Summertime, and the lunchin' is easy at Michael's. Which is why all the media magnates should've come back to the city for "mediabistro day" (yep, it's unofficial -- the staff calls Wednesday that, now). Not that the place was empty. Far from it, with 99 heads, one short of the 100 it would've taken for someone to win a certain bet. The Arnold Palmers and Barbara Bushes were flowing, and the garden room looked beautiful, even if management didn't want to follow the lead of other 55th Street establishments and open the garden room doors to one of those special New York summer days.

We're not sure if Joan Rivers was drinking a Barbara Bush or an Arnold Palmer. But we do know why there were so many Today Show types in the house. Here's the bold-faced names we caught, by table:

1. At the alcove table were NBC Today Show executive producer Jim Bell and lots of his crew: Don Nash, senior broadcast producer, and senior producers Amy Rosenblum, Tom Mazzarelli and Noah Oppenheim. They were there treating White House correspondent David Gregory to lunch for his birthday (36?). Gregory's got a busy week, filling in for Tim Russert on Meet the Press, Matt Lauer on Today and still filing pieces for the Nightly News with Brian Williams.

2. Peter Brown plus one.

3. Joe Armstrong, who told us he got his "Mayor of Michael's" moniker when he hosted the Robin Williams lunch that included the fateful Clinton-Stephanopoulos handshake. With NY Post's Richard Johnson.

4. Herb Siegel. With?

5. Alan Grubman (father of Lizzie), with Andrew Heyward.

6. Jonathan Burnham of Harper Collins with Ed Victor.

7. The extraordinary Joan Rivers, showing off magnificent gams bedecked with open-toed platform shoes that may have been Jimmy Choos; just right for her killer pedicure. Companion Blaine Trump looking marvelously casual in beige Manolos and a similarly neutral-toned Birkin handbag.

8. David Patrick Columbia and guest.

11. Gerry Byrne and local NBC anchor Jane Hanson, looking very blonde in a sleeveless blue shirt.

12. Newly (well, recently) minted Time magazine editor Rick Stengel with Ed Adler.

14. Peter Price with a distinguished looking gentleman we're told is a banker.

15. Simon and Schuster CEO Jack Romanos and guest.

16. Joannie Danielides, who came to fame as the spokeswoman for Donna Hanover.

17. David Granger of Esquire.

18. Daniel Wassong.

20. Lisa Caputo, who borrowed a pencil to take a message when "the boss" called. With Christy Carpenter of the Museum of TV and Radio.

21. Attorney Jim Janowitz.

23. Jim Cohen, CEO of Hudson News.

24. John Mack Carter (still?) of Hearst.

25. Chuck Pfeiffer and Ed Pressman, whom we think did a flick about the Marlboro Man.

26. Writer Liz Finkle with James Brodsky, president of Sharp Communications.

27. Julie Millington, sister of Steve, the manager.

33. Newly minted Vanity Fair publisher Edward Menicheschi, in the garden room, and looking thrilled, no jazzed, when he stopped by the bar to say "hi."

Also eyed today: Philip Mortimer (we're not sure which one), John Rice (ditto) sans reservation, entertainment lawyer Neal Gantcher, and Tim Duggan.

Please send any and all correct spellings, bitches, moanings, praise or general giddiness to Dorian AT Mediabistro DOT com and FishbowlNY AT mediabistro DOT com.

Map of Michael's