Harvey Weinstein Gets Schooled

cityfile · 10/16/09 09:41AM

The Huffington Post has an "exclusive" interview with Patrick Liotard-Vogt, the 25-year-old heir/spoiled brat from Switzerland who just bought the also-ran social network ASmallWorld from Harvey Weinstein. Curiously, the interview was conducted by Sabine Heller, who actually works worked for ASmallWorld, a fact she doesn't bother to mention. But that only makes it all the more amusing when Liotard-Vogt uses the discussion to mock the movie mogul who has fallen on hard times:

Smokers Will Die Broker

Hamilton Nolan · 10/16/09 09:07AM

Scientists have now produced overwhelming evidence that bans on smoking lead to a healthier, less dead population. What does this mean for you and your typically unhealthy creative underclass lifestyle? It means it's time to pay for your sins.

Which Famous Face Is Flat Broke?

Brian Moylan · 10/16/09 08:57AM

Remember when there was the illusion that celebs were glamorous? Now we hear about their money woes, car troubles and career setbacks. Celebrities: they're hobos, just like us. What we wouldn't give for a good affair! Oh, never mind.

Diddy Rewinds the Clock to 2004

cityfile · 10/16/09 08:52AM

It looks like bling isn't dead after all. (Or if it did recede a bit during the recession, it's since returned.) Per the Post: "Bling-loving hip-hop mogul Diddy accidentally flung a diamond-studded ring into a raucous crowd as he hurled bundles of cash off a stage at a Midtown studio—sparking an audience frisking that had attendees feeling like common criminals." Sadly, the search didn't turn up the ring, so Diddy is now out $20,000. But if he can just resist the temptation to order 50 bottles of Cristal when he goes out tonight, he'll have made up the difference by tomorrow morning. [NYP]

Another Hedgie Goes Down

cityfile · 10/16/09 08:31AM

Raj Rajaratnam, the founder of the $7 billion hedge fund Galleon Group, the 551st richest man in the world according to Forbes, and America's one and only Sri Lankan billionaire, has been arrested and charged for taking part in a $20 million insider-trading scheme. [NYT, WSJ]

Gisele Finds a Buyer; JetBlue CEO Sells

cityfile · 10/16/09 07:45AM

• After more than two years on the market, Gisele Bundchen has finally found a buyer for her triplex penthouse at 347 West 11th Street. The supermodel didn't make out nearly as well as she'd been hoping when she first put the 1,700-square-foot apartment up for sale. Originally priced at $10.9 million in Sept. 2007, the pad was listed for $4.5 million when it went into contract last week. Hopefully she'll have better luck with the Barrow Street townhouse that she wants to sell. It's still on the market for $13.95 million. [WSJ, PDE]
• Dave Barger, the CEO of JetBlue, has taken a loss on the sale of his 11th-floor apartment at The Plaza. The two-bedroom pad, which Barger picked up for $10 million in 2007, just sold for $9 million. [Cityfile]
• Daniel Radcliffe has paid $5.65 million for a five-bedroom townhouse at 339 West 12th Street. The 3,000-square-foot property comes with six fireplaces and a balcony that overlooks a 39-foot-long backyard. [NYO]
• Publishing heir James Fairchild and his wife Whitney, who sold their Sutton Place apartment last year for $9 million, have picked up a new home in the Hamptons. The couple has gone into contract to buy a "fixer-upper" in Southampton for "well under" its asking price of $11 million. [NYP]

Happy Birthday

cityfile · 10/16/09 07:07AM

Andre Leon Talley, Vogue's inimitable editor-at-large, turns 60 today. Actor Tim Robbins is turning 51. John Mayer is 32. Angela Lansbury is 84. Sports commentator Tim McCarver turns 68. JetBlue founder David Neeleman is turning 50. David Zucker, the man who directed Airplane! and The Naked Gun, is 62. Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller is 45. Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is turning 47. Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead turns 62. Mega-art collector Donald Jonas is 80. And Suzanne Somers turns 63 today. Below: A list of people celebrating their birthdays this weekend.

Lohan Goes to Court; Aniston Goes Back to Mayer?

cityfile · 10/16/09 06:17AM

• Lindsay Lohan could use a little good news today, especially since she's still dealing with the aftermath of her disastrous outing at Paris Fashion Week. Today is not going to be that day, unfortunately. Lohan is set to appear in court in LA a little later to answer questions about whether or not she's violated the terms of the probation she was given after she was busted for DUI a couple of years ago. Let's hope her powers of persuasion are in full effect. The judge could potentially sentence her to jail time, which would not only suck for LiLo, but would also leave Emmanuel Ungaro directionless, clearly. [TMZ, E!]
• Are John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston back together? Is she simply powerless to resist his advances? And have they spent the last few weeks meeting up for secret, romantic escapades around town? For the sake of Aniston's long-term mental health, let's hope none of those things are true. [Us, People]
• Go set your DVR. Tyra Banks plans to air the "first-ever televised colonic" on her show today. Just don't watch it while you're eating. [Dlisted, Tyra Show]

Auschwitz, Remembered on Facebook

Andrew Belonsky · 10/16/09 05:00AM

Memory's an ever-changing thing. And it comes in many forms, as exhibited by a new Facebook page started as a memorial for infamous concentration camp Auschwitz, which says they'll deal with deniers swiftly. Sorry, Ahmadinejad, no poke for you. [AP]

Stop, Jennifer Aniston, We Can't Keep Up!

Andrew Belonsky · 10/16/09 04:30AM

Jennifer Aniston's in love with someone, again. Paul McCartney's son's dreams are coming true and dying all at once. Jon and Kate are still deplorable. And Courtney Hazlett calls out Melissa Rycroft. Hoorah! It's your Friday morning gossip roundup!

Forget Balloon Boy, Today's All About Train Baby

Andrew Belonsky · 10/16/09 04:05AM

If Balloon Boy and his family were looking for publicity, they'll find it's fleeting. There's a new amazing tot on the horizon, and this one survived being hit by a train.