According to Nicholas Lowry, the president of New York’s Swann Galleries, when times get tough, the filthy rich get bidding. Because most Americans have found their pocketbooks losing weight faster than Jenny Craig over the past few months, auctioneers are ridding themselves of desirable swag for smaller price tags. I suppose we’ll see tomorrow morning at 10, when the bidding starts on rare—not to mention exorbitant—photographic literature and photographs at Swann.

Last night, New York’s gliteratti gathered to celebrate Gramercy Park Hotel's newly installed artworks. Creative Director Nur Khan kept it familial by not only having Rose Bar co-designer and newly prominent filmmaker Julian Schnabel's work adorn the walls, but also by inviting his daughter Stella Schnabel to host the event. A-list attendees and invite-only door policy hardly differed from an average lounge-about evening at Gramercy Park. However, the handsome wait staff with sliders and scallop ceviche in tow signaled that the night was meant to be special. And that it was--boundless bubbly replaced the usual pout with giggles and grins. Somehow, alcohol adapts a more distinguished pungency when sipped in the company of Basquiats, Herrings, Shnabels, and Warhols. Those of the noteworthy variety included Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Alice Dellal, Genevieve Jones, Jessica Joffe, and Cory Kennedy with her Cobrasnake.

Have you ever read about the Gallagher brothers punching a stewardess in the face, ashing a cigarette on their own tongues, and then leaping out of a moving jet directly into a bed of buxom (and willing) British babes -- and thought to yourself, that's the life for me?>. Well Ben Sherman feels that longing, and they're looking to help. In teaming with national tourism giant VisitBritain, Mr. Sherman is giving you a chance to see London through the eyes of a Mick or a Keith. They're promising you the life (or rather, weekend) of a rock icon via "The Great British Getaway" competition.

Diesel XXX -- not be confused with that unfortunate chrome-domed actor and his unfortunate secret agent movie -- is segueing from industrial clothing brand to international party starter, with a 24-hour global shindig on October 11. The intercontinental soiree will begin in Tokyo and successively stumble to Beijing, Dubai, Athens, Amsterdam, Milan, Zurich, Munich, Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Oslo, Helsinki, London, and Sao Paulo. No New York unfortunately, except for the 5,000-person grand finale we've been granted along Brooklyn's scenic waterfront, hosted by that Mistress of Seduction, Joey Arias, and featuring performances from M.I.A., N.E.R.D, and Hot Chip.

Celebrating 14 years on Bond Street, Il Buco rang in the Equinox today with a festive on-the-street roast of a 200 pound Heritage Breed porker, and six suckling pigs. Chef Ignacio Mattos, from Uruguay, started at six this morning, to make sure the pig was slow-roasted and ready for consumption this afternoon. Along with the other white meat, a summery tomato salad, apple fritters and cold iced tea was on hand. The party is still going on through midnight, if you want to get in on the celebration.

The annual Oyster Frenzy is upon us again. This Saturday, join chefs Peter Fu of St. George, Staten Island, and Anthony Walton of The Boathouse in Central Park, as they slurp, shuck and suck oysters at the all day Oyster event in Grand Central Oyster Bar. Hosted by Fine Living’s Stephen Phillips, it will be a veritable cornucopia of oysters: cooking demos, 16 varieties of oysters to taste, and a frenzied Professional Oyster Shucking Contest at 1pm, to be followed with a Beer Shucking Competition at 2:35pm. And for those who like to get sloppy with it, there is a “Slurp-Off,” open to anyone who wants to down a dozen as fast as possible. The prize—12 oysters in your belly.

This evening, Guess' upscale extension line Marciano is toasting the opening of its newest location in SoHo, New York. Traditionally, Marciano stores have been mall-based (their Robson St. location in Vancouver being a rare exception), but the SoHo branch at 514 Broadway, is looking to change all that. So come celebrate from 4 to 7 with hors d'oeuvres, champagne, and models showing off the latest fall collection. Bonus: All purchased items will be accompanied by a BlackBook Marciano Jet Set Guide. See you there!

Last night the legendary 27th street block between 10th and 11th avenues in Manhattan looked more like a raucous rendition of a Paris street circa the French Revolution, except rolling heads were replaced by finely tailored suits. Blood didn't flow, booze did. As part of the legendary French Tuesdays, the 27th street festival was a Bermuda triangle of debauchery between the clubs Marquee, Cain, and Pink Elephant. French Tuesdays founder Pierre Battu greeted us at the door in his pristine white suit, and was more than happy to lead us through the swarms of French partiers to the where else, but the bar. A jovial man is he. Check out photos from the festivities here.

Last night at a special screening for The Wackness, as part of the Diesel Box Office at the New World Stages in NYC, the rambunctious and fashionable crowd applauded and whooped every time a character displayed some "fuck Giuliani sentiment" (the film takes place in 1994, when the new mayor was power-washing the streets of whores and derelicts). And every time Sir Ben Kingsley’s psychiatrist character took a hit from his bong -- or even took it out of his drawer -- they cheered like he just saved the planet. When director Jonathan Levine stepped on stage afterward for a Q&A, he and others fondly recalled the days when you could buy a dime bag on the street and escape with just a ticket. Charlatans. They deem it as square, but the yuppies in attendance last night love the cleaned-up New York they live in; most of them were too young to remember it otherwise. I even saw a few of them geeking out in the Hershey’s store in Times Square after the screening.

This Week's Highlights: 28 well-known contemporary artists play with puppets at the Santa Monica Museum of Art all week; if you'd rather some music with your museum, the Hammer Museum's Also I Like to Rock dance party starts Thursday, 7/3. For details, check our complete Los Angeles events calendar after the jump. Got an event worth listing? Let us know at .