May 18-19 – At the “soft” opening of the offbeat play Mondo Drama, starriing TV talk-show host Caroline Rhea, Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon wore vintage (the green coat even had a torn sleeve) and brought longtime companion Danny Mozes, the rarely-seen father of her two children. The play really opens on Thursday; we’ll keep an eye out for big fish.

Designer Diane Von Furstenberg was named designer of the year at the American Apparel & Footwear Association’s 25th American Image Awards. CNN’s Paula Zahn hosted, actress Bebe Neuwirth presented, and a crowd of fashion industry executives dined and danced. Christopher and Dana Reeve were especially happy – a large portion of the more than $1 million raised at the event will go to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

May 20 – Guests slipping discreetly out of the massive Gagosian art gallery weren’t smoking, they were relieving themselves. At Art for Animals' canine cocktail party, thirteen dog-rescue organizations trotted out potential adoptees, and the winning raffle numbers were picked from a bowl by a trained mutt who then showed off by skateboarding and pouring drinks. We asked host Laurie Anderson why her rat terrier Lolabelle seemed nonplussed in the limelight. “She gets used to things pretty fast”, Anderson replied. Alan Cumming, picking dog treats from a silver tray, hugged his best friend Honey and said, "she's such a tart”. Controversial artist Andres Serrano introduced us to his pooch Luther. Photographer Mary Ellen Mark came alone – her husband won’t let her have a dog. The crowd was well-behaved – we didn’t see any puddles on the floor.

We checked out the opening night party for Lanford Wilson’s play Rain Dance. Stars James Van Der Beek of TV's Dawson's Creek, Randolph Mantooth, Harris Yulin and Suzanne Regan celebrated with Jeff Daniels and Edward Norton. No pets here; those stepping outside were merely smoking.

May 13 – The Matrix: Reloaded gang swept through New York for a day of nonstop promotions before taking off for the Cannes Film Festival. During the afternoon, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, the pregnant Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith and Hugo Weaving stopped into MTV’s studios for a Total Request Live appearance. Next up was a soundtrack release party at the Royalton Hotel. That soundtrack was blasting even outside the Ziegfeld theater at the film’s premiere. Guests walking the black carpet – yes, black – for the first peek at the film were Janet Jackson, Taye Diggs, Tim Robbins, Wyclef Jean, AOL/Time Warner’s Dick Parsons, Kristin Davis and Parker Posey.

Jay Z stars in Damon Dash's Death of a Dynasty

Mos Def & Mark Wahlberg at The Italian Job premiere

Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos & wife at The Italian Job premiere

May 3-11 – Seen and heard during the week-long Tribeca Film Festival: Bono calling New York the most extraordinary city, and he feels lucky to be let in. He called Robert DeNiro the “other” mayor of NYC. Real mayor Michael Bloomberg’s two favorite films are Animal House and Blazing Saddles. Jeri Ryan’s role in Down With Love called for her to make out with Ewan McGregor for three days. What’s not to like? “He’s home with the kids”, a laughing Renee Zellweger told a reporter who asked where her husband is. (She’s single.) Whoopi Goldberg told the crowd at the MTV/VH1 concert that her favorite thing about New York is its diversity. Then she shrugged and said, “Hey, someone wrote this for me.” Jewel, The Roots, and Nora Jones performing at said concert. “My name is Robbie Williams”, the British pop superstar repeated throughout his set, referring to his failure to hit it big in the U.S. Williams’ other gems: “Drugs are bad kids, but they sure are fun”, and, “Sorry, Mayor Bloomberg”, after accepting a cigarette. Gwyneth Paltrow and fiance, rocker Chris Martin, attending the documentary Ashtanga, about 87-year-old yoga master Pattabhi Jois' post-9/11 visit to New York. Albert Brooks on his thong scene in The In-Laws: "I used an assmaster. I'm going to do an informercial." Michael Douglas thinks new baby daughter Carys has a "nice little girl's cleft chin". Donald Sutherland at The Italian Job premiere, whispering why he wouldn’t stop to talk: “I have to go the bathroom”. Actress Bai Ling got the ultra-revealing dresses she wore all week in Paris. Notoriously press-shy Robert DeNiro feeling his pockets, looking around on the floor, and then saying "You got me", to a photographer who told him he dropped some money in order to get him to pose for photos at the closing ceremony.