Lunch at Michael’s. All kinds of the likely suspects: Peter Brown, Joe Armstrong with Cynthia Brill, Herb Siegel with John Eastman. At another table Jeanne Leff; then: Becca Thrash from down Texas way, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Richard Johnson, Diane Coffey, Howard Rubinstein and son, at separate tables; Andre Leon Talley and George Malkemus, Tom Freston, Dave Zinczenko, Lynn Nesbit, Norman Pearlstine, Ivanka Trump.

DPC with Sarah and Sassy

I had lunch with two old friends, both named Sarah, but one of whom has been called Sassy all her life. I knew them both first but introduced them and they became fast friends. Sassy is one of those women, one of those people, who is entirely trustworthy. I would tell Sassy anything about myself, and I have. That deep dark stuff that you often hide out of mortal embarrassment. Or shame, if you’re very religious. I have confided some of the dumbest, darkest secrets in Sassy, and I know she has kept them. Which is not to say we didn’t have a good laugh over it first.  For I learned that from her.

We met years ago when she worked as the sales manager for couture at Halston. That was when Halston was flying (and not just on ego trips and airplanes). If the walls could talk. Hell, forget the walls: if Sassy could talk. But alas she doesn’t. Part of the reason was that Halston was just so hard to take after awhile that most of the time she’d rather forget it. But not until we’ve shared a good laugh.

The other Sarah, Sarah Rosenthal is a therapist. She’s married to Mitch Rosenthal, the founder and director of Phoenix House. When I first met Sarah (I can’t remember how) I was told that she was a sex therapist. I thought that was interesting because I’d never been to a sex therapist. I had a friend years ago who went with his wife to Masters and Johnson, the primo-sex therapists of the 1970s, propelled to best-sellerdom by the very notion. My friend and his wife went to “save” their marriage. His wife, unbeknownst to him, also was keeping a “f**k pad” where she was having her hairdresser over for a cut-n-curl. But they went to Masters and Johnson anyway,  to “save” the marriage. My friend said he learned a lot and their sex life went through the roof. As did the marriage in due time. Like the hairdresser.  This is what I thought of when I met Sarah.

As soon as I met Sarah Rosenthal, I told her a couple of things about sex that had been on my mind. I can’t even remember now what it was; just something very intimate. Something that bothered me or made me feel inadequate or both. I can’t remember what her response was either except that it was interesting and it kind of balanced things out for me. Put my mind at ease. For the moment.

So today at lunch, we three talked about ourselves and the nature of our unconscious choices. That sounds so clinical but as you know right behind the cotton screen is the naked self And for some reason it never gets uninteresting. Although I’m beginning to see there may come a time.

Darren Walker and Jonathan Capehart

Last night there were all kinds of things going on in New York. At Bergdorf’s, at Ferragamo, there were parties, only two of tons going on around town noon, night and morning (in that order). Over at the 7th Regiment Armory on Park and 67th was the opening of the New York Design Fair (a Meg Wendy Show) with a benefit preview for A.L.S, and presented by Town & Country magazine.

My intentions were to stop by three or four parties, take some pictures and move on. My intentions were thwarted by reality and the pleasure of company I found at the outset. I started out at Darren Walker and David Beitzel's in Chelsea where he was hosting a party with Ann Tisch, Ashley Schiff and Arlyn Gardner for Jonathan Capehart who is leaving New York after 16 years and a glorious career in media and politics to work on the Editorial Board of the Washington Post.

About this time two years ago Darren had another party for Jonathan when he had moved from the New York Daily News editorial board to a senior VP position for Hill & Knowlton. The mayor was at that party as Jonathan had previously had a column on Bloomberg and subsequently worked on Michael Bloomberg’s first mayoral campaign. Now he is moving to what many consider an awesome position in media –that of an editorial writer for the Washington Post. The night before last, as regular NYSD readers may remember, Jonathan was feted by the Citizens Committee of New York City for his contribution to the community.

The guests last night cover a lot of the same territory that the 38-year-old Jonathan inhabits. Both Jonathan and his old friend Darren are masters at making the most of opportunities, especially opportunities that can be shared. It is a world of writers, non-profit directors, political people, investment bankers and cultural affairs people. It is on the young side, very dynamic and mixed ethnically. This combination and dynamic is infrequent in most social circles although it is the world and the future. And an “up,” a welcome relief from the edge we live on.

Last night’s party was simply a drinks party and an opportunity for a lot of people to congratulate their friend and (former) colleague and co-worker and wish him well. And bon voyage.