Why Should Tots Have All the Fun?

Dogs like toys, too, and for that reason (but also because every dog deserves a good loving home), Animal Fair's Wendy Diamond held a benefit party last night at Cipriani Wall Street in support of the Humane Society of New York. With their dogs in tow, spirited city dwellers turned out to sample a bit of holiday cheer while letting their pets get to know each other a little better. A very svelte Santa even showed up for the festivities, as you'll see in the photo album here.

In the Cookie Spirit

Foodie Matt Timms, the man who has previously brought to Brooklyn "takedowns" featuring foods from fondue to bacon, threw a pre-holiday Cookie Takedown this afternoon and the results were nothing short of scrumptious. Held at the Bell House, in Park Slope, the high-stakes contest was not for the sugar-averse, but for connoisseurs of home-made goodness in small packages, the price of admission was well worth it.

Of the thirty entrants, the top three prizes (as awarded by the judges) went (in descending order) to Nicholetta Canaras, for her Choca-ho-lick’s Cookie; R. Tianna Lawrence, for a Death By Chocolate Chipp’d Cookie; and Melissa Denchak, for her Oatmeal-Apple-Cranberry Crumb Cookie. Yum! To level the playing field, there was also a People's Choice award. Tied for first-place as voted by the event's attendees were Rachel Anderson, for her Nacho Cookie (yes, Virginia, you read that right) and Emily Hanhan, for her Not Your Mama’s Chocolate Chip Cookie. (If you're interested in trying that recipe, check out Emily's blog, here.) In second place was Aimee Bariteau, for her take on Oreo cookies. (Watch out, Nabisco!)

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe? If so, send it to us here, and we'll publish it for all to share and try. For more Cookie Takedown pics, click here. Photos by Zoe Timms.

The Holiday Rush

The Supper Club of New York helped its members get into the spirit of the season last night, during a special open house dinner at The Rushmore, a brand-new high-rise tower on the Hudson River. In a sprawling home with windows absolutely everywhere, members of the Supper Club, along with guests from Zink magazine (a co-host of the party) enjoyed cocktails made with whiskey from fellow co-host (rī)1, and dined on food prepared by caterer Brooklyn Laundry.

Among the notable attendees included Richie Rich, Chris Coffee, Susan Shin, Sean Stone, Mark Baker and Count Max Tucci. There was no sign of Santa, however, who will most certainly be getting a few wish-list requests for this apartment. Combined with the penthouse right above it, the space can be configured as a duplex, and if Mr. Claus can scape up the dough, can be yours for $12.5 million. (More details here.) If you've been naughty this year rather than nice, you may as well start calculating your mortgage.

For more party pics, click here. (All photos by Kyle Dean Reinford.)

If You Have to Ask How Much...

One can always dream, right? Christie's expects the Evening Star diamond, which was plucked from the Golconda mines of India, to sell for anywhere between $3.6 and $5.5 million. It is part of the Magnificent Jewels from a Distinguished Private Collector sale, which takes place next Thursday, December 10. In addition, Bulgari, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, will be auctioning off jewelry and watches with a total value of $4 million at Christie's on December 8. Proceeds will go to Save the Children's Rewrite the Future project.

If you like sparkle, you'd better reserve your paddle now.

Sayonara Autumn!

The calendar says we've still got a couple of weeks till the start of winter (and the warm temps today make the cold weather seem months away), but the fact is, Old Man Winter will be here before we know it. The good news is, that also means the arrival of restaurant Park Avenue Winter, which has shed its autumnal cloak in favor of clean whites in the dining room and comfort foods in the kitchen. Chef Craig Kotesu has many succulent delights in store for patrons, including the seared scallop sandwich at left, stout-braised lamb shank, aged cheddar polenta & green apples and John Dory with black truffles.

Suddenly, winter doesn't sound all that bad.

*To see New York Insider's last visit to Park Avenue Winter, when the restaurant was taken over by Gossip Girls, click here.

Indochine at 25

Our friends at Indochine recently celebrated their silver anniversary and to commemorate the occasion, invited a slew of fashion-industry celebs, hoteliers and Hollywood sorts to come by the restaurant to toast its twenty-five years of attracting New York's most glamorous crowd. In this special birthday video (shared with us by the Indochine powers that be), you'll spot boldface names including Iman, Padma Lakshmi, Carmen D'Alessio, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber. From all of us at New York Insider, happy birthday, and here's to the next 25. (But we'll excuse you if you stop counting at 29!)