After guests at the Katonah Museum of Art found their seats, and the impressive resumés of both author and journalist Michael Gross, and Academy-award nominated actress Patricia Clarkson were read, Gross  joked that, much like John F. Kennedy in Paris, "I am the man who accompanied Patricia Clarkson to Katonah." 

Thus began an evening of off-the-cuff banter, humorous stories, and dynamic exchanges between Gross and Clarkson, the two featured speakers of the museum's latest installment of CrossTalk.

The warm spring evening had begun with a reception in the Sculpture Garden, with a mix of museum members and culturally-interested Westchester residents sipping wine under the rose-lit tent and overarching pines, and more than a few of us craning for a look at Clarkson's haute heels.

Gross led off with an amusing retelling of his childhood as the son of New York Post sportswriter, Milton Gross, in Brooklyn, and his journey from rock n' roll concert reporter and fashion insider, to his current seat as "the foremost chronicler of the upper-crust."

His memories of growing up amongst the rich and famous, and cutting his teeth as a reporter for the "local community newspaper" [The New York Times] were confirmed by shouts from his sister, Jane, in a back row, who is also a former Times reporter.

Gross made a name for himself covering "the real and fake aristocracy" in culture pieces for Vanity Fair, GQ, Town & Country, and Esquire, and wrote the all-time best selling New York Magazine cover story on John F. Kennedy, Jr.  

Gross first found himself on the New York Times Bestseller list for his 1995 exposé on the fashion industry, "Model: the ugly business of beautiful women."

Clarkson followed, changing the tone of the evening with her careful articulation and even-paced delivery, with her distinctive voice critics have likened to "a dirty martini."   

She read from a binder of notes ("because I am an actress and I need my script"), which were handwritten—not only does she not have an email address, she does not even own a computer.

Clarkson has been called "Ms. Indiewood" for her dedication to independent film projects and high critical acclaim, including an Oscar nod for her role in 2003's Pieces of April and two Emmy Award wins for her work on HBO's "Six Feet Under." More recently, she has parlayed her success in small, ("fly by the seat of your pants," she said) independent films, to big name features, directed by the likes of Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. 

Clarkson also spoke warmly of her childhood.  She grew up one of five sisters in New Orleans—a friend of her father's once joked, "that's not a family you've got going there, it's a debutante ball."

Acting seemed to come naturally, and with the encouragement of an early teacher, she continued through drama programs at Louisiana State University, Fordham University, and the prestigious Yale School of Drama. 

"It's damn nice to be in a real room, with real people," she said. "Mainly so that you can see my shoes."

The CrossTalk series is billed as a discussion between two 'disparate speakers,' but when audience Q&A was opened up, shared themes and synchronicities took center stage. 

In addition to their keen senses of humor, as one audience member remarked, both guests seemed focused on "authenticity" and the exposition of greed, corporate and otherwise.  Gross joked that "greed is good material," and in the world of fashion and the art market, he certainly sees his fair share. 

Clarkson used the question as a springboard into a deeper discussion of the corporate negligence of BP, Transocean and Exxon Valdez, and the tragic devastation of plant and animal life in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  She worked herself up to a political rant which threatened to transform CrossTalk into an episode of Crossfire, much to audience enjoyment. 

"Just don't use BP!" she urged. "We can take them down!"

Both speakers also revealed personal ties to Westchester.  Clarkson alluded to a past relationship with "a man from the area," who based on whispers in the crowd (and a quick Google search), would be actor/director Campbell Scott of Bedford.  She is also closely connected to Waccabuc's own Stanley Tucci, whom she was directed by in 2007's Blind Date, and will costar with in the upcoming Easy A, set to release in Fall 2010.

Gross has become more familiar with the area through research for his biography of fashion mogul and Bedford resident Ralph Lauren, or 'Little Ralphy Lifshitz,' which he published in 2003 titled, "Genuine Authentic, The Real Life of Ralph Lauren."

On her taste for bourbon, newspapers, and dogs, Clarkson joked, "Oh, any kind of bourbon will do." She reported a mild obsession with newsprint, and said she collected copies of The Times, The Post, The Observer, in piles around her bed.

"I revel in the smell, the feel of the paper between my fingers," she said. As for canine preferences, she has a soft spot for her own, a pit bull mix that she claims bears great likeness to Walter Matthau:  "He's a lover. He's stinky, but he's a lover."

The evening concluded with a sale and signing of Mr. Gross's book, "Rogues' Gallery: The Secret Story of the Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals that Made the Metropolitan Museum of Art." 

CrossTalk is a collaboration between the museum and the Katonah Village Library, and it benefits children's programming at both institutions.