— DIANE CLEHANE

What a difference a day makes. Had we kept our weekly Wednesday lunch date, we'd have missed running into Elton John and his partner David Furnish at Michael's today. The two gents couldn't have been more sporting as they gave us a big hello right before they rushed to air kiss Barbara Walters, who was joining 'Mayor' Joe Armstrong and a whole host of luminaries at Table One to celebrate tonight's Broadway opening of Billy Elliot. The tireless Elton wrote the score (in two weeks!) and is "excited and thrilled" to bring the show to New York City. Now getting back to Ms. Walters -- so determined was she to get to the lovefest that she hoofed it over to 55th on foot after her town car got a flat tire. Quelle horreur! "I haven't seen you in so long," cooed Elton to the TV News grand dame. Seems Babs missed seeing Elton the other night because she was detained on the Intrepid (don't get the wrong idea -- she was on the board and had to attend the fancy relaunch soiree). "I'm probably the only one who could say I couldn't see you because I was on the Intrepid," she joked. Yup.

Here's the rundown on today's crowd:

Photo by Jimi Celeste

1. 'Mayor' Joe Armstrong with pals Elton John (the two go back to Joe's days as publisher of Rolling Stone), David Furnish, Barbara Walters and Gayle King. Stephen Daldry (who directed the the film version of Billy Elliot), Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor rounded out the star-studded table.

2. Wayne Kabak and two distinguished gents

3. Martha Stewart Omnimedia honcho Charles Koppelman and public relations maven Susan Blond

4. Ron Myers and an attractive gal we didn't recognize

5. Vogue editrix Anna Wintour looking ever so youthful (perhaps it's her lighter blond bob that made her look positively dewy) with a well-dressed British gent named 'Michael.' We wanted to ask her about the rumors that there was a Michelle Obama cover in the offing but she didn't look as if she felt much like chatting as she breezed by us at the bar...

6. Bonnie Timmerman with a gray-haired fellow we didn't know.

7. Nielsen's Gerry Byrne with Parade's Ira Yoffe (whose ties are always fab!)

8. New York Social Diary's David Patrick Columbia with Jonathan Marder and some other well-heeled folks

9. Marie Claire's Joanna Coles

11. Boaty Boatman and actress Christine Lahti. After getting a good look at the Emmy winner today, I'm wondering if she gets a lifetime supply from Olay as part of her deal as the 'voice' of the brand. The 50-something star looked stunning...

12. Politicos Ed Rollins and Robert Zimmerman talking "transition." Before Ed sat down, he stopped to chat with his ex Sherrie (who is now married to ABC president David Westin) who was there separately lunching with Lisa Caputo at Table 80. Ed and Sherrie are the proud parents of a beautiful 13-year-old Lily... just thought you'd like to know

14. Bob Boyett

15. Tom Rogers

16. Randi Michel

17. Judy Price and jewelry guru Joan Parker

18. Disney-ABC president Anne Sweeney

20. Glamour's Cindi Leive graciously receiving congrats all around for the stellar line up at this year's "Women of the Year" awards. We're taking you up on your offer next year to bring a friend...

21. Quest's Chris Meigher

22. Saks VP Caroline Dougherty

23. Furniture designer extraordinaire Dakota Jackson

24. Morgan Stanley's Peter Miscovich

25. Brad Wexler and Michelle Johnson

26. Rob Weisbach

27. Jared Moses

28. Howard Rubenstein's Susie Arons (Loved your 'Hope' charms!)

30. Publisher Weekly's Sara Nelson chatting animatedly with a young fellow.

80. Sesame Street Workshop's Sherrie Westin with Lisa Caputo. I left at the same time as the two gals who hugged at the door saying their girl talk was "better than therapy." Sisterhood is powerful.

Faces in the crowd: I had a nice chat at the bar with Page Six's Richard Johnson who didn't stick around for lunch. Where did you go?

Please send comments and corrections to DianeClehane AT mediabistro Dot com and lunch at mediabistro DOT com.