Titan Time
(NEW YORK) "Never keep them past 11. Make sure everyone gets fed. And don't make long speeches." These were the very succinct dinner rules that Graydon Carter established early in the evening to tame his very accomplished guests during his seventh-annual Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Festival dinner. "Honestly, I don't go to screenings, so this is my annual chance to partake in a Tribeca ritual," said the editor, with son Ash Carter and radiantly pregnant wife Anna in tow. "Parties are fantastic, but what we look forward to most is our new baby in August."
Joining Carter were co-hosts Robert De Niro and Ron Perelman, who graciously greeted a small army of bold-faced names on the patio of the State Supreme Court House, many of whom had the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania on their minds. "I'm just thankful I was able to get up those stairs without the help of crutches," deflected Donna Karan. "Because that's what I had to struggle with for the last two years." Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg was equally comfortable. "To prepare for the outdoors, I decided to wear my warmest clothes tonight," she quipped, showcasing her deceptive layers. Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica, meanwhile, was a surprise photographer favorite. She was often asked to pose solo. "I can't get a break!" the comedian said. "They're not interested in me."
Guests like Lee Radziwill and André Leon Talley, Francesco Clemente, Fran Lebowitz, Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman, John McEnroe, Larry David, Lorne Michaels, Lynn Wyatt, Anjelica Huston, Diane von Furstenberg, Martha Stewart, Zac Posen and Lola Schnabel, Natasha Richardson, and Tory Burch filed into the historic space and some were struck by the unusual surroundings. "I'm usually a very infrequent visitor to the court system," admitted Sigourney Weaver. "I'm just happy to be here for a good reason." "It's kind of ironic that this is a bitter divorce court by day," joked Elizabeth Saltzman, who helped plan the bash and jetted in from London for the occasion. "And here we are, all blissfully getting along!"
Naturally, the Tribeca Film Festival was the cause for the gathering, and more than a few attendees were actually involved with the Gotham tradition. "I'm a feature documentary judge this year," piped Padma Lakshmi. "Of course I was very flattered when asked. But the reality is that now I have to sit through 12 full screenings." Iman revealed that hubby David Bowie's role will be slightly less taxing. "David is a short film juror this year," she confessed. "But he doesn't have to leave my sight! He actually got all the films on DVD so he can muse over them in the comfort of our living room."
Bette Midler, who spent much of her Earth Day raising awareness for eco-friendly issues, recovered beautifully in time for the event. "Only in New York can you plant trees in the morning, then get a facial and a nice hairdo in the afternoon," she laughed as Gayle King looked on. "Then you arrive somewhere like here, where basically everyone is someone, and you just happen to know each guest in the room."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg probably also counted most guests as friends. But it doesn't mean he's familiar with all of their bodies of work. "My movie-watching ritual consists of indulging in my Blazing Saddles DVD," he said humbly. "But with all these stars around, we can pretend it's more evolved."
VALENTINE UHOVSKI
