Make Mine a Porsche

Men who love cars and the women who love men who love cars were out in force at the tenth annual East Side House Settlement preview gala of the New York International Auto Show last night. After a lively cocktail reception in the main corridor of the Javits Center, where Porsche models (mechanical and otherwise) were on prominent display, guests moved into an indoor tent for dinner, where the highlight was an auction of a 2010 Porsche 911 GT3. The Stuttgart speedster went to the highest bidder for $150,000. Combined with ticket sales and the proceeds of a silent auction, more than $500,000 was raised for the charity, which works with underprivileged families. It was a palpable reflection of the economy that the Italian luxury auto manufacturers, Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari, took this year off from the auto show. Quite a change from last year's outing, when a Lamborghini Gallardo was auctioned for East Side House for $340,000. Here's hoping that next year the economy is strong enough to support the auction of a Bugatti Veyron (sticker price: $1.4 million) for East Side House.

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