Barbra Streisand, Ronald Perelman and Christine Quinn. (Photo: Patrick McMullan)

City Council Speaker and likely mayoral candidate Christine Quinn rubbed shoulders with a bevy of boldface names including Babs herself, Barbra Streisand, yesterday at a luncheon at the Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to raise awareness of women’s heart health. 

Other guests at the event included designer Donna Karan, Oprah's BFF Gayle King and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was not in attendance, but First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris was on hand to present a proclamation from Hizzoner declaring September 20 “Women’s Heart Health Day” in New York.

Ms. Streisand gave a speech discussing unequal treatment women get when it comes to medical care.

"I can’t bear the inequality that exists when it comes to women. And women’s heart disease is no different. Surveys of available data show that a very small percentage of research dollars spent in the United States focuses on the treatment of women with heart disease," Ms. Streisand said. "For every woman in your life—wife, mother, sister, daughter—please help us fight women’s heart disease.”

It's enough to make you more than a little bit verklempt.