May 7 – The Rainforest Foundation U.S. transformed the Manhattan Center into a secret garden at its annual benefit honoring Trudie Styler. Styler helped found the foundation in 1989, and told us they've since raised $15 million in their efforts to protect the rights of indigenous Rainforest populations. Styler’s husband Sting joined her later as a surprise – the benefit's promoter asked us, “You didn't tell her, did you?” Piaget sponsored the event, chaired by Yves Piaget and Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey. Richard Gere brought actress Bai Ling, and told us to see her movie, Paris, premiering later that evening. The two have been good friends since costarring in 1997’s Red Corner.

May 6 – Robert DeNiro’s second Tribeca Film Festival officially opened with a “remembrance and commemoration ceremony” on the street outside hisTribeca Film Center. DeNiro’s partner and festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, U2 lead singer Bono and Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the crowd, while fashion designer Miuccia Prada, Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor sat onstage. Master jazz musician Wynton Marsalis played his trumpet, a gospel choir sang a couple of numbers, then the whole shebang sashayed a few blocks down to the pink carpet premiere of Down With Love, starring Zellweger and McGregor. (Yes, the carpet was pink.)

Frasier’s David Hyde Pierce, also in Down With Love, and inadvertently sporting a pink tie, looked down, and then said to us “The carpet is horrifying, but the movie is great.” Robert DeNiro told us that he hears the festival is doing great, so he’s happy, and when it’s over he’ll be even happier. Disappointingly absent was George Clooney, rumored to be Zellweger’s beau, and currently in New York.

May 5 - At the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s tribute to Susan Sarandon, Sarandon’s partner Tim Robbins refused to speak to reporters from the right wing New York Sun and New York Post, since after he and Sarandon marched in a peace rally, both newspapers called the outspoken activists “anti-Israel”. Sarandon’s Thelma & Louise costar Geena Davis said that even today people have funny reactions when the two friends go out in public together. Even Susan Sarandon isn't always controversial. The guest of honor told us that although she and her daughter Eva Amurri are the first mother/daughter in People magazine’s most beautiful people issue, she’s most proud that Eva’s been admitted to a good college.

May 1-2 – Rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard seems to have done a lot of planning during his two-year jail term for cocaine possession. Now free, he held a press conference to tell us he’s changed his name to Dirt McGirt, Damon Dash’s Roc-A-Fella Records will produce his next album, he’ll be starring in a VH1 reality show called “On Parole with ODB”, (what happened to the name change?), and he expects to release a line of clothing. Mariah Carey stopped by unexpectedly.

Salma Hayek, Jennifer Connelly and Renee Zellweger gathered at the Louis Vuitton building, but not for shopping. The stars held a press conference to promote the United Cancer Front. Early the next morning – too early, in our opinion - they put their feet where their mouths are and joined other famous and regular folks in Times Square for the 6th annual Revlon Run/Walk for women.

May 1 – Imagine eating dinner in the state courthouse when you haven’t been indicted. That’s what Robert DeNiro, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg, Ralph Lauren, David Bowie and Iman, Nora Jones, Ellen Barkin, Sony chairman Sir Howard Stringer, fashion designer Domenico Dolce, beautiful artist Ahn Duong and countless other celebs did when Vanity Fair magazine threw a bash opening the second Tribeca Film Festival. Those marble-clad courthouses are really quite grand, and after a few cocktails everybody got over their jury duty flashbacks.

The same evening, the revival of Gypsy opened on Broadway to a star-studded crowd. Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Mia Farrow, playwright Neil Simon and others came to see mop-topped Bernadette Peters as Mama Rose. Singer Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio made a rare New York appearance to see the musical. At the after-party, screen legend Lauren Bacall with trademark dusky voice told us that she couldn’t see a thing, following a riot of paparazzi flashbulbs. Gypsy is British film director Sam Mendes’ (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) first foray in directing on Broadway. Mendes’ girlfriend, Titanic star Kate Winslet was there for the revival's maiden voyage. Glowing reviews the next morning.