New York City - The feathers, sequins, ruffles, and flounces return to Bryant Park as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week holds its last set of designer previews in the beautifully restored park nestled behind the New York Public Library. Come September 2010, America's top designers will be pitching their tents at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts - in my mind a more appropriate setting to show off great American design than 42nd Street.

CFDA President, Diane Von Furstenberg will show again in the tents this season. Photos by MBUSA

The move has been bubbling for several years as the NYC Parks Department was under increased local pressure to return the park to the people who lost use of the grounds twice a year for several weeks. No matter that the shows brought in some $773 million to city businesses last season, the people wanted their park and their ice skating rink back.

Lincoln Center was chosen as the new venue, the announcement made formal by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a press conference in New York on Tuesday. The selection of Lincoln Center was reportedly made in part because Damrosch Park, where the tents will be set up, offers more space - around 87,000 square feet versus 70,000 square feet at Bryant Park.

The Mayor had been working closely with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and IMG - the event producer - to find a new home for the shows which have such an economic impact on the city and burnishes its reputation as the center for fashion in the country when it became apparent that the current neighborhood was no longer a possibility.

The increase in space will allow IMG Fashion to add a new fourth venue to accommodate presentation-style shows gaining in popularity as designers attempt to cut costs. "We want to develop and create amenities and spaces that the next generation of designers need in this new economy," said Wainscott's Fern Mallis, IMG Fashion senior vice president.

This year a number of East End designers will see their dresses, coats, and gowns coming down the catwalks at Bryant Park for one more turn, including Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson, Dennis Basso, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, and Tommy Hilfiger - but word is several big guns opted out for presentations closer to home if not right in their own studios.

Donna Karan will show both her DKNY and Donna Karan collections in her late husband, Stephen Weiss' studios on Greenwich Avenue. Calvin Klein will present his monochromatic threads in his own showrooms, scheduling several shows to accommodate buyers and press. Ralph Lauren is also heading downtown to Hudson Street to present his collections and Vera Wang has already had several showings at her studios. Cost has been a big factor this year for the severely strained fashion industry and they'll be lots of trimming back on shows, parties and perks.

Michael Kors will bring his brand of chic to the Bryant Park runway again this February.

While we're on high voltage celebrity, I am sure you have heard that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are now in residence - not in the Hamptons as I would have liked - but up on the Gold Coast. The gorgeous couple and their brood have rented the $60 million 48-acre waterfront estate 'Sassafras' in Lloyd Neck Harbor while Angelina shoots the upcoming spy thriller "Salt." Interestingly, the movie originally titled "Edwin A. Salt" was slated to star Tom Cruise. When the movie was rewritten for Jolie, it was renamed "Salt." The most photographed couple may be seen further east as Michelle Isabel Stark, director of the Suffolk County Office of Film & Cultural Affairs, has been scouring locations up and down the island searching out tunnels, secret laboratories, and factories that might suit the script needs. As Michelle will tell you, Suffolk County has it all from mansions to trailer parks, elegant office complexes to shabby storefront operations. Hey, we're the perfect location!

Amagansett's Kathleen Turner celebrated her rave reviews for "The Third Story" off-Broadway by hanging with good pals Montauk's Edward Albee and director John Waters of "Hairspray" fame. The play has been drawing a host of celebs to the tiny theatre despite less than great reviews for the play. Critics have singled out Kathleen for giving a bravura performance.

Another Amagansett neighbor, Matthew Broderick will join actor/playwright Mike Birbiglia on Feb. 25 for "Awkward 10 Minutes With Mike," a Wednesday night talk-back series produced in conjunction with Birbiglia's solo show, "Sleepwalk With Me," currently running at the Bleecker Street Theater.

Birbiglia will interview a new guest each week about a personal story that they're uncomfortable about discussing in public. In "Sleepwalk With Me," Birbiglia takes the audience on a hysterically funny and intensely personal journey through his struggles with sleepwalking and his reluctance to confront his fears of love, honesty and growing up. Mike is racking up the most incredible remarks from all the top tier critics. Yet how did he snag Broderick for this comic turn? Could be that "Sleepwalk With Me" producer is Matthew's old buddy East Hampton favorite Nathan Lane.

Is Southampton designer Mary McFadden getting back with husband #4 Kohle Yohannan? (She's had 11 in all!). Her good friend Gregory Speck says she'll be escorted by Kohle for his book signing at the Museum of the City of New York. Kohle created a glorious book on legendary fashion designer Valentina and we all know that Mary is just mad about classic design and was a dear friend to Valentina.

Designer Nicole Miller will bring her printed frocks to the forefront this season.

Every time I turn around those madcap Shelter Islanders Simon Doonan and his husband sculptor Jonathan Adler are up to something wacky and wonderful. Last month Simon's Peace windows at Barney's celebrating all things 1960s from Woodstock to bell bottoms were still causing pedestrian traffic jams along Madison Avenue.

Clearly not to be outdone, Jonathan has just completed a chocolate suite for the luxe candy maker Godiva's Decadence Suite at the Bryant Park Hotel just in time for Fashion Week. Over the years, the luxury chocolate brand has celebrated Valentine's Day in extraordinary ways. Every year the company creates an extravagant promotion for its customers and this year, the chocolatier is offering choc-aholics the chance to win a Grand Prize that is perhaps the most exciting yet. Godiva has created the ultimate chocolate fantasy, offering romantics a unique and extravagant experience that only Godiva can provide - a weekend getaway at The Godiva Decadence Suite. The decadent design is dressed in chocolate - and more chocolate.

As well, some of Jonathan's furniture and home furnishings have been replicated in chocolate. His good friend East Hampton's lovely Brooke Shields came by to help him with the unveiling but quickly split lest she no longer fit into her sexy "Lipstick Jungle" costumes!

Southampton-linked Rachel Ray will be paying homage to another American passion, the reliable hamburger. She will be down in Miami for the South Beach Food & Wine Festival organized by Lee Schrager to host the Burger Bash at the Ritz Carlton.

If you haven't seen Southamptonite Jamie DeRoy's show yet, head on over for a very special Academy Awards edition of "Jamie DeRoy & Friends." The MAC Award-winning variety show will be presented Feb. 16 at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan. The evening will feature nothing but Oscar-winning songs. Among those scheduled to lend their talents are film critic and columnist Rex Reed, "Jacques Brel" star Gay Marshall, "Company's" Leenya Rideout, comedian Steven Scott, and Nightlife Award winner Daryl Glenn. Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz will be the evening's special guest.

Superstar fundraiser Darren Farlow of Water Mill had a brief but successful tenure as the president of the Southampton Hospital Foundation and has just launched the Hamptons Community Foundation, whose mission is to raise and distribute funds to enhance local community charitable organizations on the East End. To support the new fund's mission, the foundation has begun to solicit funds from individuals and corporate donors and plans to launch a formal fund-raising campaign and begin distributing these finds to local charities in 2009.