OCTOBER The CULTURAL DIVIDE

Peyton Place

The "Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton" exhibition opens at New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art, presenting the first American survey of her vivid portraits. (10/8-1/11)

The inaugural New York City Wine and Food Festival serves up a seminar with domestic goddess Nigella Lawson, hosts a "Red" meat-and-red-wine evening with Tom Colicchio, and offers a burger bash, among many other foodie delights. (10/9—10/12; nycwineandfoodfestival.com)

Belle and Boo

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The invitation for Bette Midler's annual Hulaween party, held at N.Y.C.'s Waldorf-Astoria, warns, "Costumes or else." Michael Kors will be on hand to judge the good from the ugly. The party's proceeds benefit Midler's New York Restoration Project, which creates clean and green community spaces around the city. Divine! (10/31; nyrp.org)

Tapas Television

Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Bittman, and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols star in Spain... on the Road Again, a new television series, airing now, documenting the country's memorable culinary dishes and settings, (spainontheroadagain.com)

20 Versace is at last launching a fine-jewelry collection with a few one-of-a-kind pieces from artists Julian Schnabel, Marc Quinn, and Wangechi Mutu, to be auctioned at the Whitney Museum's Gala and Studio Party on October 20. (whitney.org)

Brighl Lighls, Big Cily

The large, monochromatic, intimate shots included in Elliott Erwin's New York, out this month from teNeues, celebrate the city and career of the prominent photographer.