and I love the Boston Brahmins. I’m obsessed with them.” Suddenly, he interrupts himself. “Do I sound psycho? Do I sound like a loser? Like someone who didn’t make it? At the core, I’m a researcher. I’m an investigator.”
But he’s also, in a strange way, a member of society, at least what’s left of it. Because he makes inside information available to all—photos, family trees, skeletons in the closet—the girls have started writing to him, begging for prettier pictures, more-flattering articles, attention. James has never gone to a single charity ball. In fact, he’s never even been to New York. But he gets the e-mailed party invitations—and turns them down. He loves all the girls—Tinsley for being a legend, Fabiola for her personality, Lydia for her youth. It seems like they live in a nice house. But he would rather admire it from afar than walk inside.
JUST WOW.
Unbelievable. Really just unbelievable.
Surely you must be joking.
Annabelle, I don’t think he is joking… read the NYmag article. I know, jaw-dropping…
That’s a really smart kid right there. I love him and I love all of this drama!
Stunned me.
I would have kept my identity a secret
this…can’t be real. is the goal to make this site so opposite of SR that he feels the need to preemptively state his identity? was anyone asking? and who on earth talks like that? by way of patrick mcmullan? pardon me? is that similar to by way of land, air, or sea? just entered new york society? don’t most people just say they just moved here? were you here before and did not consider yourself a part of society and then made a conscious decision to enter into it? and then make a mockery of yourself by tooting your own horn? shouldn’t other people do that for you? i really don’t remember when i first started attending high society events that i was screaming from the rooftops (or blogs): hey guys–i just entered society! i just…i just have so many questions as to what prompted this! but they’re probably better off unanswered.
i really, sincerely hope this is satirical. otherwise i suppose i will just keep on laughing…
Everyone knew that Valentine and Olga Rei did SR…not Peter Davis. Who is going to read their book? Won’t a year of socialite gossip be old news 12 months later?
Illinois? WHAT? This is more exciting than I ever thought.
some of the postings were generic, we all knew that. but, we always enjoy photos… um, this kid is obviously a closeted midwesterner (no judgment), slightly twisted in that “talented mr. ripley” way. it’s one thing to obsess over certain popular culture/national public eye musings… it’s another thing to obsess over society if you’re not even involved, or within 1000 miles for that matter. that. is. plain. weird. i feel dirty and ashamed now. how does anyone even garner such a preoccupation?
o.m.g. I have no words.