Bill Clinton, Barry Diller, Woody, Elton John: Scene Last Night
William Jefferson Clinton stepped to the podium at the gala last night for the Foundation for AIDS Research to ruminate on his ancestors.
Research, he said, had recently shown that Caucasians are descended from Neanderthals.
“The two women in my life were not surprised to learn that I’m part Neanderthal. They were surprised they were, too.”
The event honored Clinton, Diane von Furstenberg and the absent Elizabeth Taylor, one of the founders of Amfar in 1985.
Furstenberg got some praise from a biased titan.
“My little earth mother wife, she is always extending herself,” said husband Barry Diller, chairman of IAC.
Friendship was the theme of the night. “The key is to be really cheerful when a friend is in trouble,” said “Project Runway” judge Nina Garcia, one of many guests from the worlds of fashion, film and politics gathering at Cipriani’s catering palace on Wall Street.
“I try to do good things, like offer to dog sit,” said actor Cheyenne Jackson. Other actors attending included Michael C. Hall of “Dexter” and Blake Lively of “Gossip Girl.
Woody Allen, accompanied by his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, wasn’t into the friendship theme that dominated many conversations.
“I have no friends and I trust no one,” he said.
The gala culminated with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Dionne Warwick performing “That’s What Friends Are For.” The song has raised around $3 million for Amfar since the quartet recorded it in 1985.
‘Old Man’
Over at City Winery on the West Side, several performers ran through the music of Neil Young at a private rehearsal in advance of a sold-out concert tonight at Carnegie Hall.
Jakob Dylan practiced “Southern Man,” Shawn Colvin practiced “Birds,” and Ben Ottewell of the band Gomez offered “Unknown Legend.”
“It’s romantic Americana,” said Ottewell, who’s releasing a recording of the song this spring.
Joan Osborne arrived, taking off her white down coat and ski hat to reveal bright pink ear buds. Appropriately, she was listening to her Neil Young song, “Old Man.”
Tonight’s line-up includes Glen Hansard of the Swell Season covering “Tell Me Why,” Pete Yorn performing “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and the Roots putting their spin on “Down by the River.”
A few tickets may become available even though the concert is sold out, said producer Michael Dorf.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the art and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Amfar Gala
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Aviv "Vivi" Nevo, media investor, and Harvey Weinstein, film producer.
Aviv "Vivi" Nevo, media investor, and Harvey Weinstein, film producer. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Former U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton accepting an award from Amfar.
Former U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton accepting an award from Amfar. Photographer: Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Marc Mezvinsky, Chelsea Clinton, and Kenneth Cole.
Marc Mezvinsky, Chelsea Clinton, and Kenneth Cole. Photographer: Jemal Countess/WireImage via Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Liev Schreiber, actor, and Tara Subkoff, actress and fashion designer.
Liev Schreiber, actor, and Tara Subkoff, actress and fashion designer. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Jonathan S. Canno, Amfar trustee, Luci Baines Johnson, chairman of LBJ Asset Management Partners Ltd., and Rosie O'Donnell, actress and comedienne.
Jonathan S. Canno, Amfar trustee, Luci Baines Johnson, chairman of LBJ Asset Management Partners Ltd., and Rosie O'Donnell, actress and comedienne. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Tom Zapf, counsel at Macy's Inc., Anne Keating, senior vice president of public relations and corporate philanthropy at Bloomingdale's, and Bill Hawthorne, senior vice president of diversity at Macy's Inc.
Tom Zapf, counsel at Macy's Inc., Anne Keating, senior vice president of public relations and corporate philanthropy at Bloomingdale's, and Bill Hawthorne, senior vice president of diversity at Macy's Inc. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, and Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, and Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Suzanne "Africa" Engo, who runs long distances to raise money for AIDS research, modeling her "iamFAR" tattoo, drawn by designer Kenneth Cole, Amfar's chairman.
Suzanne "Africa" Engo, who runs long distances to raise money for AIDS research, modeling her "iamFAR" tattoo, drawn by designer Kenneth Cole, Amfar's chairman. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Olivier Theyskens, creative director of Theory, and Helena Christensen, photographer and model.
Olivier Theyskens, creative director of Theory, and Helena Christensen, photographer and model. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Amfar Gala
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Diane von Furstenberg uses a fan to hide the bruises from a recent ski collision in Aspen.
Diane von Furstenberg uses a fan to hide the bruises from a recent ski collision in Aspen. Photographer: Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Bloomberg
Neil Young Tribute
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Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben Ottewell, of the British indie rock band Gomez, performing "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ben Ottewell, of the British indie rock band Gomez, performing "Unknown Legend" by Neil Young. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Neil Young Tribute
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Shawn Colvin, Larry Campbell, and Joan Osborne.
Shawn Colvin, Larry Campbell, and Joan Osborne. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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