Southampton - Heads up for all you fans of Twilight's reluctant bloodsucker "Edward Cullen" a/k/a Robert Pattinson.You had better grab your copy of the December issue of Vanity Fair before they go poof! The heartthrob is not only portrayed moodily on the cover but is featured in an epic photo spread shot by Montauk's own bandana-ed and bearded Bruce Weber.

Photographer Bruce Weber with an old friend, Christie Brinkley. Photo by Eileen Casey

Weber who did for Abercrombie & Fitch what Brooke Shields did for Calvin Klein by adding a high level of sexual innuendo to the historically conservative company's men's wear ads, and shot the young star in a number of locations all over the East End including the cliffs in Montauk. "Patz" - as he is known in Twitter-land - is seen sprawled on the ground on a bluff overlooking the ocean in black tie with one foot on the keyboard of a grand piano. In another, he is caught chowing down on a feast of local corn and lobster and a bottle of Rolling Rock to wash it down. In still another, he is seen squashed between a rowdy team of pick-up game football players sporting sweatshirts emblazoned with the Riverhead team logo!

So what does the lens man extraordinaire, who has shot more than his share of barely post puberty lads, say of the young actor who makes teen girls (and their moms, too) weak in the knees. "If I had a kid brother, I would want him to be just like Robert. He's a stand-up gentleman with a firm handshake, and he writes good music too. I hope I bump into him again so we can go to a pub, have a few beers, and take some pictures," he confessed to a Pattinson fan site.

Nicole Kidman to star in new movie with Gwyneth Paltrow. Image courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.com

Solo shots range from dreamy to distress to sulky to pensive are very reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age of photographing such singular anti-heroes as Marlon Brando and James Dean. The spread accompanies a profile on the press shy star which addresses Pattinson's relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart and Hollywood's doubts about casting him as "Edward Cullen."

Nicole and Gwynnie as husband and wife? No, this isn't a page out of the Rosie O'Donnell playbook but the "reel" deal. Gwyneth Paltrow will join Nicole Kidman in "The Danish Girl," based on the David Ebershoff novel that tells the story of a relationship between the first post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener, and his wife, Greta. Directing the script by Lucinda Coxon is Thomas Alfredson of "Let the Right One In" fame.

The story revolves around a man's transformation after his wife, a portrait painter, asks him to stand in for an absent female model. Einar begins a metamorphosis into "Lili" after he slips on a dress, stockings and woman's shoes. Kidman had already been signed to play Einar, and now Paltrow will play Greta, who stood by her partner through the sex-change operation, finally letting go when she realized the man she married no longer exists. This certainly gives "The Good Wife" new meaning!

Jean Shafiroff and Amy Fine Collins at a recent NYC event. Photo by Ann Watt

Having seen Kidman's extraordinary Oscar winning physical transformation in "The Hours" in which she portrayed the homely Virginia Woolf complete with nose prosthesis, I can't wait to see Nicole wear the pants in this family.

Hollywood loves when a beautiful woman takes on a complete physical transformation - if you doubt me, see Charlize Theron in "Monster" in which she played Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute and Halle Berry's dressed way-down performance in "Monsters Ball" or Renee Zellweger's farmer's wife in "Cold Mountain". All of these ladies stepped completely out of character to give riveting turns on film - enough to garner each a coveted Oscar. They call it acting - real acting. Do I hear Oscar calling?

So glad to hear that another of our famed and gorgeous East End blondes (who says California has the monopoly on beauteous babes!), Christie Brinkley and former husband architect Peter Cook have finally settled their post-divorce quarrel over visitation rights with the pair's two children, Jack and Sailor. The battling exes each accused the other of violating the terms of their divorce agreement. A New York judge, behind closed doors of course, hammered out an agreement between the one time golden couple. No terms are being made public which is just as well for the kids' sake and Christie's peace of mind. In the original settlement, Christie was given sole custody of the children and most of the property and Peter got $2.1 million and very liberal visitation rights. May the next story we see about Christie focus on her conservation efforts and community activism and the next story about Peter be about his architectural achievements.

New Director of The Nature Conservancy William Ulfelder. Image courtesy of The Nature Conservancy

Speaking of conservation, one of Southampton's leading philanthropists and an indefatigable champion for numerous worthy causes, Jean Shafiroff, who has already been announced as chair of the social season's most prestigious fetes, The Southampton Hospital Summer Party, hosted an intimate luncheon at the Upper East Side commissary for the rich and famous, Swifty's, to introduce William Ulfelder, the newly appointed director of The Nature Conservancy in New York to her pals.

Swifty's was created by Robert Caravaggi (host/proprietor) and Stephen Attoe (chef/proprietor) - the two most popular alumni of the late Glenn Bernbaum's Mortimer's, the famed Upper East Side watering hole. The two rooms were designed by Mario Buatta and Anne Eisenhower. They combine the elegance of New York society with the clubby atmosphere of a favorite haunt. Wally Findlay Galleries provides the original paintings by notable artists that are featured on the walls. It's become the clubhouse for regulars like Ralph Lauren, Pauline Pitt, Mary McFadden, Carolina Herrera, Mario Buatta,and Liz Smith. And the food? Well, Swifty's is a magnet for those who appreciate beautifully presented, tasty, old fashioned, home-style cooking. And for Jean's luncheon in honor of Bill it was just that - Swifty's widely praised baked meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Just perfect for this group who are not your typical ladies who lunch but dynamic, turbo charged women who make things happen on the New York scene.

Betsy McCaughey and Jean Shafiroff at recent Hamptons summer event. Photo by John Wegorzewski

Listening attentively while Ulfelder enthralled then with the story of his grandfather who worked under the direction of that great naturalist President Theodore Roosevelt as he mapped the Amazon River for the first time in history were Ann Rapp, Margo Langenberg, Maria Kalnay, Carole Belladora and Sharon Bush. Oh, and for a little male support for the speaker - well known society chronicler and publicist Roger Webster and my Hamptons.com colleague John Wegorzewski.

The conversation turned to serious business as these ladies questioned Ulfelder on everything from the renewed effort to increase Long Island's shellfish industry (which thanks to The Nature Conservancy is showing positive signs of increased harvests) to the regulation of forestry in the Adirondacks. Ulfelder came through with flying colors and endeared himself even more when asked about the organizations rating with Charity Navigator, the premiere independent charity evaluator which evaluates the financial health and administration of America's largest charities. When Ulfelder proudly told them his group has been rated a continual four stars - the highest rating - the ladies beamed. I told you these were no nonsense ladies who do their homework!

Cyndi Lauper to appear in MAC Cosmetics ads. Image courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.com

As is typical at Swifty's there were waves across the room from the likes of legendary actress Arlene Dahl, PR powerhouse Howard Rubenstein and Southampton neighbor former Chief Executive Officer of American Express Centurion BankFrank Skillern, and his brother Christopher in from San Diego.

Also taking her charity work seriously is our favorite girl "who wants to have fun" but does it for important reasons, Cyndi Lauper. Fresh on the heels of her wildly successful "True Colors" which benefited a number of gay organizations including Long Island's own LIGALY, the pop icon and the white hot Lady GaGa will now appear in ads for MAC Cosmetics "From Our Lips" Viva Glam campaign to benefit the MAC AIDS Fund.

Following in the footsteps of Eve, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Missy Elliot, Fergie, and many more, MAC Cosmetics revealed that Lauper and Lady GaGa will be the inspiration for Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick and Viva Glam GaGa Lipstick, $14 each, scheduled to launch in North America on March 18, 2010. The lipsticks are sure to be bestsellers as with previous MAC launches with 100 percent of proceeds slated for the MAC AIDS Fund. MAC, one of the divisions of Estee Lauder headed by John Demsey, who has made sure over the years that many a Hamptons event goodie bag had plenty of MAC Viva Glam and Estee Lauder products inside.

Since its founding in 1994 with a campaign starring RuPaul, The MAC AIDS Fund has raised more than $150 million which it has distributed to organizations in more than 67 countries. That's what you call corporate responsibility to the 10th power!

Rufus Wainwright at Watermill Center event this past summer. Photo by Eileen Casey

Cultural wags who thought the New York City Opera would not survive the economic downturn were dumbstruck when the beleaguered company opened its season last week with a record-breaking gala. I'm sure that honoring David H. Koch helped a bit. Months ago I told you that he had donated $100,000,000 to have the theater, which houses both the Opera and New York City Ballet, totally renovated to an even more glorious state than when it was first constructed. Now it's almost complete - magnificently I might add - and bears the David H. Koch name on the building.

The gala also marked the beginning of City Opera's 2009/2010 season, the first under its new general manager and artistic director, George Steel. The evening entitled, "American Voices" featured beloved selections from American opera and musical theater and boasted stars that have appeared at New York City Opera early in their illustrious careers, along with several debuting artists and special guests. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright also performed as a special guest during the concert. The concert also featured a special guest performance by New York City Ballet - a fitting partnership to recognize the 50th Anniversary of Lincoln Center.

A dazzling array of New York and Hamptons' glitterati were on hand to "OOH" and "AAH" at the beautiful new theatre including naturally, David Koch and his wife Julia, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter IV, Elaine Sargent, Arie and Coco Koppelman, Lorry Newhouse, Rachel Roy, Susan Baker, Margo Langenberg, Amy Fine Collins and Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera,Princess Alexandra of Greece, Claude Arpels., Joel Grey, Brook Hayward Duchin, Christine Ebersole, Dr. Reynold Levy, Terrence McNally, Elizabeth and Jeffrey Peek, Damian Woetzel and Heather Watts, Paula Zahn and Robert Wilson.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was the Honorary Chairman of the gala with Co-Chairmen Frank A. Bennack, Jr, Katherine Farley and Jerry I. Speyer, Joan Granlund, Julia Koch, Charles and Liz Koch, Lee Slaughter and Ann Ziff. Major gala sponsors included American Airlines, Moët Hennessy and Dom Pérignon.

Southampton's Jimmy Finkelstein and wife Pamela Grosshave newspaper ink in their veins. Jimmy whose family has long been involved in the publishing business and once owned Dan's Papers is reportedly picking up a whole bunch of respected titles from Nielsen. Word is his News Communications Inc. which owns "Who's Who" publications and the Washington, D.C.-based trade, The Hill is in negotiations for the venerable show biz bible The Hollywood Reporter and several other titles. Quogue's Gerry Byrne, senior VP, of Nielsen's Media and Entertainment is not commenting either way but insiders say it's an almost done deal.