September 27, 2006 |
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"I SUPPOSE society is wonderfully delightful! To be in it is merely a bore. But to be out of it is simply a tragedy," wrote Oscar Wilde.
But to be in New York on Monday was delicious. The Metropolitan Opera, under its imaginative director Peter Gelb, who is determined to turn one of the city's greatest cultural assets back to the people, kicked itself off Monday night with great flair. PR flack Peggy Siegal set up a real red carpet full of celebs and it worked. (We will write tomorrow about the stunning "Madama Butterfly" itself!)
Strolling in "on the rouge" were Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. (She looks positively girlish and when Cio-Cio-San sang of "robins nesting," the longtime couple exchanged smiles and winks.) Jude Law and Sienna Miller were quite together again, both very good looking. But it was Miller's mom, Josephine, who surprised. She is a sexy dish, resembling an attractive mature Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Meg Ryan's little face was hidden behind a Brigitte Bardot mane. While one paparazzi said, "She isn't very nice," she was seen giving autographs at intermission. That seemed pretty nice to me! Sigourney Weaver was there with handsome hubby director Jim Simpson. Also noted, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Jimmy Fallon of "SNL," Derek Luke, the huge "Antwone Fisher" talent, director Sydney Pollack and Liv Tyler. And there was Salman Rushdie, Iman and David Bowie, NBC's Al Roker and ABC's Deborah Roberts, Zac Posen, Isaac Mizrahi, Donald and Melania Trump, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bebe Neuwirth, Barry Diller, Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Chuck Scarborough, Michael Eisner and, of course, Mercedes and Sid Bass and composer Howard Shore, plus musicians Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed.
People rushed out at intermission to get a look at the famous, the rich and others tragically transformed by plastic surgery. Most unfortunate accessory of the night?
Tatoos on ladies. Oh, for Pete's sake!
My advice now to Americans, even rich and social and young and naive ones? Learn the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" so you don't look stunned and bored when they play it. Cherish your chance even to hear it.
I WAS up to my hips in mayors this same night. Mike Bloomberg came to his own Fete de Swifty in a 73rd Street tent. He usually appears and quickly disappears but he stayed at this bash an hour and a half. Girlfriend Diana Taylor was amazed. "He's having so much fun he won't leave and we have another engagement!"
The Fete raised more than $750,000 (not bad for a cocktail party) for the Mayor's Fund to fight domestic violence. It was great if I do say so myself, since I helped dream this up along with some really talented and devoted people. The rich, rich, rich Denise Rich bid $11,000 in a silent auction to have me emcee her next charity in November 2007. I'll be delighted.
At the crowded posh Le Cirque after, I had a visit with Judy and Rudy Giuliani, both splendidly attired and fresh from the Met. "We're starving," said the now super glamorous couple. They look better every time they go out.
ROSIE O'DONNELL invited me to "The View" Monday morning to salute Barbara Walters' birthday. The lady was surprised when Beverly Sills, Georgette Mosbacher and I showed up, along with others near and dear.
Barbara was fresh from 44 hours back and forth to Australia. When "The View" went off the air, she saluted seven staff members whose birthdays also fall this week. There was champagne and an individual cake for each name.
The boss lady said, of her show, "Nobody knew how things would turn out. We didn't know what Rosie might do. But it works!" Rosie laughed and confided: "It's just wonderful to be on 'The View.' It's so easy. Barbara and everybody are just great!" (Whatever the tabs think to the contrary, "The View" seems to be a very happy TV show.)
Barbara had rushed to Australia for an exclusive with the wife of "The Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. Terri, his widow, wept and laughed as they talked about his larger-than-life personality. The interview, to be seen on a one-hour special Sept. 27, was done in the Australia Zoo, founded by Irwin. Terri and their 8-year-old, Bindi, who spoke so movingly at Dad's funeral, will carry on his wildlife work.
I whispered to Barbara on air as we stood behind her birthday cake: "You have walked with kings, queens, potentates, stars and presidents and they could only turn out Georgette, Beverly and Liz for your birthday." Barbara laughed: "This is much better; you guys are really important to me!" Happy birthday, Barbara, and no, we won't send you flowers, since your apartment looks like a gangster's funeral.
TONIGHT at the New York Academy of Medicine, Dr. Mathilde Krim, who founded amfAR, will look back on 25 years of the AIDS fight with Prof. Ron Bayer doing the honors . Call 212-832-0960 . Doctors Without Borders raises dough tomorrow night at Rockefeller Center with the travel folks Tumi underwriting. Call 1-800-932-8864.
(E-mail Liz Smith at MES3838@aol.com, or write to her c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.)
©2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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