Ryan Lochte, Anna Wintour and Dwayne Wade at Calvin Klein Collection's FNO bash.

The Observer positively loathes the yearly shopping-and-style populist event known as Fashion’s Night Out. While we certainly understand this social philanthropic “fashion for everyone” affair championed by Anna Wintour and friends, it absolutely obliterates the little decency that remains in luxury shopping in this city. Yes, we all find the attitudes inside the gilded foyer of Hermès to be a bit frigid, but isn’t it completely understandable that if someone was overseeing the aggressive push of $15,000 ostrich-skin merchandise to a marvelously affluent and demanding clientele day after day that they would develop an extreme snob complex? Besides which, unwelcoming as shops such as Hermès may be, the atmosphere does establish some sense of order and brand image, and people can actually browse and shop in peace.

Order means nothing during the evening of Fashion’s Night Out. Peace? Fuggetaboutit! Instead, posh shopping establishments become laden with breathing and mobile fashion atrocities. These individuals bring an uncouth, boisterous je ne sais quoi to boutiques such as Rebecca Taylor, Brunello Cucinelli, Oscar de la Renta, Alexis Bittar and Rag & Bone. They purchase nothing, spill their drinks frequently, scream, hiss, push and even fight. But occasionally order presides, publicists greet attendees and pleasantries and frivolities are exchanged. Donna Karan’s Stephan Weiss book launch party at her boutique on Madison Avenue was one such example.

Nina Arianda and Debra Messing, and designer Michael Kors judge the competition.

The Observer was holed up in the office late, despite fabulous offers of champagne at Carolina Herrera and meet-and-greets with Olympian Alex Morgan at watchmaker Girard-Perregaux uptown. By the time we did escape for fresh air the chaos had commenced. We traipsed delicately to a few events that still lingered. Most memorable was a raucous karaoke competition at Michael Kors where Nina Arianda, Debra Messing and Kate Upton made an appearance. The Observer could only take the sweltering heat and packed crowds so much. Across the way, Calvin Klein Collection hosted a special in-store event with Vogue’s Ms. Wintour, who patiently signed September issues, and Miami Heat NBA Star Dwyane Wade, who stood proudly by his new book, A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball. Newly-crowned fashion week front-row whore/Olympic gold medalist swimmer, Ryan Lochte, also made a splash at the fling. Editors and the "in crowd" mingled with Bryan Adams, Amir Khan, models Liu Wen, Hanne Gaby, Karen Elson and Mathias Lauridsen, and DJ Mia Moretti.

Downtown we trekked next. Soho was out of the question—too crowded, too unruly, t0o cramped. A quick glance at our invites and we elected for Diane von Furstenberg’s Meatpacking shindig with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Upon arrival The Observer regretted ever having set foot outside of the office. Masses teemed the glassy entrance of DvF’s fortress. It had all gone too smooth and we deserved it. Fashion’s Night Out had reared its ugly head. Travesties shoved. With not a publicist in sight to assist with swift entry, we rolled up our sleeves, promptly cut the line and frantically waved a business card at a bouncer. Ushered inside, we wanted to know what all the fuss was about?

In the end, it was better to sip and dance at Richard Chai’s afterparty at Catch with an intimate set of revelers. Once the bar ran dry, we bailed. We traveled through the hordes creeping and stumbling sloppily on the Meatpacking cobblestones to the New Museum where Supra unveiled its Royal shoe collection. More Ryan Lochte and vodka—wowee!

Au revoir until next year, Fashion’s Night in Hell.

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson. (Patrick McMullan/PatrickMcMullan.com)

At the North American premiere of uniFrance Films’s Farewell, My Queen, aptly held at the Museum of Modern Art, and presented by Peggy Siegal Company on Monday night, Joshua Jackson did his very best to let Diane Kruger, the star of the film and his girlfriend since 2006, have the spotlight. But we couldn’t help but wonder what was next for the Fringe actor. Perhaps a Dawson’s Creek reunion?

“We killed Michelle, so I don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” Mr. Jackson said candidly, referring to the death of cast mate Michelle Williams's character on the show. Onlookers were crestfallen.

“But I would never say never. If I’m out of work for enough years, absolutely! I would be old, gray, and nasty by the time that would get done though,” he said.

With that important business out of the way, we asked the German-born actress what it was like to play infamous French queen, Marie Antoinette.

“I did things in this film I didn’t think I was capable of doing because it’s so far from who I am,” Ms. Kruger told us. “I have such a calm and controlled personal life, I never really lose it to the extent that she did. I felt proud to have allowed myself to go there.”

Ms. Kruger wore a floor-length silver gown and minimal accessories (we guess she left the French crown jewels at home).

The period film, based on Chantal Thomas's best-selling novel of the same name, tells the story of four days in the life of the ill-fated queen through the eyes of her servant and reader Léa Seydoux, played by Sidonie Laborde.

Despite the film's 18th century French dialogue, it was English that was difficult to understand throughout the evening, as evidenced by our conversation with the director of the film, Benoit Jacquot.

When we asked how he anticipated Americans would receive his film (the royal drama was released in France earlier this year), Mr. Jacquot’s translator made quick work of the question.

“It’s very interesting to think about because I really have no idea,” said Mr. Jacquot replied with a genuine look of uncertainty in his eyes. “I would like very much for them to love it.”

Mr. Jacquot showered Ms. Kruger with compliments in his heavy French accent and discussed the “expensive” opportunity to film in Versailles.

Indeed. The palace that the royal family called home looked just as picturesque in the film as the attendees made it out to be, and in moments when the subtitles were alas, too subtle, we still felt lucky to have a nice view.

Recent Tony Award recipient Nina Arianda was one of many to note the lush interiors and green grounds.

“The chambers where the maids lived is such a beautiful place,” said a laughing Ms. Arianda. “It’s much nicer than my apartment.”

Tracie Bennett performing at the Tonys (Getty Images)

At a pre-Tony Awards party last week, Best Actress in a Play nominee Tracie Bennett was in high spirits. “I will never forget this,” she told The Observer. “It’s been a privilege, it’s been an honor. I am bowled over by the respect. And I’m not crawling up anyone’s ass at all! The way the press has welcomed me here.”
She had received positive notices for her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow but seemed to take the praise lightly. “We’re only here to connect and make people laugh or cry. That’s all we’re here to do. If anyone tells you we’re here to save the world, they’re lying. We’re entertainers.”

The party, at the home of Disney Theatrical president Thomas Schumacher, was in honor of the publication of the annotated script of Peter and the Starcatcher, a Best Play nominee that would ultimately lose the top prize to Clybourne Park but pick up five others. Julie Taymor, the director of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (before her firing), told The Observer that she wouldn’t make it to the ceremony. “I don’t think I’ll be watching, period. Maybe I will. Obviously Spider-Man’s not very much represented. And I would only root for Eiko.” (Eiko Ishioka, the late costume designer, was one of only two nominees from the mega-musical—both of which lost in the end.)

The relaxed, chatty vibe at Mr. Schumacher’s party carried through to Sunday night’s Tony presentation at the Beacon Theatre. Best Actress in a Play nominee Cynthia Nixon and her new wife, Christine Marinoni, stood at the center of the red carpet chatting with other guests for about 30 minutes, excitedly greeting Best Director of a Play winner Mike Nichols and wife Diane Sawyer. Actress-of-the-moment Jessica Chastain sprinted to the end of the carpet to greet friends, then returned to tell The Observer her dream musical role: Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.

“Right? Can’t you see a little of Celia Foote in that?” she asked us, referring to her feisty role in The Help. She then hummed a few bars from Carousel to remind herself of other favorite roles. (While Ms. Chastain is coming to Broadway in the fall, she won’t be doing much singing; she’s to play the Olivia de Havilland role in The Heiress.)

Stockard Channing, nominated for Best Actress in a Play, made light of a serious inquiry as to her favorite Tony memory: she recalled rocker Bret Michaels’s collision with a piece of scenery at the 2009 ceremony. “I was singing in front of him and the audience was like”—she mimed a horrified gasp. “I didn’t realize what had happened until I got offstage. My advice to him: Go to rehearsal!”

Contra Ms. Channing’s years of Tony experience, newcomer Cristin Milioti, the star of Best Musical winner Once, was giddily excited to meet James Earl Jones, a fellow nominee. “He’s Darth Vader! He’s Mufasa! He’s more Mufasa,” she said, betraying her youth.

Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks—who ended up picking up the Best Revival of a Musical Tony for updating Porgy and Bess—may have been the only Pulitzer winner wearing earrings given to her by Oprah Winfrey (unless we missed Clybourne Park writer Bruce Norris’s look). Was the talk-show host a pal? “She’s Oprah! She doesn’t have pals. Be sure to describe my dress!” Ms. Parks was in a back-baring black Gaultier gown.

After the ceremony, the Clybourne Park afterparty was in full swing at Whiskey Park. Asked what the Best Play trophy meant to him, Mr. Norris replied “I’ll be less depressed tomorrow.” The Tony win, he noted, had been far more stressful than the Pulitzer. “The Pulitzer was unexpected and out of the blue,” he said. “I was in Maine and my friend called me that day to tell me about it. This has been going on for weeks, and I’ve been sick to my stomach!”

We asked him to tell us some stories about the production process of Clybourne Park on Broadway—the lead producer, Scott Rudin, had dropped out at the 11th hour, and the show was saved by theater owner Jordan Roth stepping in.

“People tell me not to talk about this, because it’s like I have Tourette’s or something!” said Mr. Norris. A nearby guest came up and congratulated Mr. Norris, whisking him away. We were not to see him again, though Mr. Roth entered the party, clutching his Tony, as we left. Earlier, he’d told us of joining the production late: “There were unique challenges—there were also unique benefits! With not a lot of time, you can go with your gut. Everyone comes together and rallies.”

Mr. Roth did not rally, though, for the night’s final party, hosted by the PR firm O&M Co.; unlike actors, he had work Monday morning. At 1 a.m., we arrived at the Carlyle Hotel’s 28th floor. We entered the suite to find Mare Winningham wearing fluffy white hotel slippers; upstairs, Harvey Fierstein was lounging on a bed in a Hawaiian shirt. We asked him if he’d made the decision to go onstage in a rubber inner tube. “Of course! And I wrote Angela [Lansbury]’s material, too,” he told us. “I’m very funny.”

Sometime around 2:15 a.m., the hosts, including the head of O&M, Rick Miramontez, led the crowd in a toast to Variety, as guests were still streaming in. Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson was a late arrival and told us he was interested in returning to the New York stage: “Anything Shakespeare—especially The Comedy of Errors.”

Meanwhile, in a small anteroom with its own bar, Ms. Bennett was standing, contemplating the window. She had lost the Best Actress in a Play prize to the young Nina Arianda. We asked, perhaps ungraciously, if that took some of the bloom off the season she’d just been through.

“Not at all! It’s an interesting question, but not at all! Look at where we are!” She swept her arm around the room. “And I got to perform on stage tonight! I’m a chorus girl—I never expected any of this.” She gestured out the window, south towards Times Square. “And look at this view! I’m very happy tonight.” It was, indeed, quite a view.

It’s the Tonys!

Beacon Theatre, private event, also airs on CBS at 8pm.