Arianna Huffington, Cheryl Hines
(Patrick McMullan)

Last night's Fishermen's Ball at Pier 60 on the Hudson saw a host of celebrities paying tribute to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Riverkeeper clean-water charity--including the Greek blog magnate Arianna Huffington. After Ms. Huffington handed off her business card to a conversation partner (oh, to have that direct dial!), we asked her if she was a tap-water drinker.

"I do drink water in New York--if it's not too bad." The one thing Ms. Huffington won't do in New York? Swim! "I save all my swimming for Greece, where I come from--there's no better sea." We cited Homer's description of "the wine-dark sea," and Ms. Huffington corrected the classic: "It's a very blue sea." Before departing, Ms. Huffington got political--she's now to the left of President Obama, and told us "I'm worried about what the Obama Administration has allowed to happen to the environment."

Pat Monahan, of indestructible music act Train, was the night's entertainment--and before he took the stage, he told us about his passion for sharing clean-water information with his audiences. Apparently, Mr. Kennedy's godson toured with Train and opened their shows with information sessions--fun stuff! "We don't preach," said Mr. Monahan. "Not educating either--just informing them. Some people don't realize most of anything that's going on. When you hear about causes like Invisible Children, you don't hear the stories, you hear about the big event."

Did Mr. Monahan think of his music as political? He pondered for a moment. "No. More comical. Politics isn't for music in my opinion. That's never been what I'm attracted to. I love Bob Dylan, but I love him for his songwriting, not for his views."

Morning Joe's Willie Geist, who's to spend the summer reporting on the national political conventions, is, himself, a big tap water fan. "That's what they say--New York has great tap water. If I get back from the gym, just a big glass of tap water. Sometimes I cut out the glass, just stick my face under it like a cat." We warned Mr. Geist away from the tap when he's at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Cheryl Hines, between posing for photos with her regular date, Mr. Kennedy, told us that she's an off-and-on tap drinker. "Tap water when I go out to dinner! I have a filter on my tap, so I mostly drink tap water, and then, y'know, if I'm... unsure... about the source... I'll drink bottled!" Though Ms. Hines's commitment to the tap isn't as firm as some other guests', Mr. Kennedy may have turned her into a lover of wetlands--she told us with pride, "I just bought my first wetsuit!"