Carbone quintuplets attend their prom

On a sweltering evening, the Carbone quintuplets of Old Brookville were, fittingly, very hot stuff Thursday night.

The Project Prom winners -- well, the three girls, Marissa, Brianna and Francesca -- turned out in swanky dresses voted on by Newsday and newsday.com readers. The fellas, Austin and Brandon, were debonair in tuxes from Victor Talbots in Greenvale. The occasion? The 18-year-olds' last real high school hoorah before graduation, their senior prom at the Woodbury Country Club.

Brianna regally glided in wearing a Max and Cleo turquoise number that was an overwhelming reader favorite. Francesca's ruby BCBG Max Azria column also won by a landslide. As for Marissa's BCBG Max Azria abstract floral -- this was a close race at 52 percent of the votes.

Happiness prevailed. "I love this dress. They picked the one I wanted most," said Marissa. Good friend Stephanie Mysholowsky hugged her and said, "I think she looks stunning." Francesca's date, James Pryor, admitted that he didn't vote. "I left it up to the people," he said.

While the party of five celebrated with their Locust Valley High School classmates, parents Lou and Denise Carbone were reflective. "They all looked beautiful, but it's very bittersweet," said Denise. "I thought about this day since they were in kindergarten." Added Lou, "It's happy but a little sad, too. They went from little kids to grown-ups overnight. It's always been the seven of us. Denise and I are going to have a lot of catching up to do."