BY ANISHA LAKHANI

To my surprise and delight, my next invitation to celebrate designer Minnie Mortimer’s collection was addressed to my dog and me. I knew immediately that it could only come from Minnie’s brother, Peter Davis. In addition to being Editor at large for Paper Magazine, Peter is at heart a writer and his attention to detail always makes his guests feel special. A night of dinner and dancing was scheduled for July 11th at the idyllic Surf Lodge in Montauk. At each table guests such as Amanda Hearst, Lauren Santo Domingo, and Nina Garcia received a personalized tote filled with Kanebo products and Minnie’s signature boxer shorts. Minnie, dressed in a striped mini from her own collection, played hostess with her husband Stephen Gaghan, a film writer and director most noted for his works Traffic and Syriana.

Mickey Boardman and Nicky Balestrieri’s July 21st event at 60 Thompson aimed to raise funds to build schools in India, and the Manhattan monsoon season appropriately continued. Additionally hosted by Parker Posey, Matthew Modine, Peter Davis, Minnie Mortimer, Hunter Hill, Luigi Tadini, and CITTA’s Michael Daube, it was little surprise the cocktail fundraiser drew such an eclectic yet dedicated crowd. Guests were tempted with lemon ginger martinis and mini-pad thai served in Chinese take-out boxes. Noted in the crowd were hotelier Vikram Chatwal, art mavens Dalia Oberlander and Sarah Basile, creative tour de force Kate Schelter, and reality star Kelly Killoren Bensimon, rocking a sexy, striped Minnie Mortimer “mini.” The evening was an incredible success and a testament to Mr. Boardman’s dedication.

The clouds had no choice but to part when Operation Smile hosted a shopping event at the Lilly Pulitzer store on Madison Avenue. Hosts Gillian Hearst Simonds, Hayley Bloomingdale, Jennifer Marsico Milo, Jamie Korey and Caroline Cummings were all dressed in the designer and channeled the sorbet hues of Palm Beach. Ten percent of the night’s proceeds went directly to the charity, which provides life-altering facial surgeries to children in need. To the delight of the hostesses male friends such as Callum McLaughlin and Winston Lapham came with their own friends in tow; afterall the Lilly store does boast a men’s section!

Wendy Diamond’s July 27th fashion show Paws For Style at the M2 Ultra Lounge was a definite highlight as it combined two great loves: animals and charity. Celebrity models walked their dogs on the catwalk, and ALL proceeds went to The Humane Society of New York. My shitzu Harold Moscowitz was most excited to see Fox News anchor women Kimberley Guilfoyle, dressed in Alice + Olivia, as she strutted her tutu-clad shitzu, Bella. Closely following Guilfoyle was her co-worker Courtney Friel; the girls of Fox News were crowd favorites to be sure. My dear friend and designer Keith Lissner attended with his dog Dorothy, and dressed NYC Prep’s Kelli Tomashoff. Other highlights included Housewives of New York City Jill Zarin and America’s Next Top Model winner, the gorgeous Jaslene Gonzalez. Gift bags were chock full of doggie treats as well as special bath and beauty products for their owners. In these dog days of summer, it was apparent who ruled the city.

As the countdown to summer’s end draws to a close, a final favorite had to be the 15th annual Artwalk NY, hosted by Kipton Cronkite, Peter Davis, Liam McMullan, and Bettina Prentice. On Saturday, August 15th friends of the hosts and the junior committee flocked to Sagaponack for a summer evening of cocktails and conversation at the home of Bettina’s parents. The fact that in the late 20th century their home used to be the Hearthstone Inn made the venue all the more special. The event raised $6500 for Coalition for the Homeless’ feeding program; clearly the Deputy Director’s brief but rousing speech about volunteerism resonated. As the party continued under the tents,

The Bubble Lounge's spectacular Graham Beck champagne mojitos became the hit of the night. A simple Ipod playing everything from Beck to A Tribe Called Quest invited guests to the dance floor. Bettina’s younger brother Peter Smith, a musician and a writer, kicked off his shoes and incited a crowd of bright young things including Lisa Salzer, Paige Leidy, and many more to follow suit. Jada Yuan of New York Magazine was heard exclaiming, “I don’t want to leave!”