Motion on the Ocean

Amber Valetta, Real Housewife Ramona Singer and Alexis Bryan Morgan were among the boldface names who turned up at Hudson Terrace last night to mark World Oceans Day. Hosted by Washington, D.C.-based charity Oceana and sponsored by Vanity Fair magazine and Nautica, the night featured a live auction as well as a special live performance by Estelle.

With all of the rain New York has gotten so far this month, many of us are already feeling like sea creatures. So why not support a fine finned friend and make a pledge to Oceana today? You can even "adopt" a seahorse for $50.

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A Motion on the Ocean

Hoping to make some waves about World Ocean Day, which happens June 8, charity organization Oceana brought together a select group of journos and celebs tonight at the Upper East Side home of Bettina Zilkha. Among the boldface names in attendance at the intimate gathering included Sting, Sam Waterston, Jeff Goldblum, Keith Addis, brother-sister surfers Karina and Erik Petroni and Andrew Saffir. With a new administration in Washington, this group of believers and supporters expressed new optimism that it's not too late to save our imperiled oceans.

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How Sweet it Was!

Last Saturday night, after a full schedule of eating par excellence, it was only fitting that New York's fooderati finally got their glucose on. In connection with the first-ever New York City Wine & Food Festival, dessert-lovers in the know descended on the West Chelsea event hot-spot la.venue (a sprawling, cavernous and gorgeous space, in case you have not yet had the pleasure) for Sweet, a showcase of confections prepared by forty-five of the city's most talented pasty chefs. Among the masters whose sugary work was available in more than ample quantity were Dominique Ansel (Daniel); Marc Aumont and Patrick Clark (The Modern); Pauline Balboa (Kyotofu); Jansen Chan (Oceana); John Fraser and Vera Tong (Dovetail); Heather Fratangelo (Spigolo); Brooks Headley (Del Posto); Johnny Iuzzini (Jean Georges); Michael Laiskonis (Le Bernardin); Richard Leach (Park Avenue Autumn); John Miele (Eighty One); Nancy Olson (Gramercy Tavern); Pichet Ong (P*ONG); François Payard (Payard Bistro); and Alex Stupak (WD-50). Sweet's invite promised "the greatest collection of sweets ever found in one location," and it did not disappoint. The delicious description further enticed with teasings of "frosted layer cakes with filling flavors you’ll love; dark chocolates infused with exotic spices that will ruin you for everyday candy bars; cookies crafted from the finest ingredients and resembling works of art; and ice-cream so rich and creamy you will dream about it for days." Indeed, it's been four days since Sweet and we're still dreaming. And dreaming. The goodie-laden evening was sponsored by Ferrero Chocolates, Perrier Jouët Champagne and Absolut Vodka. An after-party, sponsored by the Macy's Culinary Council, was held at Xchange next door. Congratulations to Lee Schrager, the mastermind who brought the the Wine & Food Festival to New York and to all of his team who helped make the inaugural event such a resounding success. We're already dieting in preparation for next year's extravaganza. In the meantime, bring on Miami Beach!

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An Ocean of Support

Law and Order star and crusader for the environment Sam Waterston headlined a benefit reception this evening for Oceana. Founded to heighten awareness about the environmental dangers posed to the world's oceans as well as the dangers to humans who consume contaminated seafood, Oceana has enjoyed great success in effecting real change in the way countries and companies regard the high seas. The setting for tonight's event, Christies New York, was a particularly fitting one, given the house's major auction of vintage ocean liner memorabilia, taking place tomorrow evening, at 5:00. As guests milled about among vintage deck chairs, oil paintings of steam ships and even a life jacket from the Titanic, the enduring allure of ocean travel demonstrated yet one more reason it's high time we tossed the sea a lifeline.