The Whitney’s American Art Awards gala, May 16
Flavor: The new Le Cirque pre-opens for this party. Massive tents imported from Europe will be erected in the Bloomberg-building courtyard, partially closing off 58th Street.
Gala-goers: Reed and Delphine Krakoff, Leonard A. Lauder, Susan Hess.
Table for ten goes for: $75,000.
And the winner is: The big award goes to Terry Lundgren, CEO of Federated Department Stores, Inc. (parent company of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, etc.), for his commitment to the arts in America.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Spring Benefit, May 17
Cute name: A Wynning Hand
Flavor: Croupiers and gaming tables imported from the Wynn Las Vegas casino; Roberto Cavelli transforms Sotheby’s with “Venetian”–themed décor.
Gala-goers: Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Tinsley Mortimer, Anne Grauso.
Door prizes: Wynn Las Vegas Resort package for four (retail value: $88,750); Roberto Cavalli fur coat (retail value: $20,000).
Table for ten goes for: $10,000.
Synergy: Also serves as the launch for the new Cavalli fragrance, Serpentine.

Wildlife Conservation Society Benefit, May 17
Cute name: Safari! The American West.
Flavor: Cocktails with sea lions, penguins, and polar bears at the Central Park Zoo; dinner and dancing in front of snow monkeys.
Gala-goers: Amanda Hearst, Lydia Hearst-Shaw, Harrison LeFrak.
Door prizes: Three nights at Teton Ridge Ranch, two nights at the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole.
Table for ten goes for: $50,000.
Synergy: Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Bison Society; guests can bid to win the right to name the six male and six female Bronx Zoo American bison.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation benefit, May 20
Cute name: Kids for Kids Celebrity Carnival.
Flavor: At the Industria Superstudio, Todd Oldham shoots your family portrait, Jeff Koons and Francesco Clemente teach your kid to paint, Rick Pipino styles your child’s hair.
Gala-goers: Tiki Barber, Whoopi Goldberg, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Carson Kressley.
Admission: $100,000 for twenty tickets.

Related:

• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Emma Rosenblum
• Table of Contents: May 22, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!