Helena Christensen.

Kipling, the bag mostly favored by backpackers and European tourists, is upping its image via supermodel Helena Christensen. The brand, which uses a monkey as a symbol, is unveiling its debut Fashion Week ’13 collection starring model/photographer/jet-set bohemian Ms. Christensen with a fancy cocktail party on the now-warm Gramercy Park Hotel rooftop terrace. Expect Ms. Christensen’s pals like movie star Liv Tyler and Cinema Society founder Andrew Saffir to be double-kissing the Danish diva’s cheeks all night.

Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Avenue, (212) 995-1330, 6pm-8pm, by invitation only.

Billy Zane, searching for just the right words. (Nicholas Hunt / Patrick McMullan)

“This party is the tits!” someone yelled last week inside Richie Notar’s new Midtown glamor spot, Harlow. Shindigger had to agree, although more appropriate expressions did come to mind, considering it followed a screening of the family-friendly film Oz the Great and Powerful presented by the Cinema Society and Gucci.

Without a munchkin in sight, the crowd was as lubed up as the Tin Man, and Shindigger had every intention of following the partygoers down that yellow brick road.

At the bar, we ran into the French-born artist Anh Duong, who explained that she had just come back from Puerto Rico and had barely gotten out of the house today owing to the weather and a general drizzly malaise. “This is a time of the year when not much is happening in New York, and everybody is just coming out of the long winter and just waiting for spring to arrive.”

Nearby was designer Charlotte Ronson, getting cozy with a friend at a candlelit table. She said the movie was a welcome break, as she’s been nose-to-the-grindstone nonstop since showing her fashion collection at Lincoln Center. “Work, work, work!” she huffed.

Also nearby was Billy Zane, cramming an amuse-bouche into his mouth. “The food is stunning—the chicken is pretty exceptional,” said Mr. Zane, who imbibed the passed hors d’oeuvres with equal zeal. “The bar has a subtle hand—this is a basil gimlet.”

Mr. Zane is promoting his latest film Electrick Children, which stars up-and-coming leading lady Julia Garner. “I’m a new father, so I’ve been spending quite a bit of time at home in Los Angeles, and it’s just really lovely to be back on the block downtown.”

A photographer interrupted us, and the actor happily mugged for the camera, then quickly ordered him to take another shot for insurance. We shifted conversation to the film at hand, and he seemed to search for the right words. “I appreciated the scope and pure escapism. It was very generous,” he said.

Another moviegoing dad in attendance, John Varvatos, was more enthusiastic. “We loved it!” he said.

“It was one of the most visually inspiring movies I’ve ever seen!” he gushed. “I can’t wait to take my 4-year-old to see it.” But the merry outing would have to wait, as Mr. Varvatos was bound for Los Angeles for a fund-raiser and to begin filming Fashion Star. Apparently, the only two places worth gallivanting between this time of year are New York and L.A.

Shindigger’s favorite little fashion prince, Harry Brant, decked out in “old” Galliano, floated by our table. It had been a while since he had shown up at a Cinema Society affair.

Thoughts on the movie, Mr. Brant?

“I’ve never seen such impressive special effects! I want to go to Oz,” he confessed. “I loved it!”

We wanted to know if Daddy Brant (a k a billionaire Peter Brant) had made any purchases at the Armory art show. “My dad actually picked out a couple of pieces,” he said with a knowing smile.

Shindigger went on an adventure in search of red wine and bumped into Padma Lakshmi, who has been busy organizing this season’s Blossom Ball. Had she had a chance to try Harlow’s food? we wondered. “I did have some mini mushroom tapas, which were lovely,” she said.

Growing weary of the endless merriment, Shindigger asked Daniel Benedict—who accompanies Cinema Society founder Andrew Saffir to nearly every one of these screenings—exactly how he keeps his energy up.

“Vitamin C and plenty of rest,” he laughed. “Or a disco nap!”

Ah, yes, the glorious disco nap. “What time is ideal for one?” we asked.

“6 to 6:20 p.m.! Honestly, I shut my eyes for 20 minutes and then—I’m not joking—Vita Coco Coconut Water. I have one every night before I go out.”

“Yeah! Very hydrated,” interjected Carson Kressley with a crude wink, before taking a sip of his drink.

Queen Lakshmi beckoned. “Daniel!” In a flash, Mr. Benedict was gone.

Shindigger polished off the rest of our wine with Mr. Kressley. We wanted to hear his thoughts on the film before we exited Harlow.

“The visuals were delicious,” he said. “But I thought the China Doll was a little strangely slutty! At the end, when she was like, ‘What did you get me?’ to [James Franco’s character] and he replied, ‘Not what you want!’ I was like, oh my God, are they having a kiki right now? I don’t think that was on purpose!”

Obviously Mr. Kressley didn’t get the memo about it being a family-friendly night.

blehay@observer.com

Marion Cotillard chatting away.

Just when we were sick and tired of cinema screenings and movie premiere parties (Hello nomination-baiting season!), The Cinema Society alongside Dior and Vanity Fair hosted one of its best shindigs yet, at the legendary Indochine restaurant following a showing of the Rust and Bone, Jacques Audiard’s 2012 French-Belgian film, which stars Marion Cotillard and dizzyingly sexy Matthias Schoenaerts.

“I’m gonna need eight glasses of Champagne to lift myself up from that one!” one power publicist bellowed to The Observer over the roaring crowd.

“But Marion Cotillard was just amazing!”

This writer unfortunately missed the screening in order to support wounded U.S. servicemen and women uptown for Stand Up For Heroes event, which featured performances by John Mayer, Roger Waters and Bruce Springsteen.

We were hoping for a sighting and perhaps to bavarder with the Oscar-winner.

"Marion had to immediately catch an international flight," one social stalwart dutifully informed us. Of course she had plenty of time to pose for the cameras in her Dior couture, flashing her wondrous baby-bump.

Those that did turn out for the Indochine post-bash made the night memorable. Mischievous attendees included Harley Vieira Newton, Jean-Marc Houmard, Katie Lee, Nan Bush and Bruce Weber, Stefano Tonchi, the mouthy Amy Sacco, Isiah Whitlock and Donna D'Cruz, who off-duty on the DJ gig for the evening.

“I think it’s the food!’ suggested a male model, whose name escaped us.

“These mushroom things and the filet mignon!” he raved between bites.

We schmoozed with model Johannes Huebl and admired Ellen von Unwerth dancing skills. An attempt to question Emma Watson about the premise of the film resulted in a chic pout; her smart phone was of more interest.

The film, which takes place in Antibes, we were told, follows a young man who develops a bond with a whale trainer and traces how their relationship intensifies after a tragic accident. It won critical acclaim at Cannes and the BFI Film Festival. So we shall see how it plays with American audiences. It is en Français.

We got a few words with the Belgian star, Matthias Schoenaerts, but most of it was in Flemish… “I am very excited about the film,” was about all our infantile Nederland skills could reward us.

Nonetheless, the night was about celebration and good vibes. Signature Belvedere cocktails like the Rust and Bone mojitos kept conversation lively and bodies loose until well after midnight.

We told the host of evening and The Cinema Society founder, Andrew Saffir that this was our favorite fête of his thus far. He was unfazed and just smiled politely. With that, we were off to Norwood to continue our foolish, but fabulous escapades.

Ms. Murdoch, at her Cinema Society screening (Getty Images)

Wendi Deng Murdoch, who made Tuesday morning by slapping her husband’s assailant at the News Corporation hearings in London, hasn’t let her family legal drama affect her unduly. Last Wednesday, she attended a Cinema Society screening of the film she produced, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, with guests including Nicole Kidman (the Australian pal of Mr. Murdoch whom former Page Six contributor Jared Paul Stern recently alleged “had a free pass” from News Corporation’s gossips), Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Harvey Weinstein. (Disclosure: Ivanka Trump Jewelry, an advertiser in The Observer, was the event’s sponsor.) She also attended a Saturday screening of the film in Southampton, along with Barbara Walters and Rudy Giuliani.

Cinema Society founder Andrew Saffir was distraught over Ms. Murdoch’s crisis, though he said it was never discussed while planning the event. “She’s been working on the film, as you know, for years. It’s so unfortunate that this came about when she was about to have her moment in the sun.”

ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_

Ms. Irving spoke to no one, and Mr. Bernal to one reporter before going inside, so it fell to Mr. Waltz to supply bon mots to the Transom.‘When there is a great star, a great director and a great script, how can you say no!’ he said. ‘All great art is trying to say something about humanity and this is great art.“ Danke schoen!

The previous night, Mr. Tarantino, stars Diane Kruger and Eli Roth, and many others all managed to make it to Andrew Saffir's Cinema Society screening.

So did Mr. Saffir simply win?

No, said a rep from Ms. Siegal's office. “It was more of a media screening,” she wrote afterward in an email, pointing out that notables like Newsweek editor Jon Meacham, Town and Country editor Pamela Fiori and mogul Mort Zuckerman also attended.

As there was ample room for extra guests in the theater, the Transom took the opportunity to preview the movie. We were not disappointed! Mr. Tarantino served up brutal violence alongside great one-liners, making for a movie that is viciously funny and boyishly entertaining, albeit blood-soaked.

P.S. Ms. Siegal contacted the Transom soon after this item was posted to state that there was  "absolutely no competition" between her and Mr. Saffir , whose event, she said, was the "sponsored premiere." She pointed out that her company had also arranged a private VIP  screening of Sunday, August 16th in the Hamptons hosted by David Linde, president of Universal Pictures and  Mr. Weinstein, and re-emphaiszed that the Tuesday, August 18th event was specifically for media elite and friends. "Everybody worked together for the success of the film," Ms. Siegal said. 

Would "Crazy Joe" Gallo look good in fleece?

The Daily Transom couldn't help but wonder on Monday night, June 1, during a reading of author Tom Folsom's new book about the legendary gangster, titled The Mad Ones, inside the new J. Crew Men’s Shop in Soho.

What, was Spark's Steak House all booked up?

"Well, there is a mob of people here," noted former Fox News blogger Roger Friedman, who was chatting with the actor Matthew Modine inside the shop at 484 Broadway.

The place was truly packed. By 7:30 p.m., you couldn’t walk around the small store, as waiters handed out champagne, wine, and vodka drinks, along with some hors o'doeuvres--watch out for the chinos!

The event was sponsored by the nonprofit Accompanied Literary Society, whose founder, Brooke Gehan, explained the curious location thusly: "As they are the first major fashion retail chain to support books and even sell old typewriters and other literary ephemera, this partnership with J. Crew fit our organization perfectly."

The actor Mr. Modine, who read aloud a chapter from Mr. Folsom's book, told the Daily Transom: “I think people always like stories about the mob because it’s kind of our nature. We live in a society where we aspire to civilization and humanity and goodness, but just scratch the surface each of us, and we are all looking for the opportunity to steal a pack of gum from the grocery store line.”

Cinema Society founder Andrew Saffir had yet to read Mr. Folsom's book. "I was about to go buy one," he said. "But I hear there's one in the gift bag. So I'll save myself $24.95!"

Why are New Yorkers so fascinated by the mob?

"I'm a Sopranos fiend, first of all," Mr. Saffir said. "That's part of the thing that drew me here. A bad guy is always appealing, espeically a guy with a heart. There's sort of a heroism about a well-written bad guy, which is what Tony Soprano was. And I don't know much about Crazy Joe. Is that his name? But I'm completely fascinated. He also seems like he was a gangster that went against the grain which is kind of cool too!"

Actor Steve Buscemi, who appeared in 18 episodes of the Sopranos himself, was also on hand to read a few passages from the book.

"I think Tom paints a really great picture of what New York was like in the '60s," Mr. Buscemi said. "I like how he blended all of the counterculture stuff that was going on, with the under world."

The Daily Transom wondered why the fictional Mr. Pink always seems to end up playing criminals?

"It’s interesting because I’ve played a lot of different roles, and I’d say most of the roles I’ve played have not been gangsters and criminals, but it seems that the criminal roles are the ones that people seem to know," he said. "I enjoy playing a wide variety of characters."

He paused for a quick second and added, "It’s always kind of fun to play a bad guy."

The author Mr. Folsom, sporting a gray suit and black-framed glasses, seemed pleased with the evening's turnout. He gave props to the event's sponsors and the book's publisher, Weinstein Books--not to mention the curious host, J Crew. "They’ve all really been behind the project so it’s an exciting time that we get everyone together and celebrate The Mad Ones in a style that I think Crazy Joey Gallo would have appreciated."

Everyone seemed to be trying to get Mr. Folsom’s attention, but he was too busy talking about the book.

"I think there is no other story that really gets to the heart of what’s happening than Joey Gallo," the none-too-modest Mr. Folsom said. "This is literary in the wake of The Godfather. You know, three weeks before he gets killed, The Godfather is out, so it’s a phenomenon. Everybody who is anyone wanted to meet a real life gangster, and here’s Joey Gallo hitting the scene. What more could you want with a gangster? He looked the part. They call it gangster chic. He dressed like the Reservoir Dogs--black suit, white shirt, skinny black tie. You know, he had the whole look down. And the big shades of course."

Publisher Harvey Weinstein didn’t show up until towards the end of the event. He said he was also planning to turn The Mad Ones into a movie.

"This is a great New York story," Mr. Weinstein said. "The mafia meets the literary society meets the beat culture. I mean, it’s just got it all. Very few stories do. This one does. I think it sells because certain mobsters are fantasy figures. They start doing right, and doing things for the right reasons, and then the dream gets corrupted. And I think America likes their outlaws. But they like their outlaws to get punished in the end."