Catherine Malandrino.

SCENE magazine, a member of the Observer Media Group family, turns a year old today, and this chic little baby is ready to party way past bedtime. To toast the occasion, the SCENEsters are all hitting The Wooly in the historic Woolworth Building, Eric Adolfsen and David Tobias’s hot spot (Lana Del Rey once crooned “Blue Velvet” there for a small, intimate group). SCENE’s posse is a diverse one, from uptown to down, young to old. Expected are everyone from power publicist Peggy Siegal to designer Catherine Malandrino to party photographer Hanuk Hanuk, who is never without his Leica, a martini and a smile. Mr. Hanuk will have all three chez The Wooly. Happy Birthday SCENE!

The Wooly, 11 Barclay Street, 8pm-11pm, by invitation only.

Kristin Davis.

When we heard “The Explorers Club,” we assumed they were being ironic. Would we be whisked away on an “expedition” of Cafe Carlyle’s arsenal of booze? Or better yet, a geological dig inside of a Hermès bag? But no, these people were serious.

The Explorers Club is squeezed into a historic townhouse on East 70th Street, and it is a dusty temple of heritage that celebrates the exploration of—get this, cher lecteur—the planet Earth! From the intrepid excursions of Admiral Robert E. Peary and Matthew Alexander Henson in the Arctic to Sir Edmund Percival Hillary’s mountaineering career across the Himalayas, the place is littered with as many artifacts and busts as 10 Oscar de la Renta runway shows!

Shindigger had been invited—and believe us, we checked the invite twice—to the 100-plus-year-old establishment by none other than Peggy Siegal to preview National Geographic’s Battle for the Elephants, which was written, produced and directed by John Heminway. The documentary, slated to air this week on PBS, investigates the illegal tusk trade on the “Ivory Road” from Africa to Asia.

And just as we found ourselves very much involved with this serious subject, traipsing down the main staircase of the club with an empowered feeling of responsibility, we overheard a conversation that brought us quickly back to New York reality, as Ms. Siegal kissed billionaire David Koch and his wife, Julia Koch, who had underwritten the soirée.

“Wouldn’t this be nice if this was our house?” Ms. Koch asked her husband as he led her out of the club and into their awaiting Maybach. (Something tells us that the actual Koch residence is just fine.)

We navigated the wood-paneled halls of the club, marveling over taxidermy cheetahs, polar bears and impalas, and, ironically, ducking under a menagerie of tusks.

A few minutes before the screening, we found ourselves chatting with the film’s senior executive producer, John Bredar, over a glass of white in the club’s decadent library. “The most exciting thing [about the film] is that we have a chance, for the very first time, to tell the story from the supply side and demand side,” he said, adding that it’s “almost like a crime show. A very serious topic, but very entertaining.”

Mr. Heminway, the writer/filmmaker, has spent most of his life in Africa and has long wondered whether or not Africa could survive without elephants.

“Right now, I’m in the mode of advocacy,” he said, recalling the first time he saw an elephant. “I can remember being totally petrified at the age of 16, when an elephant came at me in the dark and I thought it was going to charge at me, and now, quite a few decades later, I’m still enchanted.

“It’s the one animal you can devote a lifetime to looking at and you never quite get the full story,” he continued. “They love, they mourn, they remember, I think they even laugh—although that’s not scientific.”

What was scientific: Shindigger was out of wine, and so we moved on to explore the possibility of refreshing our glass at the library bar. Which was where the star power was hiding, remaining low-key, if not evasive. Tommy Hilfiger and wife Dee Ocleppo chatted up friends, Departures editor in chief Richard David Story held court at a small bar-side table and legendary fashion designer Valentino Garavani’s saddle-hued tan bordered on fluorescent.

A few moments passed, and then a blonde siren shifted our way. ’Twas model Dree Hemingway, great-granddaughter of Ernest, the legendary explorer of both word and world. She was a first-timer at the Explorers Club and was already enamored. “It’s one of the most unreal, epic buildings,” she said.

An ardent supporter of the elephant, Ms. Hemingway told us she had fallen in love with the creature nearly two years ago, during a trip to Borana Ranch & Safari Lodge, a luxurious safari outpost on the equator in Kenya’s Laikipia District.

“They’re the most unbelievable animals: they’re huge, and they’re sensitive and beautiful. They’re also really protective,” she said. “I love Kenya more than anything.”

(Shindigger loves red wine more than anything, and so we poached another glass.)

Nearby, we found Lauren Bush Lauren, who was way ahead of the curve, having already seen parts of the film.

“It’s an important cause,” she said, and then: “Watch out!” as some queen unmindfully careened past us in search of a refill. On impulse, Ms. Bush Lauren grabbed Shindigger’s arm, preventing us from tottering into a pastoral oil on canvas.

Having been saved from embarrassment, Shindigger headed gracefully toward our seat for the screening. After the documentary, there was a brief discussion with the filmmakers and producers, including staunch elephant devotee Kristin Davis, who spoke passionately, with tears in her eyes.

“It’s just such a shocking, shocking thing to think that elephants could be extinct. It’s not acceptable,” she said. As the panel discussion concluded, Ms. Davis grabbed the mic one more time. “We’re in America! We’re Americans ... We can do what we can! Where’s that American spirit?” she yelled with a fist pump.

And on that note, the event came to an end, and we were all sent back out into the cold city night, ready once again to brave the concrete jungle.

Ann Curry, Sheila Nevins, Gloria Steinem, Katie Couric, and Tina Brown. (Getty Images)

Gloria Steinem either was or was not interested in talking about The Playboy Club, the upcoming NBC series depicting the milieu in the buxom-bunny warrens where she’d worked, undercover, in the 1960s. “It’s defunct, it doesn’t exist anymore,” she told The Transom, adding to comments in another interview in which she told Reuters she hoped the show suffered a boycott. “It didn’t seem to be worth television time when it’s on, so why now?”

She paraphrased the author Rita Mae Brown for us. “Under assault from women, or the gay movement, men in power have two responses: the very worst indulge in sadomasochism, the rest indulge in nostalgia.”

Happily, the girls’ club at La Grenouille was much more pro-feminist (every invited guest was a woman, though the reporters were all men, a group to which Ms. Steinem referred in a brief speech as “honorary women”). That doesn’t mean that the group was anti-nostalgia, though: each attendee, including reporters who’d never met Ms. Steinem, was asked to summarize her memories of Ms. Steinem in three words or less.

“No ashtrays,” said Fran Lebowitz.

“Opened all doors,” said Glamour editor Cindi Leive. (“Not all,” rebutted Ms. Lebowitz.)

“Essential. Formidable. Witty,” said Tina Brown.

“I have four words: a woman who loved us,” said Ann Curry, employing five.

“Autonymous,” said Kim Cattrall. (“Can you spell it?” asked her tablemate Peggy Siegal.)

“No midriff bulge,” said Ms. Siegal.

Reader, we said “Electrifying.”

But is Ms. Steinem “influencing viewing habits”? (That three-word limit is hard for those not seeking to pull a Curry.) We asked HBO documentary president Sheila Nevins if she’d boycott The Playboy Club. “I have very bad feet. I don’t think I could march. My marching days are over. Is she marching?”

The Transom told her we believed Ms. Steinem was just trying to convince people not to watch the show. “That won’t be hard,” said Ms. Nevins.

We interrupted a conversation between a Condé Nast editor and Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall over Ms. Cattrall’s inability to lure a romantic interest to visit her on location. “We’re having too much fun!” said Ms. Cattrall.

Would the woman who played Samantha Jones watch The Playboy Club? “I don’t think so, no. I don’t think I would.” Feminist leanings? Ms. Cattrall’s voice went cold. “I think I’ve seen enough, really.”

ddaddario@observer.com :: @DPD_

This week, lunch at the Grill was totally booked, except for Friday when everyone disappeared for the long weekend. Pete Peterson was here only one day--he must have been too busy talking about the deficit! I'm surprised we're so busy for the time of year, but all of our events have sold out, too. On Thursday we held a private tasting for Brunello di Montalcino by Mastrojanni, a delicious Italian red wine. We had a lovely time--too much of a good time, with all that wine!

Ralph Lauren was here on Wednesday. So was Ms. Stewart and the actor Chris O'Donnell. Geraldo Rivera, who did his last wedding with us, also came in for lunch, and on his way out, he hugged Bill O'Shaughnessy, who was looking very charming as usual (but still no haircut!). On Thursday Tory Burch was here with a guest I didn't recognize, who was very stylish, of course.

We hosted a breakfast for Henry Kissinger, where he spoke at length about China and his new book. It was fabulous--the most well-attended breakfast in Four Seasons history. It shows that Mr. Kissinger is still in charge. Mr. Obama, you should listen to him!

Over the weekend, MasterChef Australia filmed at the Four Seasons, and I was one of the judges along with Paul Liebrandt and David Chang (Wylie Dufresne was supposed to come but he got sick!) We didn't even start filming until eleven o'clock at night, and were there until six a.m. but it was a lot of fun. The people who won made a chocolate gold cake.

I also got outside the restaurant this week--can you believe it? On Tuesday night someone invited me to Elaine's, two days before it closed. We drank bottles of 1996 Cheval Blanc that were outrageously inexpensive, and there were so many people I knew that I started to go around taking their orders--I was playing the maitre'd, and everyone thought I worked there! The best part about the night was the food. The last time I was at Elaine's was ten years ago, but the food was excellent. I had a steak that's as good as the one we serve in the Grill (don't tell anyone). I'm sad Elaine's closed--it's the end of an era. But at least I got to be there.

editorial@observer.com

Last weekend we had a private tasting for a very rare Louis XIII cognac with our best customers--just twenty people! Mary McFadden was there with Gregory Speck. We also had a cooking class. I had to get in early for that, because we make a full lunch and serve it with wine, and some people get really wasted.

On Monday we had a party for PR maven Peggy Siegal. Later in the week, Barbara Walters had a long lunch with Judith Giuliani. RFK Jr. came in, and of course Pete Peterson has been here. He always makes it in unless he's in Washington.

At the end of the week there was some drama. The prince came in on Friday and we didn't have his table. Oh, he was furious! He never shows up on time, but thinks he'll always get the same table. The matire'd said he called me every name in the book! But of course he didn't leave; instead he ate lunch in the Pool Room. On his last day before vacation! Can you believe it? What a going-away party! When I went to see he said to me, "You don't belong here; you belong on the other side." I had to pay him back, so when his guest arrived, I escorted him through the kitchen, through the private dining room and down the main staircase into the Pool Room. The prince doesn't know who he's dealing with!

At least he'll be in Paris for a few months, where he can cool off. But he'll be back--our prince always comes back.

editorial@observer.com

The evening, French in theme, was filled with wedding-dazed guests suffering a distinctly British hangover. Royal milliner Philip Treacy expressed surprise that many Americans didn't quite get the serpentine, beribboned topper he'd designed for Princess Beatrice.
"Hats are provocateurs-but it's a little bow!" he insisted. "She's like a little Victorian doll!" America, he added, is a nation of hat-wearers despite itself: "America isn't seeing what it's looking at-the baseball cap is so elegant! I wish I designed the baseball cap. Ethnic communities wear hats, rappers wear hats, policemen wear hats! Walking down the street in America--I've never seen so many hats in my life."

We asked hostess Vera Wang what she thought of the royal dress, to which she replied: "You didn't listen to my six hours of commentary on CNN?"

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. 

Ms. Scaglione is svelte, pretty and has that charming way about her that foreigners often have where she never seemed to understand what anyone was saying and seemed to always be saying things that came out funnier than she had intended them.

She was introduced to The New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg, the designer Ralph Rucci, Harper's Bazaar editor Glenda Bailey and persistently peppered with questions.

Has she seen much of New York? She has not, as most of her time is spent either rehearsing, performing or sleeping.

Where is she staying? In the Theater District, but she's currently looking for a place in the West Village.

Has she seen God of Carnage, or Our Town, or Jane Fonda in that, um, whatever it's called?  No, no, and no.

"Well, have you seen Mary Stuart?" demanded Peggy Siegal, the publicist hosting the event.

"No, but I have seen Mary Poppins," the demure Ms. Scaglione replied across the table as everyone listened intently.

This is Ms. Scaglione's first time in New York. She was cast for the role of Maria by director Arthur Laurents and producers Kevin McCollum, James Nederlander, and Jeffrey Seller, through a video she made for YouTube. 

"I was performing Hairspray in Argentina at the time and I had recorded a video of a tango dance for YouTube," Ms. Scaglione told the Daily Transom. "It was circulating around and I guess when Arthur Laurents was looking for Maria his friends in Argentina told him, 'Well, look at this video and what do you think about this girl.' It was crazy!"

But, Ms. Scaglione said she didn't feel pressure performing the classic despite being one of the only actors, performing alongside Matt Cavenaugh and Karen Olivo, plucked from overseas.

"It's a challenge, but I don't feel pressure like something heavy. It's more like something amazing," she said.

Ms. Olivo was also a last-minute find for the producers. She was playing one of the lead roles in In the Heights—also produced by Mr. Sellers, Mr. Nederlander and Mr. McCollum—when the role of Anita remained vacant with rehearsals just a week away.

"I was one of the only women in New York that they hadn't seen. They said, 'We haven't found anyone. Can you just come in so that we can rule you out and say we've seen everyone?'" recalled Ms. Olivo. "In the back of their minds they told me they always thought I would be perfect, but they didn't want to take me from one of their shows to put me in another. But they had already gone overseas to find Josefina and they were afraid they would have to do that again. Then I came in and, for actors, you don't go into an audition room unless you're going to get it, so I went in there to get it."

Ms. Olivo said she was nervous at first about playing Anita.

"When I originally heard about the show, I didn't want to do it because no one would be Chita [Rivera] and no one can be Rita [Moreno]. They really achieved the role," said Ms. Olivo. "But when I met Arthur Laurents, he said he didn't want to do a version of West Side Story that anyone's ever seen before. If I actually tried to do an impersonation of one of these ladies, it would have been out of place."

Mr. Seller was nearby sipping a margarita. How did he think the musical was going so far?

"We didn't fuck it up!" he exclaimed. "That may have been the scariest thing for me is that we don't fuck it up. My history as a producer has really been doing new musicals. It's a hard task, but you're not having to live up to someone's expectation of what it used to be—their ideal. But everyone who comes to West Side Story has a preconceived idea of what it should be based upon their own romantic notion of their memory from the movie or seeing the show on Broadway as a child."

But it seems to be working out, according to Mr. Seller.

"The audiences are fantastic for musicals right now." he said. "In this world where Internet piracy has ruined the recording business and is taking huge chunks out of the movie business, there is one business that thrives as well as it ever has and that is the theater, where you still have to buy a ticket, show up, sit in a seat and watch the show."

Ms. Zellweger was attending a private luncheon to celebrate Living Proof, a Lifetime original movie on which she was an executive producer about a doctor who works to find a cure for breast cancer.

The two women embraced, after which Ms. Herrera promptly departed before everyone sat down to eat. But Ms. Zellweger didn’t seem to mind as she had plenty more people to greet. After all, Ron Perelman had just walked in. ("Hey Peggs!" he shouted in the direction of publicist Peggy Siegal, who was lining the tables with name cards—Liz Smith, Bonnie Fuller, Trudie Styler—and shuffling guests around at the last minute.) And there was Ms. Zellweger’s dear friend, Christiane Amanpour.

"Renee and I are old friends," Ms. Amanpour told the Daily Transom. "She is very smart about current affairs—she wanted to be a journalist in her previous life—and so we catch up and talk about the election and what's happening overseas."

Speaking of the election, the Daily Transom was briefly distracted by a guest who had placed a baseball hat that read “Democrats for McCain” at the center of his eight-person table. Given that the room was full of New Yorkers who have likely attended quite a few Barack Obama fund-raisers in the last year, a lively discussion was taking place by the table. (“But she’s more qualified than Obama,” the gentleman was saying to a young woman.)

We wondered if despite Ms. Amanpour's busy schedule and frequent travels overseas, she was the type of gal to curl up on the couch with a blanket and a box of tissues for a Lifetime movie.

"No, it's not for me," she said. "But it's mostly because I grew up in Iran so I never watched it. I am really here for my friend Renee."

The Lifetime Network has gone through a transformation of sorts. The channel that used to be known for over-the-top original movies about abusive boyfriends or eating disorders--who can ever forget For the Love of Nancy?--recently convinced Harvey Weinstein to move Project Runway over from Bravo, and has attracted more recognizable faces like Mena Suvari, Marcia Gay Harden, and John Stamos for its films.

"It was really treated like a feature film, it really was," noted Harry Connick Jr., the lead in Living Proof, when the Daily Transom found him mingling with guests. "The level of people that were involved from a production point of view to the talent, it really felt like a feature."

And 22-year-old Amanda Bynes, also a star in the film, said that she has also noticed a difference with the network that she used to turn on for reruns of the Golden Girls.

"With Renee Zellwegger producing this, it's definitely a classy project and the network is just getting..." Here Ms. Bynes paused. "It's just getting cooler."

"What we're doing is elevating the talent," said Lifetime's senior VP of original movies Tanya Lopez. "Lifetime movies are like comfort food, but we're just saying 'step it up a bit!' It doesn't all have to be so earnest.

"We just got very comfortable before and the audiences didn't seem to mind, so we decided to shake the tree a bit and then everyone suddenly went, 'Oh!'" she continued. "In December we'll have Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley and that just says happy holidays!"