Billy Joel Rocks at Ross

I gather that most attendees to last night's Billy Joel performance at the Ross School in East Hampton, New York, came away feeling that they had gotten their $3,000 worth, as the Piano Man, a devoted Long Islander, belted a succession of his greatest hits, from "Movin' Out" and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" to "My Life" and "We Didn't Start the Fire." The evening was a double-Joel billing, with the performer's third wife, chef Katie Lee Joel, having designed the menu for the event, a riff on a Hamptons clambake. Wife number two (a.k.a. Christie Brinkley) was also in the house, but stayed off the stage, dashing any hopes that she might do a bygones-be-bygones reprise of "Uptown Girl" with her ex. (The two are the parents of a daughter, Alexa, an alumna of said Ross school.) In what was perhaps a nod to the fact that he has not aged quite as gracefully as his rocker contemporaries Sting, Bruce Springsteen and elder statesman Mick Jagger, when he took the stage, the fifty-eight-year-old musician joked that he was in fact the father of Billy Joel and that his son would be taking the stage later in the performance. He also poked fun at the image chosen for the VIP admission badges (below), explaining to the audience that a rabbi's visage had mistakenly been placed on the badge instead of his own. For all of Joel's joshing, his on-stage energy was in fact pretty subdued, save for the magic he worked on his keyboard (which he still commands like a master). His lack of energy was more than compensated for by the crowd, which leapt to its feet the moment Joel took the stage. Most of them did not re-take their seats for the duration of the performance, choosing instead to sing and dance to Joel's prolific catalog of hits, which span four decades. I was a guest of Sony Cierge, the electronics company's V.I.P. personal-service program, which offers members exclusive access to music performances and other special events. At one point prior to the performance, a crowd gathered around Ripa as illusionist Blaine singled her out for an impromptu sleight of hand. The Joel concert was the third in a series of five performances that have included Prince (7/14) and Dave Matthews (7/28). Upcoming concerts are James Taylor (8/11) and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (8/25). Proceeds from sales of the $15,000 ticket packages (which included dinner) benefit the Ross school. For more information or to purchase tickets for James Taylor or Tom Petty, visit Hamptons (Social) @ Ross. %%showphotos [setid=72157602643240001]%% Photos courtesy of David Prutting at Patrick McMullen.

Your Very Own American Idol

Popped in for a party at Spotlight Live in Times Square this evening and had my arm twisted to sing a song or three. This place is unlike any karaoke club I've ever been to--humongous yet elegant and with cuisine that (happily) goes a long way to keeping your mind off the discordant folks who just sang the theme song from Annie. Best of all, despite its Theater District location, Spotlight hasn't yet been discovered by the tourists. Watch for more Spotlight locations in Vegas and Macao, and an American Idol-style TV show soon to follow.

Russell Simmons Launches Sneak Attack at Grey Gardens!

Grey Gardens, the former estate of Edith "Big Edie" Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale—not to mention a multitude of ill-tended cats—played host to a small gathering in honor of the Humane Society of the U.S. last night. The East Hampton manse was a strangely fitting venue, given that the conditions those cats endured during the neglectful watch of the Beales thirty years ago comprise the same sort of cruel scenarios that the Humane Society battles to correct today. As if in atonement for the home's past sins, animal lover Frances Hayward opened up the house to Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society, along with several dozen other animal lovers, including David Lauren, First Niece Lauren Bush and record industry executive Russell Simmons, who makes a rather prominent appearance in the video below. Hayward rents Grey Gardens for eleven months out of the year from current owners Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn. Animal lovers themselves, they must thrill to the fact that this stunning home with the not-so-noble past can be used for such humane good.

High Line, High Times

The phenomenal IAC Building, designed by Frank Gehry, was the center of the action for a benefit held tonight to raise funds and awareness for the High Line, the abandoned elevated railway along Tenth Avenue in West Chelsea that's one year away from becoming the most celebrated slice of green in New York since Olmsted and Vaux debuted Central Park, in 1873. Following dinner at the nearby David Zwirner gallery, guests at the soirée gathered for a glittery reception in the dramatically illuminated high-rise, an edifice that continues to turn the heads of startled drivers along the West Side Highway. While some attendees headed straight for the dance floor, others waited in line to have their photos taken in front of a backdrop of the weed-strewn High Line. The images will become part of The High Line Portrait project, which now counts pictures of nearly 1,000 individuals, each of whom has been photographed in the same "spot." (See here.) Though the faux backdrop is about as photorealistic as those pull-down screens made famous by the Sears Portrait Studio back in the day, it will be the next best thing until we can all clamber atop the High Line for real. I'm counting the days. %%showphotos [setid=72157602747721220]%%

Cuter by the Dozen

Demonstrating the reach that one blog can have, I heard from Sandra DeFeo, co-executive director of the Humane Society of New York today. Turns out, the Paws for Style video I posted last week has been seen by quite a number of people. (Who knew?) In any case, Sandra shared with me the tale that the Society received a request to take in twelve kittens this afternoon. Despite the fact that the Society's accommodations are already filled to capacity, they somehow found a way to make room for the adorable felines. Just as they were pondering names, a call came in to their offices from a supporter who had seen the New York Insider video. Inspired, Sandra and her colleagues, Virginia Chipurnoi, the Humane Society's president, and Susan Richmond, the organization's co-executive director, decided to name two of the twelve after none other but yours truly. Now, I've always been more of a dog kind of guy than a cat lover, but I've got to admit, these two little ones are pretty darn cute. They'll be getting lots of TLC at the Humane Society for the next several weeks (Thomas, a.k.a. "Tom" is eight weeks old; Farley is just six weeks old). I think I may just have to pay them a visit. Stay tuned for more on New York Insider's new (unofficial) mascots...

Midtown Goes to the Dogs

New York's best-dressed dogs (and the stylish sorts who love them) turned out this evening for a special fashion show held at Arena on West 41st Street. Any biped lucky enough to have been at this, the eighth annual Paws for Style fund-raiser, was in for a fun, lively and star-studded night. Hosted by Animal Fair magazine and emceed by that publication's editorial director, Wendy Diamond, along with Doug Wilson of Trading Spaces, and attended by celebs including Broadway actor Cheyenne Jackson, the event was a fund-raiser for the Humane Society of New York. Indeed, several of the dogs featured in the show were available for adoption.The chipper canines were dressed in outfits designed to match those worn by the celebrities escorting them down the um, "catwalk." Among the celebrity walkers included the Today show's Janice Huff, Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair; George Whipple, society reporter for NY1; Catherine Crier of Court TV; Animal Planet's Annemarie Lucas; actress Stella Keitel; Lorenzo Borghese of Rome and The Bachelor; Law and Order: SVU's Richard Belzer; Kika Sumpter of One Life to Live; What Not to Wear's Stacy London; actress Christy Scott Cashman; and Hayden Panettiere of Heroes. To watch their star turns on the runway, check out the video below, exclusive to NewYorkInsider. Among the ensembles on show were looks by Michael Kors, Bill Blass, Prada, Heatherette and Tory Burch. All of the outfits featured will be auctioned on eBay. To peruse the offerings, click here. Sandra DeFeo, the Humane Society's co-executive director, was beaming by night's end, knowing that their time in the spotlight had all-but guaranteed these needy mutts the homes they so desperately crave. Whether these pets choose to hold on to their newfound style savvy remains to be seen.

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Britannia Comes to Brooklyn

I spent this evening at Pier 12 in Brooklyn, aboard the luxurious Queen Mary 2. It was great to be back on the mighty ship, the largest ocean liner in the world. (I had my first opportunity to see the vessel when she dropped anchor in New York on her maiden voyage, in 2004.) Tonight, however, I was a guest at a very special fundraiser to benefit Brooklyn Academy of Music and New York City Opera. This was the sort of party that should have no fears of getting lost in the shuffle of galas that grace places such as the Waldorf Astoria or Capitale on any given Manhattan weeknight. No, this was not going to be a hum-drum evening with endless speeches and a heart-string video presentation. Tonight was about opulence and fun. (For two good causes, of course.) After cocktails on deck, guests moved indoors to the Royal Court Theatre, for a special performance by legendary Broadway actress Patti LuPone. When I first learned the name of her routine, "Lady with the Torch," I presumed we were in for a pre-Memorial Day salute to nearby Miss Liberty. If only. LuPone's "torch" turned out to be more of a flame-thrower, a weapon aimed squarely (if playfully) at the unsuspecting men in the audience. I've got great admiration for Ms. LuPone. She has a phenomenal voice, one like none other on Broadway. However, even for a fan, one hour of "spurned woman" ballads began to get tired after a while. It was also a bit of a downer on an otherwise celebratory night. Dinner in the Britannia dining room (straight out of a scene from Titanic) was all about people watching and less about the food, but highlights included foie gras and duck terrine and fillet of sole with shrimp-mousse soufflé. After the meal concluded, guests headed to the ship's planetarium (the only one at sea) for a show called "Cosmic Collisions." Still others boogied on down to the G32 discoteque or the Queens Room, where the Peter Duchin Orchestra played into the wee hours. All in all, a night to remember. For once, I was sad to return to Manhattan.

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What’s That Smell?

There was something in the air last night at the Carlyle Hotel, on Madison Avenue. Guided by New York Times fragrance editor and author Chandler Burr, a select group of journalists got a sneak preview of a unique olfactory-cum-culinary tour that officially kicks off with a special night at the Carlyle on June 18, and will continue around the world at various properties owned by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. Seated in the Carlyle restaurant's private dining room, my colleagues and I put our noses to the test as Burr teased our senses with scent strips in one blind-test after another, each one designed to awaken and tantalize the palate. (Incredibly, a whopping ninety-five percent of a diner's perception of flavor actually comes from his sense of smell--not taste.) To be sure, it was a novel way to enjoy a meal and many of the fragrances were beautifully paired with the cuisine and cocktails laid before us. My "smelling partner," good friend Jennifer "Bless Your Heart" Cole, of Travel & Leisure magazine, graciously humored my poor scent perception (and zero knowledge of perfumes) as we shared scent strips and compared notes on whiffs of synthetic essences of everything from cotton candy to cucumber. Burr was a gracious and supremely knowledgeable host and his enthusiasm carried the night. There are still a few spots available for the June 18 dinner (the night will be offered to a maximum of 20 patrons) and costs $200 per person. The price is an absolute bargain considering the profusion of food—prepared by Carlyle chef Jimmy Sakatos—not to mention the retail value of the two-ton goodie bag, which is loaded down with fragrances such as Estée Lauder's Pleasures; Dolce & Gabana's Light Blue; and Missoni. After the one night in New York, the Chandler Burr scentapalooza travels to The Mansion at Turtle Creek, in Dallas, and the Inn of the Anasazi, in Santa Fe. For more information, visit www.rosewoodhotels.com. %%showphotos [setid=72157602750681277]%%

Haute, Haute, Haute!

Along with good friend Sara Gragnolati, editorial director of KIWI magazine, I popped into Haute Green, a temporary exhibition of sustainable (yet fashionable) home furnishings being held this week at 33 West 19th Street. Shown in connection with the always-buzzy International Contemporary Furniture Fair (an annual May event that draws the finest design to New York from around the world), Haute Green featured more than seventy pieces selected from a submission pool of more than three times that amount. Among the highlights for us were the burgundy Illu Stration rug (www.illu-stration.com), which looked as if it were a purple patch of lawn made entirely of felt; a three-dimensional component rug called "My Secret Garden," which was made from re-used wool blankets; a series of cork bowls from Daniel Michalik; and expandable, honeycomb-style cardboard seating from Molo Design. The latter reminded me a bit of those cheesy party-store centerpieces that fan out for easy table display and then fold up again for flat storage. Molo's work, though, was a touch more stylish. Catch the exhibit before it closes tomorrow. For more information, visit www.hautegreen.com. %%showphotos [setid=72157602747828050]%%

In Good Taste

Most New Yorkers like to believe they possess taste, an understanding of quality and style that pervades their lives—whether in their choice of clothing or in the way they furnish their homes. However, an elite few not only have taste, they set its very standards. Those elect were honored last night at a fête thrown by House & Garden magazine. This talented coterie, architects, sculptors, fashion designers, artists and interior decorators among them, descended on the Metropolitan Pavilion, on West 18th Street, to celebrate their being featured in the magazine's June issue. Even for a tastemaker, attending a tastemaker gala apparently requires even greater attention to style than normal and the honorees and invited guests did not disappoint, as was seen in the wild-pattern trousers worn by designer Michael Coorengel (below) or the coordinated ensembles of Paul Talbot and Kerri Kundra (also below). It was a buzzy night and the room was filled with great people—old friends like Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke and Jane Berk—and new ones like Zem and James Joachin. Guests swirled throughout the hall, perusing the tastemakers' portraits, which had been lifted from the pages of the magazine and affixed to the walls. The stunning images offered a window into the passions of these creative individuals, each one captured in his or her natural habitat. For more on the styles and pieces that you'll soon be emulating (or craving) pick up House & Garden's June issue, on newsstands now. %%showphotos [setid=72157603234768889]%%