Celebrating Compassion Gala

Veg-friendly celebrities are donning their evening wear and polishing their smiles in anticipation for tonight’s Celebrating Compassion Gala in New York City. The Mercy for Animals’ event will feature live music and entertainment, vegan hors d’oeuvres and dinner, a silent auction, and an awards ceremony to recognize those who made great strides in animal activism in 2009. Among those honored are Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, filmmakers Tom Simon and Sarah Teale, and MooShoes founders Erica and Sara Kubersky. Other guests include Queer as Folk actor Hal Sparks, comedian and VN contributor Dan Piraro, CNN reporter Jane Velez-Mitchell, and singer Nellie McKay.