New York's 'Fashion's Night Out' Makes Turbulent Waves "Anything can be rehabilitated if John Galliano can be rehabilitated," says Mickey Boardman, the head of the fashion magazine Paper. (Mickey was referring to the revival of the dreaded Uggs boots.) But the remark was a recognition of Galliano's alcoholic misbehavior in matters of race and his subsequent comeback under the auspices of the famed Oscar de la Renta. (That last recommendation is enough for me!) Well, anyway, I think sick people with problems should be given second and third chances. I don't know about you, but I had an alcoholic brother. I adored him and gave him thousands of chances. He took all of them, required a lot of help, but he lived quite a long time, and when he was sober, it was just wonderful. He was always my best "room-mate." So I don't intend to turn my back on Galliano, one of the most talented men in fashion. As Jimmy Durante once said, "Why can't everybody just leave everybody else the hell alone?!" I know; I know -- I don't always take my own and Jimmy's good advice. FASHION! FASHION! It's still New York's favorite game. And it makes lots of money for the city. Now "Fashion's Night Out in the Big Apple" is making waves with some shops, stores and organizations saying it attracts "the wrong crowd -- they drink too much and carry on and don't buy anything." Hmmm, well, how are fashionistas going to educate "the wrong crowd"-- by ignoring them? I tell you it isn't a gossip page these days if it doesn't start out with Vogue's Anna Wintour somewhere in the picture. Ms. Wintour is in a class by herself with her creative independence. She has already done the most ever for her employer, Conde Nast, for the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Exhibit, for ideas about "Fashion's Night Out" and -- yes, for the Democratic party. When will Anna Wintour be called up for the Kennedy Center Honors? She is a lot more interesting and effective than many of the entertainers they choose each year. I was stunned by the positive mail and other responses received for my casual Academy Award's Oscar column. I only got one negative blast and it was from our old pal Lauriate who said the show was "mostly awful." Then Lauriate went on to say he/she actually enjoyed some of it. Here is part of what I heard from somebody smart named Sarah. She writes: 1. "Did you notice the front row's lack of expression/smiles during Seth's bit with the 'Star Trek' guy? So serious." 2. "Thought Ben Affleck was way too serious and full of himself -- even though I'm glad the film won best picture." (I, Liz, concur, and wished someone would 'get a hook' for his producer who went on and on. People should probably be forbidden to mention parents, children and agents.) 3. "Seth was great. His demeanor all night seemed to be 'Listen up, people. This isn't the United Nations. Let's have fun.'" 4. "Can't believe people didn't figure out the Boobs Bit. Of course, those scenes of star reaction were from other award shows. I'm not even in the business and I figured it out." 5. "Kills me the way everyone complains that the show is 3 ½ hours. Hello -- Super Bowl? Not to mention Election Night." 6. "Loved the old Hollywood glamour, but wondered if Seth was encouraged to go that route. It doesn't seem like his schtick." 7. "Loved the Lincoln/Booth joke. So edgy and shocking. Maybe it jump-started a few pacemakers in the audience!" This reminds me that one of the best-looking, most together stars in the entire evening was the 83-year-old Christopher Plummer. Most of the red carpet interviewers were just tedious and horrible and I except the wonderful reporter Jess Cagle from this group . I also really like ABC's Lara Spencer; she is an entertainment veteran who knows how not to call special attention to herself and be effective. And, as long as we're still on this unending subject -- it was truly admirable that Daniel Day- Lewis knows how to make a joke on another of his big nights. Instead of being boring and serious, he alluded to the fact that his presenter, the super famous Meryl Streep, might have played Abraham Lincoln herself. Meryl was then standing behind him, off to the side. If I had been Daniel, I'd have forced Meryl to stay by my side while I was saying that and make her be a part of his "win." That would have been an Academy "first," I think. But there's a photo from the past of Marilyn Monroe and her then husband, Arthur Miller. And Marilyn really was showing off her "top." We were just writing about a story from the New York Observer, the little newspaper that has been helmed by so many famous editors in the past. And today we learn there is a New York Observer 25th anniversary party being held at the Four Seasons on 52nd Street, come March 14. They say the guest list is simply amazing, put together by owner-publisher Jared Kushner and party-arranger Peggy Siegal.