Despite the recession, the holidays brought out the best in New Yorkers. The 3rd annual charity:ball to benefit charity:water – bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations – was held Monday. Actor and activist Adrian Grenier, hosted a live auction to sell off the opportunity to build 10 wells in Africa at $5,000 each. Bid winners included Jenna Elfman and Grenier himself.

The Metropolitan Pavilion generously donated the venue and the event production raising over $400,000 for charity:water. Alan Boss, president of Metropolitan Pavilion said, “[Founder Scott Harrison's] dedication stands as a beacon for others to do good.”

Both Zenith and the Blavatnik Family Foundation donated a significant amount of their time, services and products to ensure a high level and quality event worthy of charity. Celebs in attendance included actor Matthew Modine, Summer Rayne Oakes, model/activist, Rocco DiSpirito, musicians Gnarls Barkley, and Amos Lee.

To date, charity: water has raised funds to build 890 freshwater wells in 8 African nations. When completed, they will serve more than 400,000 people with clean, safe water for 20 years! For more information, visit www.charitywater.org

Photo credit: Melissa Rosenberg

Additional contributor to this post is Shari Rosenberg

While there were many famous faces at the kickoff tea and fashion event, including Denise Richards, Alison Sweeney, Julie Benz, and Anne Dudek, the list of stars who gave up some threads for charity is even more impressive. Along with garb given by many of the launch attendees, donations include a maternity top from Gwen Stefani, a wrap dress from Melissa Joan Hart, and items from Lindsay Lohan, Teri Hatcher, Julianna Margulies, Jenna Elfman and others.

Bidding continues until August 27. For more info, click here.

So far, only 4 cars have managed to roll off the production line — so that means Pitt, Clooney, Damon, and Schwarzenegger will have to wait a bit longer for their electric fix. Automobile Mag has a bit more on the retail plans for the company,

“Located in Los Angeles, Tesla’s first dealer – actually a factory outlet – occupies 10,000 square feet along Santa Monica Boulevard.  Carrying a price tag of nearly $2 million, the store portrays an airy, industrial feel, thanks in part to concrete floors, visible ductwork, and colorful illumination. That appearance will expand as Tesla opens five stores across the country over the next year.  An outlet at its Menlo Park, Calif. headquarters should be open in the summer, while properties in New York, Miami, Seattle and Chicago could be functional by 2009.”

There’s some pretty crappy video over on Autobloggreen that almost looks like someone shot it with a cameraphone — but if you’re the tiniest bit interested in seeing what went down the other nigh, jump here to have a look.

Zazzle.com is partnering with The Humane Society of the United States to release a line of custom made postage stamps, called Sealed with a Kiss. The Sealed With A Kiss line will feature stamps with the lip prints of celebrities like Melanie Brown, Jeri Ryan, Jenna Elfman, Joe Hahn, Josh Henderson, and a special paw print from Benji, the movie-star dog.

Each sheet will include 20 “kiss” stamps from the celebrity of your choice. Or, if you want a lip-locking orgy, you can purchase a special edition sheet with a collage of kisses from each of the participating celebrities.  Since the Humane Society is part of Zazzle’s Community Giving program, 20 percent of the purchase price for all featured products sold will help the HSUS!

So head on over to Zazzle.com and grab some lip stamps before Valentines Day. Because if you’re like me this year, those famous glossy lips might be the only ones you have on that wretched holiday. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a pillow to go cry into.