Amy Fine Collins became a writer for Vanity Fair before she learned to drive. She combined her talent for prose with her skills on the road to write “The God of Driving” (Simon & Schuster), a book about her driving education and instructor, Attila. At a party at Christie’s last night in honor of the book, Ms. Collins – in a stunning Geoffrey Beene gown – shared insights on dressing for a road trip: “You can drive in high heels, and there’s no problem with short skirts. And of course there are the fabulous accessories: driving gloves, car coats!” She had another thought about short skirts: “The most important thing to learn is how to get in and out of the car without flashing.”

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At the Chelsea Art Museum, a trio of Anns celebrated and were celebrated: Anna Wintour hosted a party for Ann Taylor’s 50th anniversary with a party featuring a display of portraits by Annie Leibovitz. The founder of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Nancy Brinker, chatted with the president of Ann Taylor Loft, Kay Krill. Many of the 50 models for the store’s print campaign attended the party – and admired their images hanging on the museum’s walls.

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Sometime in September, 350 years ago, 23 Jews arrived in America. What does it all mean for New York? Time to celebrate. Governor Pataki hosted one of the first anniversary parties last night at the Center for Jewish History. Speaking to a crowd of Jewish leaders, the governor vowed that “no St. Louis will ever be turned away from America” (referencing the ship carrying Jews fleeing the Nazis). He also spoke in support of Israel: “We have to make sure there is a Jewish home, that Israel is safe…So Jews will always have a place to go when they are victims of bigotry.” A re-enactment of the first Jews’ arrival here will take place Sunday at South Street Seaport.

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Sculptor Orly Genger’s opening party at the Elizabeth Dee Gallery drew art lovers, friends, and family (including Ms. Genger’s father, Arie). Ms. Dee said she invited Ms. Genger to display her crocheted pieces after seeing some in a group show. “Orly was creating quite a buzz,” she added.

Stefan Stux and Andrea Schnabl of Stux Gallery displayed Ms. Genger’s work last year and dropped by to view her latest. The secretary of the Smithsonian, Larry Small, admired a coiled work, while Helen Hesse Charash,a sister of the artist Eva Hesse, observed a wall hanging titled “In the Between.”

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She is a darling of the fashion world as well as the charity circuit. Tory Burch, who opened a fabulous boutique in Nolita during February Fashion Week, has a new boutique on the fifth floor of Bergdorf Goodman. Last night, her uptown friends came out to celebrate the expansion. Guests included Susan Fales-Hill, Jennifer Creel, Marina Rust, as well as the new boy in town, Martin Marks, a novelist and handbag designer (after his mom, Lana Marks). Now Ms. Burch’s customers won’t have to trudge downtown. Ms. Burch may have the shortest commute of them all: she lives at the Pierre, just two blocks away.

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Last night at the Virgin Megastore at Times Square, Paris Hilton signed copies of her book “Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose” (Fireside Books). The book features hundreds of the party and red carpet shots that made her famous, as well as some goofy studio photos (in the tub with rubber ducks, hanging ball gowns from a clothesline). The best, though, are family snapshots of the whole happy Hilton clan – Rick, Nicky, Kathy, and their little dogs, too.