Photo Coverage: Close and The View at NYT Arts & Leisure Weekend

This year's guests include: ABC's "The View" co-hosts Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd; Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates; FX's "Damages" creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman with Emmy Award-winning star Glenn Close and co-stars Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan; MSNBC's Keith Olbermann; Grammy Award-winning vocalists Gal Costa and Cassandra Wilson; The Public Theater's artistic director Oskar Eustis with "Hair" composer Galt MacDermot and members of the Broadway revival cast; New York Times assistant managing editor Richard L. Berke with reporters covering the new administration; award-winning comedian, actor and author Lewis Black; dancers and artistic directors of Pilobolus Dance Theater; internationally acclaimed author Salman Rushdie; PBS's Tavis Smiley; punk rock legend Patti Smith; indie pop band Vampire Weekend; author and award-winning journalist Sharon Waxman; and many more.

"Arts & Leisure Weekend is a special, one-of-a kind showcase for the enormous talents of our renowned guests and our great journalists," said Yasmin Namini, senior vice president, marketing and circulation, The New York Times. "We look forward to a fantastic four-day weekend and welcome this year's sponsors to the incredible, state-of-the-art TimesCenter."

This year's presenting sponsor is Olay. The lead sponsor is HBO and the corporate sponsor is New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies. C

Arts & Leisure Weekend was originally established in 2001 to mark The Times's 150th anniversary. Throughout the weekend, The Times collaborates with hundreds of cultural institutions in the United States and Europe to offer free admission, reduced prices and special events at museums, theaters, performing arts centers, tourist attractions, movie theaters, restaurants, spas and health clubs.

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.