Gala Dinners and Rooftop Gardens

25th Annual Women In Need Gala Dinner at The Pierre Hotel.

Women In Need (WIN) held its 25th annual dinner and honored Charla Lawhon, Managing Editor, In Style Magazine with the “Commit to WIN” award by Kristin Chenoweth. The “Commit To WIN” Award is given annually to business leaders in recognition of their commitment to the New York City charity that helps homeless and at-risk women and their families get back on their feet. The dinner, which annually raises in excess of $1 million for Women In Need, was held at the Pierre.

Women In Need, a non-profit organization founded in 1983, serves homeless and disadvantaged women and their children. WIN helps homeless families through a comprehensive program, which includes shelter, supportive and permanent housing, job training and placement, domestic violence counseling and alcohol and substance abuse treatment. WIN’s children’s services include day care, after school programs, and Camp WIN, a summer day camp. This year, WIN will help over 8,000 people move out of poverty and rebuild their lives.

Meredith Vieira, co-anchor of NBC News’ “Today” since September, 2006, was the evening’s host. Prior to joining NBC, Karen Katz, President of Neiman Marcus stores was the Event Chair. Dinner Co-Chairs were Kayce Freed Jennings and Jaqui Lividini.

Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai

Mariah Chase and Laura Poretzky

Marc Bouwer and Paul Margolin

Diane Smith, Neal Hamil, Teri Agins, and Lydia Hearst

Bernadette Peters and Andrew Comley

Meredith Vieira and Kristin Chenoweth

Kayce Freed and Cynthia Rowley

Charla Lawhon and Lesley Jane Seymour

Jaqui Lividini

Bianca Paoli, Cassandra Gud, Erin Creamer, Kara Cretsinger, and Ashley Ryan

Mark Weber, Bernadette Peters, and Jarrod Weber

George Kolasa and Kristin Chenoweth

Yfat Reiss Gendell and Brad Gendell

Karim Tavet and Ann Caruso

Kalliope Karella and H.S.H. Prince Pierre d'Arenberg

Peter Som and Christian Leone

Ariel Foxman, Cynthia Rowley, and Jim Gold

Karen Katz, Stephen Sadove, Karin Sadove, and Charla Lawhon

Amy So

Daisy Van Praagh and Beth Lake

Brian Wolk and Claude Morias

Eric Wilson and Kim Hicks

Vera Wang, Arthur Becker, and Andrea Wong

Charlie and Katie Prince

Sylvester Miniter, Diana Kashan, and Peter Lyden

Susanne Johnson and John Varvatos

Tom Volton and Mary Beth Kennedy

Stephanie Smith and Doo Ri Chung

Stanley Tucker and Rose Marie Bravo

Patti Kim and Andrea Wong

Bonnie Stone

Josie Natori

Isaac Mizrahi

Stanley Tucker and Ed Nardoza

CeCe Coffin and Honor Brodie

Linda Fargo

Lydia Hearst and Alvin Valley

David Tague and Charla Lawhon

Last Wednesday night over at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), the great Paul Simon gave a benefit concert, “Under African Skies” with performances by David Byrne, Kaissa, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vusi Mahlasela, Luciana Souzam, and Cyro Baptista.

The evening began with cocktails, followed by a concert of music drawn from the albums Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints, and concluded with an on-site dinner with the artists.

Chuck Close

Mark Morris and Paul Simon

Steve Buscemi

Cynthia Nixon

David Schwimmer, Mario Batali, and Susi Cahn

Philip Glass

Wallace Shawn

Lorne Michaels

Clive Davis

David Byrne

Parker Posey

Steve Buscemi and Jo Andres

Elisa King and David Ferer

Brad Grey

Charles Grodin

Susan Vega

Andrew and Andrew

Susan Sarandon

Jonathan Lethem with his wife

Lawrence Whiteside

Micheline Klagsburn and Ken Grossinger

Mark Morris

Corrinne Jones and Andy Snitzer

Jeremy Gerard and Roger Freidman

Jim Hynes and Deborah Doan

Fiona Byrne and Parker Posey

Lorne Michaels and Brad Grey

Thursday night was Christian Lacroix in New York. The Paris designer was in town to celebrate the opening of his boutique at 36 East 57th Street between Park and Madison Avenue. After the opening there was a private party on the Rooftop Garden of the Gramercy Park Hotel.