Today was a brisk and busy day 'neath the jolly Christmas decorations at Michael's as the glittering stars of the New York media world filed in to enjoy their Cobb salads and to leave behind their french fries (seriously! Nobody seems to eat their fries, though who could finish the veritable mountain of same that often comes on the side).

FishbowlNY was represented by editor Rachel Sklar (your faithful reporter) and former MB editor and perennial FishFriend Elizabeth Spiers, enjoying a nosh at the bar across from the waiting area. Which was why we noticed that Andre Leon Talley had been cooling his khaki-suede-encased heels quite some time as patrons arrived for their meals. We stole a few glances, admiring his classic black-on-black blazer accented with a jaunty cranberry kerchief, and wondered, who was keeping Andrew Leon Talley waiting?

The answer: the only person who could. In swept Vogue editrix Anna Wintour , clad unapologetically in a lush, tawny-hued fur jacket which set off the tones of her hair (and in high suede boots that were, come to think of it, very close to the shade of ALT's pair). The hair was perfectly in place, and utterly familiar; I think not a strand would dare disobey by now. Sans shades, and avec smile, she walked over to her table - Table #1, of course.

And so, our story begins.

1 - See above: Vogue's Andrew Leon Talley and a smiley Anna Wintour. Yes, you read correctly. She was in our sightlines the whole lunch, and she was smiling, laughing, and suffering the supplications of visitors with something verging on warmth (NB: There was much kissing of the ring). Another source of warmth: the fur scarf she kept on throughout her meal. I guess it can get chilly sitting by the window. Midway through, a late arrival: none other than Melania Knauss Trump, glamorous and gorgeous in a fur-trimmed cape, greeted with smiles and kisses by ALT and AW. Some star power there.

2 - New York Social Diary's David Patrick Columbia enjoyed the company of three fashionable ladies: Avenue editorial director Pamela Gross (in short jacket and jeans), Vanity Fair's Vicky Ward (slender in a tweed suit with a cool ruffle down the front) and Newsweek's Holly Peterson (in eye-catching cream). Lucky DPC! This was the table that closed out the place, welcoming "Mayor of Michael's" Joe Armstrong to the fold after DPC had to take his leave.

3- Speaking of, the aforementioned Mayor Armstrong with NYPost columnist Liz Smith, also in tweed. A very nice moment: when Liz arrived, Michael's manager Steve Millington escorted her to her table on his arm. Another nice moment: when Armstrong arrived, Loreal at the front desk exclaimed "It's the Mayor of Michael's!" Aw. Like family.

4 - The Voice of God table: CBS's Bob Schieffer and his wife Pat, with former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw with wife Meredith. As they were leaving, Bob and proprieter Michael McCarty had a warm exchange (during which we think Michael actually said "I love you" to Schieffer - aw! He really is quite loveable). Schieffer returned with a warm "Merry Christmas." Tom Brokaw, resplendent in a purple tie, followed after chatting with a few people on the way and retrieved an unpretentious, down-to-earth knapsack from the coat check. Salt of the earth.

5 - Gerald Schoenfeld, Chairman of The Schubert Organization, apparently with an actress named Angelica (not Huston) whose full name escapes us. Will update.

6 - Court TV scion Henry Schlieff.

14 - Michael's regulars and literary heavyweights Alice Mayhew, editor, and Esther Newberg, literary agent. One of them was wearing a pretty gold headband.

15 - CBS's Gil Schwartz and Jack Romano, Chairman of Simon & Shuster.

19 - Men's Health EIC David Zinczenko with Absolute Editor Andrew Essex, who showed us a sneak preview of January's issue.

16 - Us Magazine editor Janice Min in classic black sweater and skirt. Did not see her companion. Tipsters, feel free to elucidate and illuminate. Update: Duly elucidated - Janice was joined by Sean Cassidy, President of Dan Klores Communications and Alex Dudley of same. As we now all know, Min is repped by Klores' firm, as are Nick & Jessica (NB: Nick & Jessica were not at Michael's).

More names, outfits, and tidbits after the jump...

17 - Sources say the woman at this table was Broadway producer Fran Weisler (of shows like "Sweet Charity" with her partner-husband Barry). Not sure who her companion was.

18 - Stanley Schuman, head of the media practice at Allen & Co.

20 - Hearst's Deb Shriver, unfortunately totally obscured from our view.

21 - Budget Living founder/general entrepreneur Don Welsh.

24 - Tom Ryder, soon-to-be retiring Chairman and CEO of Reader's Digest.

22 - In keeping with the musical theater theme, Steven Swid with Freddy Gershon of Music Theater International (the Broadway licensing agency - you call them if you want to mount a community production of "Rent," "Annie," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Guys and Dolls" or any of these). Next time we're so singing "Suddenly Seymour" with him (they do "Little Shop of Horrors" too).

26 - Playboy's Christine Hefner, reminding us a bit of Laura Linney and talking on her cellphone at one point during the meal (hey, the world of business doesn't stop for lunch!).

27 - New York magazine contributing editor Steve Fishman (author of this week's cover story on Howard Stern), with Esquire editor Terry Noland. They stopped by to say hello - nice to meet both of you!

In the back room (or "the garden" as Millington called it):

32 - Playboy editor Chris Napolitano with Brooke Geahan, co-founder of the Accompanied Library.

52 - Paul Healy.

Subway platform after lunch: Jeff Bercovici from Women's Wear Daily! Fun coincidence. He'd just come from lunch with the Cosmo Girl girls. He's so Jane. Oh, wait a minute.

Seen: Cargo editor Ariel Foxman, sporting a rakish scruff and a hipsteresque look; with a young woman and a very cute dark-haired guy we didn't recognize but wished we did. Who was he Ariel? Please share.

Heard: Someone being introduced to Steve Millington as "The King of Nielson" (but apparently not "Mr. Nielson" himself); an unidentified CBS exec who told a friend that "Les said something hysterical" and that "we just did a board presentation...I was standing next to Diller" (btw it wasn't Gil Schwartz). If you know what the Les Moonves knee-slapper was, please let us know! Absent knowledge, send us your best guess ("Take my 6 o'clock nightly newscast...please!").

Flipped through: The magazines in the Michael's waiting area: Quest (which Avenue editrix Gross took to her table and slipped into her handbag); Gotham (with Natasha Richardson on the cover); and, oddly, Celebrity Life & Style with Nick & Jessica on the front (presumably no offense to the patron at Table 16).

Worn: As mentioned above, lots of fur - our seats were near the front door, so we saw what people were collecting from the coatroom. Lots and lots of fur. Brr, it was cold out there people! Most interesting outerwear of the day goes to Liz Smith, who was wearing a no-nonsense Helly Hansen-style parka (we're guessing Helly because it was a Swedishly-colored yellow with navy blue trim).

Background Tunes: Christmas Carols, Beach Boys-style; we confirmed with Loreal after the meal (something like "A Very Special Beach Boys Christmas"). I asked where the Chanukah tunes were; surely some of their clientele would appreciate that (you know, the ones who control the media). She laughed and said that if I could find some festive music aside from "Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel" then she'd gladly play it. Upshot: see you next week, when Jazzy DJ Fishbowl rocks the lunch crowd at Michael's! Shalom until then.

Tips/corrections happily accepted by rachel AT mediabistro DOT com or laurelT AT mediabistro DOT com.