» Zac Posen showed the kind of pretty dresses that made him famous. What has also made him famous, of course, is his dazzling knack for networking, which was in full effect with a starry audience of Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, Marisa Tomei, Leighton Meester, Venus and Serena Williams, Anna Wintour, André Leon Talley, Bernadette Peters, Diddy, Julian Schnabel, Bette Midler, Juliette Lewis, Kate Mara, Jada Pinkett Smith, Veronica Webb, Joy Bryant, Rachel Zoe, Ingrid Sischy, and Fern Mallis. [WSJ, Wireimage]

Thompson LES, the latest addition to Jason Pomeranc’s hotel franchise, recently opened its shiny doors. (Well, prematurely half-opened: Before you book a room or head over for a drink, bear in mind that the pool, outdoor bar, and restaurant are still under construction.) The luxe lodge's rooms are equipped with mini-bars stocked by Dean and Deluca, Sferra linens, and Frette robes. But most importantly, guests won't be offended by badly-dressed staff, thanks to their Rogan Gregory-designed uniforms. But Gregory, who collaborated with Bono on the eco-friendly clothing line Edun, is far from the first designer to cash in by dressing the help. Employees at other swanky hotels, waitstaff at restaurants, athletes, and even the Boy Scouts can boast of high-end names on their uniforms' labels. For example:

Tim Gunn of Project Runway (and chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne!) turns 55 today. Also celebrating: Designer Cynthia Rowley is turning 50. Anne Hearst—heiress, occasional writer, and bride of Jay McInerney—is 53. ABC News president David Westin is 56. Actor Stephen Dorf turns 35. Famed choreographer Paul Taylor is 78. Multimedia artist Jenny Holzer is 58. And IBM chairman and chief executive Sam Palmisano will celebrate his 57th today.

1) The 303's new gallery in Chelsea was christened last night with a performance by The Virgins and partiers Lisa Spellman, Kirsten Dunst, Matt Creed, Thurston Moore, Serge Becker, Anna Sui, Byrdie Bell, Cynthia Rowley, Poppy de Villeneuve, Genevieve Jones, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and Magnus Berger (left), Jessica Stam, Marilyn Minter, Sean MacPherson, and Rogan Gregory. [PMc/FWD]

1) At the Harold Pratt House, the New Yorkers For Children Fall Gala was previewed with a Tuesday night gathering of Campion Platt, Andre Leon Talley, Jeffrey Kalinsky, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Dayssi Olarte De Kanavos, Douglas Hannant, Kate Schelter, Katie Lee Joel, Derek Blasberg, Debbie Bancroft, Joy Bryant, Daniel Benedict and Andrew Saffir, Annelise Peterson, Jamee Gregory, Fern Mallis, Jennifer Creel, Fabiola Beracasa, Oscar De La Renta, Thakoon Panichgul, Tom Florio, Zac Posen, Zani Gugelmann, Lauren Santo Domingo, Phillip Lim, Heather Mnuchin, and Peter Som. [Guest of a Guest]

The multi-tasking Rowley is a fashion designer, author, TV personality and all-round lifestyle guru.

Gawker photographer Nikola Tamindzic joined Editorial Assistant Heather at the afterparty for Cynthia Rowley's kicky, flirty fall collection. The party was held in the so cool it's not even OPEN yet Star Lounge underneath the Chelsea Hotel. We're sure we're the last to observe that "not opened yet" is the new "open," huh? Some kicky, flirty celebs were present (ex: Alan Cumming.)

· "I was having dinner last night (Tuesday, 22nd) for my friend's birthday at Il Buco and Edward Norton (sans Salma) was having dinner with a group of 5 at another table. His hair has gotten longer, I don't think he's had it cut since the Oscars..."
· "Saturday night. Hammerstein Ballroom at The White Stripes concert. John McEnroe standing at the souvenir table with some young looking woman asking if there was a White Stripes women's baby tee available. Very odd."
· "4/23 - Stephen Merrit in West Chelsea, scowling."
· "4/15 - Cynthia Rowley with cute, but incontinent,
daughter in West Chelsea."
· "Uma [Thurman] was sitting on a bench in Union Square yesterday. I guess she was with Ethan (or some other scruffy mook) and looked glow-in-the-dark amazing, even wearing a cranky puss and an ugly-ass hat. So beautiful you didn't even bother looking at the scruffy guy. And I don't even like the ladies!"
· "jeff goldblum at "the play what i wrote" — he's in great shape, with a not-so-hot chick, and even though i acted like a freak he was really nice to me."
· "winona ryder at the white stripes show, looking tired but with a big group of friends. and she has amazing skin."
· "Bo Derek alone & dressed in all black & shorter than expected on corner of 66th & Broadway getting in a cab on 4/22 at 12:30pm"
· "Guy Ritchie walking on Broadway between 64th & 65th on 4/21 at 4:00pm."
· "Michael Moore eating outside at Fiorello's on Broadway at 3:45 on 4/21."

A spy at Rick Marin's book party for Cad: Confessions of a Toxic Bachelor, describes the scene:
· "Karen Duffy telling a friend she had just visited somewhere tropical and had learned a new move called 'worshipping the porcelain god.'"
· "Ileana Douglas pouting and insisting her friend Alan Cumming was going to be there, while Monica, often looking unhappy and ever more like a circus-freak, squeezed her way out early on."
· "A dangerously tanned Regis bobbing around everywhere, chasing the Klieg lights."
· "Cynthia Rowley looking particularly ropey and not at all swell, while Ilene in a fearsome glossy number that brought 'Cruella de Ville' to mind."
· "All the usual flacks, including of course your fave of the mo', Bridget Harrison."
(Oooooh! Original gossip! I love it! More! More! tips@gawker.com)