POETS' PARADISE
Be sure not to pass up a chance to hear Kevin Kline, Vanessa Redgrave, Diane Sawyer, Wynton Marsalis, Cynthia Rowley, Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Tony Kushner, and Sen. Edward Kennedy read their favorite personal poetry by some of America’s best-loved poets. Meryl Streep is the honorary chair for “Poetry & the Creative Mind,” which benefits the Academy of American Poets and kicks off National Poetry Month. 6:30 p.m. Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. For performance tickets, call 212-721-6500. For dinner gala, call 212-274-0343, ext. 34.


DOG LOVERS’ DELIGHT
Jonathan and Somers Farkas, and James Nederlander Jr. and Margo MacNabb will host the Seventh Annual Bergh Ball, named after Henry Bergh, founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Check out this tail-wagging good time, to benefit the ASPCA. 7 p.m. The Plaza. Call 212-876-7700, ext. 4652.


TALLEY’S TALE
Don’t miss Vogue’s Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley, in his international stage debut, as he narrates Edward Lear’s poem “The Owl and the Pussycat” for the Martha Graham Dance Company’s revival performance of the same name. Following the opening night performance, a gala dinner, dancing, and a silent auction will be held at The Plaza, chaired by Kimora Lee Simmons. Vice chairs include Manolo Blahnik, Rachel Feinstein, Bianca Jagger, Karl Lagerfeld, and Ralph Lauren. Honorary chairs are Betty Ford, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Pre-performance reception, 6 p.m. Curtain, 7 p.m. For performance at City Center, call 212-581-1212. For the Gala Dinner at The Plaza, call 212-921-9070.

TRIBECA BALL 2004
The New York Academy of Art is throwing their annual ball with a “La Dolce Vita” theme. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York Academy of Art David Levinson and his wife, Simone, will chair the event, under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales. Eileen Guggenheim and Russell Wilkinson serve as honorary chairs. Guests will include Vincent Desiderio, Anh Duong, Peter Gallagher, Debbie Harry, Keith Richards and Patti Hansen, Jenny Saville, Liev Schreiber, Frederique van der Wal, and Fred Wilson. 7 p.m. Gotham Hall. Call 212-581-3111, ext. 206.


MATRIX AWARDS
The 2004 Matrix Awards honor extraordinary women in the communications fields and mark the 75th anniversary of New York Women in Communications, Inc. The hosts of this year’s annual NYWICI event are Cosmopolitan and CosmoGIRL. Presenters include Caroline Hirsch, Joel Grey, Ellen Burstyn, Candice Bergen, Cathleen Black, and Hilary Swank. Among the honorees are Bernadette Peters, Susan Petersen Kennedy, CNN’s Paula Zahn, Martha Nelson, and Debra Shriver. 11:30 a.m. The Waldorf. Call 212-297-2133.


A MOVING IMAGE
Richard Gere will be saluted at the annual benefit for the American Museum of the Moving Image. The evening will be taped for later viewing on USA Network. Gere, the 19th recipient, will join past honorees including Sidney Poitier, Mike Nichols, Robert De Niro, and Steven Spielberg. 7 p.m. The Waldorf. Call 212-245-6570.


A ROYAL LUNCH
Be sure to wear your royal jewels to this majestic luncheon benefitting The Versailles Foundation and The Foundation, Claude Monet - Giverny, in which her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent will be present. Hosting this regal affair are the President of The Versailles Foundation, Florence Van der Kemp, and VP Barbara de Portago. 11:30 a.m. Le Cirque. Call 212-867-8280.


CREATIVITY AT ITS BEST
The Sundance Institute celebrates its third annual “Risk-Takers in the Arts” benefit. Join Honorary Chair Robert Redford, along with Co-chairs Sally Field and Steve Tisch, in a celebration of film and theater artists. 7:00 p.m. Gotham Hall. Call 310-360-1981, ext. 140.

SPRING LUNCH
Don’t miss a special appearance by Barbara Walters at the Concerned Parents for AIDS Research (CPFA) Spring Luncheon. Honorees will include Sharon Stone and AIDS activist Sally Morrison. 11:30 a.m. Mandarin Oriental. Call 212-806-1759.


SAVORY SUPPER
Daniel Boulud and a group of star chefs from his native birthplace, in France, will support Citymeals-on-Wheels with a spring tasting dinner matched with fine wines from the restaurant Daniel. The evening includes live jazz from The Perry Beekman Jazz Duo and an auction of fashion, food, wine, and travel treasures. 6 p.m. Daniel. Call 212-687-1290.


IMAGE AWARDS
Kelly Ripa will host the 2004 American Apparel & Footwear Assoc. (AAFA) American Image Awards as Sharon Stone, Oscar de la Renta, Kenneth Cole, the “Fab Five” of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and everyone’s favorite Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth are honored. This year’s 26th annual event will benefit the American Foundation for AIDS Research and the AAFA education programs. VIP reception, 6 p.m. Dinner and dancing, 7-9 p.m. Grand Hyatt Hotel. Call 845-758-5749.

LITERACY PARTNERS
Join Liz Smith for cocktails, dinner, and “An Evening of Readings” to benefit Literacy Partners by celeb authors, including Simon Winchester, Tom Wolfe, and Hillary Clinton. Arnold Scaasi and Parker Ladd will co-chair, as Tom Brokaw is honored. 7 p.m. New York State Theater, Lincoln Center. Call 212-725-9200.

SPRING SOIREE
The American Cancer Society is holding their Annual Spring Gala. Co-chairs are playwright Tricia Walsh-Smith and Michele Herbert. Honorary chairs are Gov. George Pataki and First Lady Libby Pataki. Marty Richards will receive the Artistic Achievement Award and Anna Moffo Sarnoff and Tony Randall will receive the Humanitarian Award. 7 p.m. Mandarin Oriental. Call 212-237-3888.


EARLY RISERS
Join The New York Women’s Foundation (NYWF) for a power breakfast, “Celebrating Women 2004.” Activist and philanthropist, Billie Jean King will receive the Vision Award. Candice Bergen is the emcee. 7:30 a.m. The Hilton. Call 212-675-9474, ext. 18.


HAVE A HEART
Bide-A-Wee will be honoring Natasha, the Siberian husky and her owner, Chairman & CEO of Baytree Capital Michael Gardner, at the 9th Annual “Have a Heart Gala.” The honorary committee includes Ernie Anastos, Lorraine Bracco, Warren Eckstein, Celeste Holm, Catherine Hickland, Nancy and Henry Kissinger, Elaine and Jerry Orbach. 6:30 p.m. The Metropolitan Club. Call 212-675-9474.


WINNING THE BATTLE
Join Julianne Moore and Gene Wilder, honorary chairs for a gala benefitting Gilda’s Club Worldwide. 7 p.m. Mandarin Oriental. Call 212-921-9070.


MAKING A DIFFERENCE
“Bal du Printemps,” this year’s gala for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF), will raise funds for the research and treatment for this debilitating disease. Steering Committee members include PDF Chairman Page Morton Black, Margo Catsimatidis, Isobel Robins Konecky, Susan Kraus, and Arlene Levine. The emcee will be NBC’s Stone Phillips. Kathy and Alan “Ace” Greenberg will receive The Page and William Black Humanitarian Award. 6:30 p.m. The Pierre. Call 212-213-1166.


SAFARI SPRING GALA
Join honorary chairs Allison and Leonard Stern, co-chairs Susan and Jack Rudin, and committee members Muffie Potter Aston, Jamee Gregory, Tina Flaherty, Andrea Stark, Marianne Baker, Debbie Bancroft, and Lou Hammond as they dine and dance this over-the-top night away. 6:30 p.m. The Central Park Zoo. Call 212-921-9070.