As much as we enjoy our Wednesday lunches at Michael's, we jumped at the chance to attend the restaurant's special blowout last night to celebrate 20 years at 55th & Fifth. With a line out the door by 6 PM and the LX New York camera crew in the house, Michael McCarty and wife Lisa welcomed a few hundred of their closest friends for the fete, including scribes from Vanity Fair and Town & Country. And is that Deb of the Decade we see?

Lunch: Special Evening Edition as Michael's Celebrates 20 Years (FBNY)

What a recession couldn't accomplish, Mother Nature sure did. Apparently, the moguls and media mavens lunched at their desks today, but we still managed to catch up with a few of the city's brave, rain-soaked souls. As the amiable yet reservation-less Charlie Rose took what he could get, we spotted Dan Abrams in an unexpected casual look and tried to get the scoop on Ivanka Trump's wedding.

Lunch: Charlie Rose, Dan Abrams & The Rain-Soaked Usual Suspects (FBNY)

They were dishing like it was 1999 today at Michael's, and we got a serious case of whiplash trying to keep track of it all. There was Anna Wintour and Vivi Nevo engrossed in conversation, Richard Belzer pouring over classic tabloids with Bonnie Timmermann, and Charlie Rose showing his love for another "Chuck." And that was just at Tables One through Three.

Lunch: A Smiling Anna Wintour, Hungry Brian Williams, & A Tasty Mogul Stew (FBNY)

Not even the economic meltdown can dull the activity at Manhattan's power lunch hotspot. Today, we spotted Project Playlist's CEO, a member of fashion royalty who's also a techie, and got the scoop on the budget-friendly and over-the-top picks in this year's Neiman Marcus The Christmas Book. Sports aircraft, anyone?

Lunch: What Recession? Michael's Keeps Buzzing with Walter Isaacson, John Sykes & The Gang (FBNY)

The dining room at Michael's was buzzing as boldface names settled in to plot their next big move and dish over their Cobb salads. We overhead plenty of chatter about the David Letterman extortion plot, spotted '80s TV icon Joan Collins, and got the scoop on the latest book from The Real Housewives of New York City clan. The real question, however, is what had Table 4's Barbara Walters and Vernon Jordan so amused?

Lunch: Joan Collins Holds Court at Table One, Plus Barbara Walters & Vernon Jordan (FBNY)

The flacks were out in full force today at Michael's. While former Showtime spinmeister Stu Zakim and friends remembered the late Arnie Huberman at Table One, we spotted an early-arriving Mike Ovitz, designer Liz Lange, and Vanity Fair scribe Amy Fine Collins.

It's Spin City for Moguls & Makers at Michael's (FBNY)

There's no better place in New York to catch the boldface media elite rubbing elbows than Michael's. Today, CNN's Christian Amanpour celebrated her new show with a slew of stars, including O: The Oprah Magazine's Gayle King. Meanwhile, we spoke with HarperCollins' Carrie Kania about her latest imprint and got an update from power attorney Gloria Allred on one of her most talked about clients.

Lunch: Christiane Amanpour Draws an A-List Crowd (FBNY)

Fresh from Walter Conkrite's memorial service, media folks piled into Michael's to honor the legendary broadcaster's life and celebrate their own achievements. "Mayor" Joe Armstrong helped Kerry Kennedy blow out her birthday candles, Christian Leone prepared for Fashion's Night Out, and Ken Follet showed off his latest tome.

Lunch: Happy Birthday Kerry Kennedy! "Mayor" Joe Armstrong & Henry Schleiff Celebrate (FBNY)

While legendary fashionistas Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera broke bread with island royalty, we caught up with Mickey Ateyah and former celebrity wrangler Carol Brodie.

Lunch: Oscar de la Renta & Carolina Herrera Grab A Pre-Fashion Week Bite (FBNY)

While the regulars in the dining room at Michaels, traded air kisses and vacation itineraries, we caught up with Town & Country editrix Pamela Fiori.

Lunch: Town & Country's Pamela Fiori & The Getaway Gang (FBNY)