On a cold winter's eve, we all gathered at Stephanie and Jesse Newhouse's Soho loft to celebrate the birth of Scene B Seen's own glam beauty: Sam Jones. Sure, it may be Christmas time and there are plenty of holiday office parties to attend, but we prefer to kick it amongst our fashionable friends.

In addition to Ms. Jones, a.k.a The Leather Queen, being the Creative Director for Libra Leather working with some of today's top designers (yes, their leather graces the runways at NYFW), Sam has another MO, Moda Operandi that is. She pens the weekly column here on SBS, which features an insider look on the hottest emerging designers, the latest trends, and how you can own the look.

Needless to say, the guests were dressed with purpose and not a dull conversation to be had. Par for the course, of course, at a Newhouse soiree. My fave hosts were all smiles, happy to throw a stellar party for their good friend Sam. Yet, the fête was just the icing on the cake to their bliss... a little Newhouse is on the way. It's official: Jesse and Steph are expecting their first child.

So, raise a glass of champers to toast three cheers:

To Samantha- You're the most fantavulous friend and we love you.

To Stephanie and Jesse: Congrats and we love you too.

To the Newhouse Dynasty: One of the last great American family names lives on and we love you for bringing us Vogue.

To view more part picts by Richard Brill: please click HERE

*photo 1: Samantha Jones and Jesse Newhouse

*photo 2: Ian Meadow, Mike Albanese, Kelly Stanek, and Amanda Vlastas

Dignitaries, scholars, family dynasty members, artists, editors (including the stunning Devorah Rose of Social Life Magazine), an heir apparent or two, and socialite ingenues such as Tinsley Mortimer and Stephanie Newhouse, gathered at Lincoln Center to celebrate New York City Opera's Theater Debut.

Opening night of the David H. Koch Theater, renamed in honor of Mr. David H. Koch’s $100 million lead gift to the joint capital campaign, unveiled the state-of-the-art renovations, and welcomed General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel for his inaugural season. This landmark evening honored David H. Koch, whose extraordinary generosity has provided a new home for New York City Opera and New York City Ballet.

After a spin on the red carpet, guests were escorted up to the grand promenade to sip some Dom and have a look at the much buzzed about installation by E.V. Day, best known for transforming clothing into sculpture material. The artist was given free reign to rummage through the theater's closets, which resulted in 13 works. A cast of Opera characters from Don Giovanni to Mimi, suspended from the promenade catwalks using dozens of pieces of fishing line attached to the cloth with fishing-tackle connectors (called swivel snaps).

Act II: Around 7pm, the familiar bells chimes, and guests filed into the auditorium for the opening concert, American Voices. This gala concert, marked the company’s return to the stage, the start of the 2009/2010 season, and the first under the direction of Mr. Steel. American Voices showcased performances from great American opera and musical theater performed by world-renowned New York City Opera stars including; Amy Burton, Joyce Castle, Anna Christy, Joyce DiDonato, Lauren Flanigan, Anthony Dean Griffey, Marc Kudisch, Samuel Ramey, Julius Rudel, and a special performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and by the New York City Ballet.

FYI: New York City Ballet will hold its Opening Night Benefit in the David H. Koch Theater on November 24, 2009, when it will mark its first performance in the renovated theater with a world premiere ballet by Peter Martins to a score by John Adams.

Following American Voices, guests returned to the promenade, which had been gloriously transformed into elegant table seating, to dine, chat, and participate in the live auction. Auction Chairman, Luziah Ismail-Hennessey, paired luxury items and priceless experieces such as; An African Fishing Adventure, a trip to Jordan, a Greek Art Trip, and an Italian Grand Tour, to be auctioned off by Chairman of Sotheby's North and South America, Jamie Niven.

Encore: All proceeds from the Theater Debut Celebration support City Opera's mission to produce innovative productions of new and classic work, reach a wide audience with affordable ticket prices, and bring music into the lives of thousands of students each year through its acclaimed education programs in New York City public schools.

SEEN: Alex McCord, Amy Fine Collins, Annette Mcevoy-Bronheim, Arie Kopelman, Ashleigh Sekoski, Atilla Tetik, Bassima Ghawi, Bianca Kawecki, Carolina Herrera, Catherine Farley, Coco Kopelman, David Koch, Devorah Rose, Diana Picasso, E.V. Day, Edmee Firth, Elaine Sargent, Elizabeth Peek, Emre Tetik, George Steel, Gilles Hennessey, Gillian Miniter, Habib Ghawi, Harold Bronheim, Jeffrey Peek, Jesse Newhouse, Jorn Weisbrodt, Julia Koch, Lorry Newhouse, Luziah Hennessey, Margo Langenberg, Mark Newhouse, Michael Lynch, Nicholas Firth, Nicolas Mirzayantz, Paula Zahn, Princess Alexandra of Greece, Rachel Roy, Reinaldo Herrera, Reshma Shetty, Robert Meya, Robert Vacca, Rufus Wainwright, Sarah Steele, Simon van Kempen, Stephanie Newhouse, Stephanie Stokes, Susan Baker, Sylvester Miniter, Terry Clark, Tinsley Mortimer, Wyndham Lewis, and Xavier Hermes.

To view more Gala Photos, please visit the SBS DHKT Debut Gallery

Please visit New York City Opera for season performance tickets and information

*All photos by Nick McGlynn

*photo 1: Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt

*photo 2: Tinsley Mortimer and Julia Koch

*photo 3: Richard Taylor and Mark Newhouse

A few weeks ago, I had the fortunate pleasure of meeting the fantastic Julie Feldman of Julie Feldman Designs. I was in Southampton with my friend, Stephanie Newhouse, who was there representing Self Magazine, one of the sponsors for Ellen's Run. The day before the run for Breast Cancer, Stephanie insisted that I meet Ms. Felman to take a look at her fabulous bag collection.

Immediately, Ms. Feldman graciously offered a purse of our choice, to model at that evening's Gala event: HEAT at Steven Klein's Estate. Let me tell you, it was difficult to choose just one. Ms. Feldman's handbags are custom-made  from florals, satins, silks, leathers and exotic fabrics and trims. Having been featured on Fox News, CoolDesignerHandbags.com, in Accessories Magazine, Couture Magazine, the New York Post, the Santa Monica Star, and the Las Vegas Review Journal, among others, I now knew why. Divine.

A Chicago native, Ms. Feldman left the Windy City for Los Angeles bringing with her a passion for art and design. As an artist, her work usually took form in welded steel sculptures and oil paintings. Several years ago, after an art showing of her welded copper roses, Ms. Feldman was awed by the beauty and innocence of tiny, colorful, fabric roses. She began adorning satin evening bags with hundreds of brilliantly colored silk ribbon baby roses in "pavé-style". This was the birth of her Signature Baby Rose Collection.

What's even more fabulous then the pocketbooks themselves, Ms. Feldman created Handbags for Humanity® to honor and assist the great work of certain charities and foundations. "Over the years," Julie says, "I have felt extraordinarily lucky to be involved with organizations, and more profoundly the people behind them, that make a huge difference in people's lives. I count myself privileged to be able to give something back."

Whenever a handbag or accessory is purchased through the website that is accompanied by a handbag icon, Julie Feldman Designs donates a portion of that sale to one of the organization's profiled on the page; Ellen's Run, Center Theatre Group, Long Beach Women's Cancer League, and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.

Um, hello? How much do you already love her?!

If you haven't already, check out the website HERE, and get one of your own custom-made designs that have been adorned on some of Hollywood's A-list celebs.

*JFD: Julie in Hot Pink Hornback Leather

*JFD: The Tye Dye Collection: SOLD OUT!

*JFD: Pirate Skull Beltbag

Saturday Night in the Hamptons is always a sure bet for fun, glamour, and drama. We certainly got all three.

The elegant evening began at Steven Klein's gorgeous estate at West Kill Farm for HEAT, a celebration for the new Ellen Hermanson Breast Center Southampton Hospital. The benefit also honored the memory of Annie Toglia.

All the guests donned the theme colors, black, white, and pink, drank Liv Vodka cocktails and local estate wines, while dancing to Dj Donna D'Cruz's beats. After a warm speech by Julie Ratner, Ellen's sister- who graciously and tirelessly and remains committed to Ellen's Run, the one live auction item was up for bid. An opportunity for two guests to enjoy a day on the set of Sex and The City 2 with Kim Cattrall.

As one gentleman was up to $18,000, Ms. Cattrall took auctioneer Patrick Tully's mic and proposed, "If you bid really high, I may just take you to lunch."

The gavel dropped with a $20,000 donation to the Foundation, the gentleman out bid himself from $16,000 - $20,000, and all were delighted. Until later, Mr. Tully revealed that a caller vowed to double the standing offer, and promptly gave his Black Amex number... $40,000.

However, the excitement did not stop there. The crowd slowly dissipated, until a rush of lights began firing, as Ms. Lindsay Lohan entered the tent with dates Adam from MTV's The City, her Brother Michael, and a small crew, headed to the bar. She appeared quite happy, until she made a bee-line to the far corner of tent...

Enter Michael Lohan. Ms. LiLo quickly turned snitty. Who could blame her? Was he stalking her? The whole country knows she doesn't want to talk to him. Did he think she would welcome him with open arms if he followed her to an exclusive event?

Her friends surrounded her, as she sat with her back to the crowd, but Michael sauntered up in his signature camel-ball jeans and knelt down to confront his Daughter. About what, we do not know. All we overheard was, "I didn't, Dad. I didn't."

Little Bro swooped in to relieve the tension, whilst Lindsay got up and headed back to the bar, rightfully in a tizzy, definitely not wanting to be photographed; just wanting to be left alone.

We caught up later with Lindsay at Pink Elephant, sans Papa Lohan. She appeared to be somewhat more relaxed, even introducing herself to yours truly. While the thin blond starlet caught a few smokes, I did not see her drinking any booze.

Conclusion: Hey, Michael Lohan! Back off. Not only did you piss off your Daughter, but you also pissed the guests off. A pleasant night honoring two wonderfully  courageous and inspirational woman, as well as the many many women that face the challenges of breast cancer, ended in the remaining guests gossipping about Linsday.

Seen: Andre Balazs, Daphne Guinness looking like a svelte cool Cruella Deville, host Candi Pratts-Price with husband Artist Chuck Price, Bernadette Peters, Tory Burch, Fabiola Beracasa, Philipa Fino from Vogue, Dr. Lisa Airan, Richard Johnson from Page Six, Stephanie Newhouse with husband Jesse Newhouse, Derek Blasberg, Vanity Fair's Alex White  Calvin Klein, Kelly Klein, Donna Karan, photographer Russell James, and Steven Klein's sister Hope Klein and their charming parents.

*View more party picts by David X. Prutting (PMc): GofG

*Photo 1 courtesy of Hampton Daze by Photos by Jenna Mackin & Jessica Mackin: Steven Klein, Lindsay Lohan, Bret Kropp, Chau Ngo, and Britten Heft

*Photo 2 courtesy of Hampton Daze by Photos by Jenna Mackin & Jessica Mackin: Kim Cattrall

*Photo 3 courtesy of Zimbio: Steven Klein

*Photo 4 courtesy of Hampton Daze by Photos by Jenna Mackin & Jessica Mackin: Lindsay Lohan

Our dear friend and birthday girl: Britten Heft, what isn’t there to say? She is thoughtful, loving, selfless, super sweet and is always there when you need anything.... She’s the new girl in town as Editor of Scene B Seen, covering who’s hot, what’s not, and where’s where in NYC and the Hamptons. Obviously, this society gal knows how to throw a party.

Last night it was time to truly be scene and be seen at the utterly jaw dropping Hudson Terrace Rooftop Lounge, for one of the best birthday parties to date. Guests included everyone from the most charming Heft family members to fabulous friends Stephanie and Jesse Newhouse, Jen Marden, designer extraordinaire Allison Parris, host and promoter Malik so Chic, Karen Biehl with cutie patutie Eli the Chihuahua- accompanied by magician Matt Wayne, and publicist queen Hillary Schupf, artist Jenny Belin… to name drop a few.

Whoever said you couldn’t have your cake and eat it too, should have made it to the beautiful bash! Cameras caught the many who stopped by- hugging, laughing, dancing and taking a bite of their very own little slice of delicious life, eh hem, I mean cake. Hey, we are New Yorkers; we know how to do that.

I finally stopped dancing to ask Britten why this Birthday was particularly special, she responded, "I left the east coast when I was 18 and spent the next dozen years moving around the west. I was trying to figure out how I fit in this world. I suppose I was searching, learning, and questioning so much, I forgot to just be. Now, I finally feel like I'm living- triumphs and tribulations." ...and may I add... Back in New York City- exactly where she belongs!

We need more big hearted “Britten’s” in this city, especially in times like these where some of our best organizations are getting hit hard by the lack of donations due to rising unemployment. Prior to the festivities the sensational guest of honor requested as her birthday wish, for those who were able, to donate a small amount to help out a great organization here in our beautiful city of New York: City Harvest.

It’s a small organization with a big feat. Day in and day out, City Harvest helps feed hungry men, women and children all around our city. They collect and deliver excess food to over 600 community food programs every week. Britten knows it is no tiny task to reach over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.

With Britten's many generous and kind friends- such as Walt Freese, Chief Euphoria Officer of Ben & Jerry’s, and two donors she had never met before she made her wish, City Harvest is now able to help a few more people. Britten raised $555 in just two days via Causes on Facebook.

A huge thank you to Britten and all the unbelievably wonderful donors! Happy Birthday, Britten, we adore you!!!!

To see more party picts, click HERE and please visit: Guest of a Guest, Alan Barry Photography, and Marc Stamas Photography

*Photo 1 courtesy of Guest of a Guest by Ben Hider: Stephanie Newhouse, Britten Heft, and Jen Marden

*Photo 2 courtesy of Marc Stamas: Beau Thebault, Hillary Schupf, and Britten Heft

*Photo 3 courtesy of Marc Stamas: Britten Heft