Inside The City's Most Elegant Affair - The New York Public Library's Lions Gala

If ever there were an event where it'd feel appropriate for The Joker to jump out, it would be The New York Public Library's annual Library Lions Gala. No question.

And I'm not just saying that because Maggie Gyllenhaal was there. Though that's not hurting my argument...

Over 450 of Gotham's most interesting and accomplished stepped out for the artsy affair on Monday evening, held at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, to honor this year's class of Lions. Food favorite Ina Garten, novelist Khaled Hosseini, choreographer Bill T. Jones, author David Nasaw, and film director Steven Spielberg were the toast of the celebration, which included chatter-filled cocktails in Astor Hall, a bookishly elegant dinner in The Rose Reading Room, and a turn or two about the dance floor.

Abby Milstein, Tony Marx, Steven Spielberg, Ina Garten, Bill T. Jones, Khaled Hosseini, David Nasaw

Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner, Lee Child

Andres Santo Domingo, Lauren Santo Domingo

Steven Spielberg, Steve Martin

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Annette Gordon-Reed, Robert Reed

Derek Blasberg, Candice Bergen, Nick Brown

Annette Gordon-Reed, Robert Reed

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Christine Schwarzman

Lorraine Gallard, Richard Levy

Kathy Rayner, Merryl Tisch, Lionel Larner

[Photos courtesy New York Public Library]