Playboy dress-up for a good cause

Breakfast was served at 11 p.m. at DIFFA's annual Party at the Mansion, a Playboy-themed soiree benefiting the Seattle chapter of Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. No sit-down dinner or live auction here, just fancy folk eating late-night quiche and bacon to soak up the cocktails and fuel up for the dance floor. It was like a wedding reception with Playboy bunnies, with the old-school and very grand Rainier Club standing in for Hef's manse.

In the downstairs ladies room, a 6-foot-tall bunny in fishnets and pink satin ears slipped off her patent-leather heels, which she had bought at Ross for $19.95 earlier that day. "My father would die. I told him I was doing a fashion show tonight," she confessed. "A really elegant fashion show." ...

OH, BUMBERSHOOT: The "give a penny, take a penny" theory didn't translate to the communal umbrellas at the Metropolitan Park East and West buildings in the Denny Triangle. Property managers purchased 250 green umbrellas last winter as a courtesy for people traveling between the two office buildings — aka the Twin Toasters, Giant Spam Towers or home to KISS-FM — but now they're down to about 35.

So management held an "Umbrella Amnesty Day" to bring the lost ones home, no questions asked. Did it work? Not at all. "The amnesty was a resounding failure," reports Lita Johnson, property manager. "I think we got one back."

But no hard feelings. "We're ordering more umbrellas," Johnson said cheerfully, adding: "You do occasionally see a bum with one, walking around." ...

THEY SHOOT, THEY SCORE: The Sonics Dance Team upped its game on the 2008 calendar shoot, going on location last month to shoot near waterfalls, rocks and cliffs at the majestic Cave B Inn in Quincy. "The girls were troupers," said dance-team manager Sabrina Chaudhry. "They were climbing in their stilettos on the rocks, jumping into freezing water, ready to pose." Next year, the girls are looking forward to posing in the drive-thrus of Oklahoma City, which just happens to be the headquarters of Sonic Burger — future home to the SuperSonic Burger. It's called gallows humor. ...

"MR. BIG"-TIME: The "Project Runway" premiere is still weeks away, but Seattle native and season-four designer Jack Mackenroth is already working the cameras. Mackenroth recently filmed a scene in the new "Sex and the City" movie in which he turns the heads of Carrie & Co. — until he walks into the arms of his on-screen boyfriend. Afterward, Nina Garcia said she found the scene to be "pedestrian" and "boring." ...

MATERIAL GIRLS: Madonna's diamond wedding tiara was the main attraction at the downtown Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler store grand opening party, which benefited Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. KING-TV's Joyce Taylor and Lisa "Kiki" Thompson were among many who tried on the tiara — which converts to a necklace as well and it should, for the price — but no one actually bought it, despite having the perfect excuse to justify the $350,000 price tag: "It's for the children." ...

RANDOM END NOTES: Paul Allen is not "Mr. Seattle," but thanks for playing ... Shaun Alexander and his mini-entourage made a cameo at the Marquis Jet James Bond party, where he inspected the Aston Martins, shook a few hands and bailed ... Sunday Night Football commentator Al Michaels asked for Heinz ketchup with his steak and mashed potatoes at the Met, weird? ... Rob Zombie spotted working out on a treadmill at Hotel Monaco with his long hair and mega tattoos ... Cupcake Royale has a new seasonal Caramel Apple Cupcake, which is silly because everyone knows that cupcakes are good in any season ... I'm going on vacation, see you in three weeks.

Pamela Sitt: 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com