The opening night of the season at the Metropolitan Opera House, with a spirited performance of Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold, brought out Patrick Stewart, Miranda Richardson, and Anjelica Huston. The Opening Night Gala menu included a tasty concoction of roasted Poblano peppers, caramelised onions, and arugula.

Sotheby's, on the Upper East Side, hosted a private preview of "Divine Comedy", a collection of some 80 works of art tying together religion and humour from the likes of Salvador Dali, Francis Bacon, and Jeff Koons.  Visitors, including Julianne Moore, Padma Lakshmi, and Emily Mortimer, were led through Dante's hotspots of Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise, all with a comic twist. 

The Hammerstein Ballroom rocked Thursday night as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Roberta Armani, Sade, and Uma Thurman were among those that got up and danced on the tables near the end of the Keep a Child Alive Grand Ball for a charity to help HIV/AIDS victims in Africa and India. Keyes, who's due any minute, teamed with Z for a stirring rendition of Sinatra's "New York New York" to bring the curtain down on the evening.

Lady Gaga popped up at the Plaza Hotel's Oak Room for an impromptu performance in honour of her recently deceased grandfather. Ms. Gaga, who understandably had had one too many, told the surprised crowd, “I’ve had enough tequila to send me over the border like Speedy Gonzales.” She revealed her grandparents would bring her to Oak Room as a child and that she had many happy memories there.

The Feel

Film premieres littered the city with the Facebook biopic "The Social Network", Elias Koteas' 'Let Me In', and Katherine Heigl's 'Life as we Know It' debuting in New York this week. 'Wetness protection' was the name of the game as the second half of the week was a wet, dreary, humid aftershot of the recently passed tropical storm Nicole.

The Motherland Connection

The Gramercy Park eatery Casa Mono was one of four contestants chosen to compete in the finals for the 2011 Copa Jerez food and Sherry pairing competition to be held in Spain in January 2011. Casa Mono mixes classic dishes from the fishing villages of Spain with a range of adventurous dishes, from cockscombs to pig's feet. Chef Anthony Sasso often travels around the world and in particular Catalunya to visit his family and search for inspiration to create his delicacies. Now in its fourth year, the Copa Jerez competition is one of Spain's leading culinary competitions.

Upcoming

The Brewtopia Great World Beer Festival raises its mug in Chelsea on Friday night at Center 548. On Tuesday, Baila Society, a leading New York Salsa dance company, presents “Bailando Por Una Causa”: A Night of Dancing, showcasing various styles of dancing including Salsa, Tango, African, Flamenco, and Hip Hop at El Museo Del Barrio, Central Park East on 5th Avenue. The New York City Ballet's Fall Gala, with co-Chairs and honorees including Maria-Cristina Anzola, Jane Chace Carroll, and Sarah Jessica Parker pops its cork on Thursday. From October 7-9, the 21st annual Cabaret Convention will assemble at Time Warner Center.

New York Quote of the Week
“A car is useless in New York, essential everywhere else. The same with good manners.” - Mignon McLaughlin