The Eight-Day Week
Wednesday, October 1
Whew! How about that September? The month didn’t exactly go off as planned, did it? Luckily we have leafy October on deck, during which we will attempt as a civilization to wake up from the surreal dreamscape of Lehman Brothers imploding while an Alaskan beauty queen—albeit one protected from witches—auditions for the vice presidency. So let’s celebrate a return to normalcy with Steve McQueen’s first wife’s cabaret show, a song-and-dance about the New York of yesteryear, before glass mega-towers, mortgage-backed securities and Pinkberry, when she met her late husband. “I was coming out of dance class in Carnegie Hall and instead of turning right as usual I wanted to go to the health food store for carrot juice.
The Transom
Piqued Over Palin, Behar's Bark Worse Than Bite at Maher Lunch
“I’m carrying Sarah Palin’s baby!” the actress Caroline Rhea was telling guests while rubbing her pregnant belly at a lunch for comedian Bill Maher’s new documentary, Religulous, at Brasserie Ruhlmann on Monday, Sept. 29.
The film, the title of which combines the words “religion” and “ridiculous,” is a satirical take on various faiths, directed by Larry Charles, better known for his work on Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
“I thought it was very instructive,” said The View host Joy Behar. “I grew up Catholic like Bill—communion, confirmation, the whole thing—and even if you’re a religious person, you watch this and you think, ‘I have to question a few things.
The New York World
Let Me Tell You About My BFF DFW
So everyone’s claiming to have been real tight with David Foster Wallace because they played tennis with him, had a class with him, got a book signed by him, did the naughty with him. Seems thousands of people were “pretty tight” with him and they want to make sure you know it.
I’ve hauled my copy of Infinite Jest, published in 1996, in and out of seven apartments I’ve lived in. Never made it past page 3. A few phone numbers scribbled in the back. Never wore a do-rag but had an earring in 10th grade. Took it out after someone made fun of me.
Men of Manhattan
No More Baked Alaska for Bristol’s Baby Daddy?
Imagine you are Levi Johnston. Like all 18-year-old males, you feel you own the world. Makes your mouth water. Hey—keep your tongue in your mouth! You can’t let them know what you’re up to. But they’re not going to know what hit ’em. Right now your playing field is the ice; you kick ass. But the wider world is also hungry for your tear-it-up testosterone. And you’re gonna see it all.
Then suddenly: Well, we all know what happened. Bristol happened to you and then Sarah Palin happened to all of us.
“There are lots of dropouts,” said Gabriel Weaver, a 32-year-old lawyer who lives in Los Angeles and grew up in Wasilla.
Style
Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe Frolicked in Morocco While Filming 'Body of Lies'
“There is a danger with being jingoistic—you can’t do that—but this film isn’t about the war,” said the director Ridley Scott at the Sunday night premiere of his new film Body of Lies, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. “It’s really a spy film in the spirit of The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, The Third Man, or Spy Game, my brother’s film. And who doesn’t want to be a spy?” (Mr. Scott's brother is the director Tony Scott.)
Mr. DiCaprio fielded questions about his personal life (still no comment as to whether he plans to settle down with Israeli model Bar Rafaeli). read more »
Michael Lohan Gets Knocked Out
Celebrity dad Michael Lohan has announced that he will put himself up for auction to fight the highest bidder in a three-round boxing match at the annual Long Island Fight For Charity on Nov. 24 at the Long Island Hilton in Melville.
Bids are starting at $5,000 and money raised from the event will go towards charities like the Family Residence and Essential Enterprises Inc. According to its website, FREE (nice acronym!) assists individuals with mental challenges and developmental disabilities.
The event has apparently been months in the planning. In August, Mr. Lohan asked Page Six's Richard Johnson and Britney Spears's ex-husband Kevin Federline to join him in the boxing ring, but both declined. "I don’t care who it is; it’s for charity. I’ve been beaten up by the press, so I don’t care if I get a few shots by a kid half my age," Mr. Lohan told OK! magazine at the time. read more »
Gay Talese, Martin Scorsese Swoon for Italian Mob Movie
Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah, a documentary-like depiction of the brutal Camorra organized crime regime that rules the southern Campania region of Italy, screened to a small audience—including Martin Scorsese, Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci, Nick Pileggi, John Turturro, and Gay Talese—Friday evening, followed by a dinner discussion at Osteria del Circo. (Mr. Buscemi told the Daily Transom he found the film "beautiful," adding, “I’m still digesting it.”)
The film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, will be released in the United States in February. Mr. Talese had been asked to lead the discussion; his 1971 book Honor Thy Father is about the New York-based Bonnano crime family. “It’s a very depressing film, but it will show in New York at a time when everyone’s depressed about business, and it’s a business in the film of money," Mr. Talese told the Daily Transom. "You know how many times you saw someone counting money? The money in this film didn’t lead to anything. It was visibly detracting.” read more »
Morning Memo: Jude Law's Love Nest; Paris Hilton Plans a Family; Is Chloe the New Beatrice?
Jude Law spent three days last week holed up in the Gramercy Park Hotel with a dancer he met at The Box. [P6]
The Lower East Side's Chloe may be the new Beatrice Inn--plus, they're considering serving a full menu until 2 a.m. [Grub Street]
At the New Yorker Festival, Clint Eastwood compared Angelina Jolie's talent to Meryl Streep's but added that she is "hampered by her gorgeous face." Meanwhile, Ms. Jolie told reporters that her secret to looking good after giving birth is "a great dress." [US Weekly]
Paris Hilton intends to have "three or four" children. [People] read more »
Transom Week In Review: Armin Amiri's New Diner; Steve Dunleavy's Farewell Party; Robert De Niro and a Grittier New York
We got the details on Armin Amiri's plans for the space formerly known as Cafe Socialista, which he is turning into an exclusive all-night diner.
At a lunch in honor of Bill Maher's Religuous, we solicited opinions on religion and religious person Sarah Palin from Kathleen Turner, Joy Behar, Janeane Garofalo, and Andre Balazs.
We took a walk down a rather dissolute memory lane with David Carr and Tom Arnold at a Soho House celebration for the film adaptation of Toby Young's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (bonus: info on star Kirsten Dunst's burgeoning writing career!).
Robet De Niro expressed ambivalence about a poorer--but grittier!--post-crash Manhattan at the premiere of What Just Happened?
We got shut out of Rupert Murdoch's party for New York Post writer Steve Dunleavy, but had a pretty good time anyway.
Fashion Roundup: Irina Lazareanu Hangs Up her Stilettos; 'Gossip Girl' Tries Fashion Synergy with Nine West
Irina Lazareanu said that after Sonia Rykiel's show, she is officially retired. [Style.com via Fashionista]
On an upcoming episode of Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen's character, Jenny Humphrey, will put on her own fashion show and Nine West is providing the grunge-style shoes that will go on sale on the company's Web site the same night the episode airs. [Fashionista]
Karl Lagerfeld didn't concern himself with silly things like the credit crunch as he put together his Chanel show this year. [Vogue UK] read more »
Charlize Theron Sued for Wearing the Wrong Watch
Being Charlize Theron is a lot more complicated than one might expect! The Smoking Gun has generously provided the world with an excerpt from the court filings associated with a lawsuit brought against Ms. Theron by ultra-fancy watch purveyor Simon Weil, who has accused her of violating an 2005 endorsement agreement by sporting a Dior timepiece in public.
To make matters worse, a photo of the transgression was printed in The Tourneau Times (which appears to be some kind of trade magazine/advertising sheet produced by Tourneau). Of course, these cuckoldish incidents are never simple, as Ms. Theron's team quickly pointed out. Apparently, in the very same issue of this watch-related publication, Simon Weil ran a print ad featuring model Thema Thormasdittor, which the actress's lawyers argue was also a breach of contract. So, everybody wins (or loses!). read more »
Israeli Director Ari Folman on Sarah Palin: "She Hunts Her Own Food!"
Thursday evening, Sony Picture Classics hosted a screening of Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir--an animated Israeli film about post-traumatic stress disorder and the early 1980s war between Israel and Lebanon--followed by a vice presidential debate and dinner party at the Fifth Avenue home of Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen and his wife, Huffington Post advice columnist Mona Ackerman.
"We have to watch this film quickly, no more chatting!" said publicist Peggy Siegal said before introducing Sony Picture Classics co-president Tom Bernard, who listed the film's accolades: debut at Cannes, Teluride, Toranto, at the NY Film Festival last Wednesday, and six Israeli Academy Awards. It was also nominated by Israel for the Academy Awards this year. read more »
Howard Stern To Join Beth Ostrosky in Holy Matrimony Tonight; Guests Will Receive Purell
Tonight, radio personality Howard Stern will wed Beth Ostrosky, his girlfriend of eight years, at Le Cirque, which has been rented out in its entirety for a party of 180 guests. Donald and Melania Trump are expected to attend. And Mark Consuelos (Mr. Kelly Ripa) will perform the ceremony, according to Page Six.
Ms. Ostrosky was out and about at New York Fashion Week last month bragging about the Marchesa wedding gown that Georgina Chapman was designing for her.
"I told her that Howard loves it when I dress sexy, I love girly, and then she's got her own style," she told the Daily Transom last month. "So I said just incorporate all of those three things!" read more »
The Peacocks of Paris Fashion Week
Now that New York Fashion Week is but a distant memory, the front rows of Paris Fashion Week—which ends Oct. 5—are crowded with editors, socialites and actresses. At the Balmain show, Derek Blasberg sat alongside Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson. French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld and her daughter Julia Restoin-Roitfeld attended the Christian Dior Spring 2009 show, and Tinsley Mortimer made an appearance at Christian Lacroix. Even the ubiquitous Leigh Lezark is over there posing for photos!
(Note to Ms. Lezark: Stick to that whole black-only thing; the hot pink tutu dress is a little much.)
Click above for a slideshow of who was where (and what they wore) during Paris Fashion Week. read more »
Post Video: Dunleavy in Excelsis
