Last night in New York. The weather was on our side. The Stem Cell Foundation held its gala at Rockefeller University. Over at the Time Warner Screening room at One Time Warner Center, they held a screening of “Bringing Balanchine Back.” Over at the Carlyle on the Green, Dina Lohan (who has a daughter named Lindsay) and Angela Susan Anton and Patrick McMullan hosted a launch party for Boulevard Magazine. And a few steps down the block on Madison Avenue, the Whitney Museum for American Art held its annual gala benefit co-chaired by Susan Hess, Veronique Pittman, and Stacey Mindisch.

The Whitney Gala is one of the season’s top tickets. Last night they raised $2.3 million and heralded the opening of the museum’s sensational new show “Picasso and American Art.” The Whitney has been around for a long time now, founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney 75 years ago with a permanent collection acquired by Mrs. Whitney.

Last night several hundred were present for the opening. There is an air of excitement at all the Whitney parties because despite its seven and a half decade existence, it is still “new” in the eyes of the New York art set, and still vulnerable to harsh criticism, especially for its “biennial” which is a sitting duck for the critics and a big big big draw for us hoi polloi who are interested in art but shamelessly uninformed. When the Whitney Biennial occurs the press is always brutal about the art and the public is always as enthusiastic as the public for a hit movie – lines around the block no matter the weather. I always look at those lines and think: there’s the future art world.

Last night its supporters were out in full force. JH took a picture of one of them, a man named Peter Norton, after whom was named the galleries where the dinner was held. “Do you know who he is?” I asked JH. No. “Ever hear of the Norton anti-virus program?” That’s the guy. A major supporter of the arts and of the Whitney, one of the most famous brand names in the cyber-world and one of the most anonymous in the world.

Last night they honored Emily Fisher Landau, one of the legendary collectors of modern and contemporary art as well as one of the great benefactors of the Whitney. Mrs. Landau, who was introduced by the museum’s chairman Leonard Lauder, very graciously made her speech brief and to the point, thanking Mr. Lauder for being such a wonderful friend.

Once everyone was settled in at table, they served: Salmon Tasting Plate with Herb Salad and Gauffrette Potato Chips (terrible, couldn’t stop eating them), followed by Cabernet Braised Beef Short Ribs with Polenta Cakes and Roasted Autumn Root Vegetables (the short ribs being the most popular gala benefit menu item these days — don’t ask) and a dessert of Apple Tart Tatin with Caramel Sauce, Whipped Crème Fraiche and Candied Citrus Peel. Is it any wonder these people are watching their diets?

Amongst the celebrated attending was the great Chuck Close at our table. And Anne Griffith who with her husband, hedge fund owner Ken Griffith bought the David Geffen Jasper Johns at auction for $80 million last week. And was that very much on everyone’s mind? You bet it was.

The Whitney Gala is possibly the most dynamic of all the major museum galas in New York because no matter the establishment of the fortunes who support the museum, it remains, as was its founder, a maverick with a mission. And the public gets it, which is the best part.