Remember Sam Israel, the druggie hedge fund manager who made off with $450 million, got caught, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison—but then tried to skip out on the sentence by faking his own death? Hopefully the two weeks Israel spent lost in the woods was worth it! Because it just earned him another two years behind bars. [NYP]
Financier Steve Rattner resigned as "car czar" on Monday to spend more time with his family. You didn't believe that excuse, of course. But now we have a better idea of what it was that ultimately brought Rattner's DC stint to an end. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been trying to reach a settlement with Rattner over charges his private equity firm paid bribes to state officials to secure investments from the state pension fund. But a deal hasn't been reached yet, it seems, so "Cuomo's investigation of Rattner has 'intensified' in recent weeks." Let's hope Rattner comes to his senses and works something out with Cuomo. He may not have a job in Washington any longer, but Hollywood is still waiting with baited breath for Rattner to live up to his true potential. [Reuters]
Did you know that Kim Kardashian is in Botswana at the moment? (That's the country in Africa named Botswana, by the way, in case you were thinking it might be some new jungle-themed club in LA.) What could possibly explain Kardashian's decision to travel to such a poor African country? Diamonds, of course! Kim and boyfriend Reggie Bush made the trip as "representatives" of Russell Simmons' Diamond Empowerment Fund, a foundation backed by companies like DeBeers that assists "economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource." But DeBeers & Co. is totally getting its money (or diamonds') worth. Kardashian is learning all sorts of interesting things about the economy of Africa, and she's sharing her newfound knowledge on Twitter: "Did u know that 75% of Botswana's economy is supported by diamonds?" Actually, we didn't. But now we do! We fully expect to see Kim talking economics with Jeffrey Sachs when she gets back to the States. In the meantime, you'll find a few more of Kardashian's revelations—opposite a photo of Kim in a bikini, weirdly—below.
Drew Barrymore crossing the street in Midtown ... Kelly Ripa checking her cell phone in SoHo ... Anne Hathaway eating lunch in the Village ... Heidi Klum leaving her hotel with an apple in hand ... Chris Kattan walking in the meatpacking district ... Amber Rose talking to friends outside her apartment downtown ... Emilie de Ravin and Robert Pattinson filming scenes for Remember Me in Brooklyn Heights ... Keyshawn Johnson walking with a friend downtown ... Kelly Osbourne leaving MTV studios ... Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick shooting a scene for Gossip Girl on the Upper East Side ... Nic Cage leaving his hotel in Midtown ... and Jennifer Aniston shopping at Only Hearts on Mott Street.
Today we have a young starlittle who likes to smoke marijuana cigarettes with her parents (dunh dunh dunh!), a tween who got her tween dreams crushed tweenily, and an actress on a terrible crash diet.
Cityfile has partnered with Dr. Helen Fisher to bring you the latest insight into love and romantic attraction. A renowned biological anthropologist, Dr. Fisher has conducted extensive research in the fields of human sexuality, love and marriage. She serves as Chief Scientific Advisor for the internet dating site Chemistry.com.
• Literary agent Luke Janklow and his Julie, who runs the restaurant Sweetiepie, have lowered the price of their townhouse at 16 West 12th Street, six months after putting it on the market with Paula Del Nunzio for $24.975 million. The 8,100-square-foot home, which the couple bought from Andre Balazs and Katie Ford for $4.5 million in 2004, is now priced at $19.5 million. [Cityfile, BHS]
• The $15.5 million triplex penthouse at 895 Park that belonged to the late fashion titan/movie producer Charles Evans has gone into contract—again. Over the past few months, the building's notoriously difficult co-op board has turned down three potential buyers. Now a fourth person has come along to give it a shot. Good luck! [Cityfile, Stribling, previously]
If the piece in last Sunday's New York Times about the state of NYC nightlife didn't convince you that times are tough for club owners, look no further than this press release from JE Englebert, the publicity-obsessed owner of Suzy Wong, and Noel Ashman, the man who ran the Plumm until it went down in flames a couple of months ago. The duo say they plan to work the door at "a competitor's club" this coming weekend. But at least they're preparing for the future, right? The press release is below.
Kim Cattrall breaks up with her man, Will and Jada Smith have lots of sex, Chace Crawford is moving out of Ed Westwick's place to get his own apartment downtown and Megan Fox is shopping for a house.
If you see Arianna Huffington today, don't forget to say "xronia polla." The pundit, author and Greek native is 59. Others celebrating today: Beth Ostrosky Stern is turning 37. Actress Diane Kruger is turning 33. Paul Sevigny is 38. Forest Whitaker is 48. Guitar legend Joe Satriani turns 53. David Easton, the prominent interior designer, is turning 73. Club owner Don Hill is 65. Real estate scion Dan Tishman is turning 54. Former wrestler (and governor) Jesse Ventura is 58. Actor Scott Foley is turning 37. Marky Ramone of The Ramones is 56. Brian Austin Green is 36. And Brigitte Nielsen celebrates her 46th birthday today.
• Is Penelope Cruz with child? The only evidence seems to be that she looks a bit bigger these days, but if that's enough to convince you, feel free to pass the rumor on to everyone you know. [P6]
• Jesus Luz, Madonna's Brazilian model boyfriend, isn't happy that Madge has been spending time with her ex, and he's become "downright childlike" in his need for her constant attention. That might have something to do with the fact that he is a child, but whatever. [NYDN]
• Who says the love fades after 60? Jane Fonda is reportedly head over heels in love with her new boyfriend, music producer Richard Perry. And Robert Redford tied the knot with his younger German girlfriend over the weekend. [P6, People]
Fabiola Beracasa may be turning up in your living room in the near future. Fashion Week Daily reports the socialite recently signed a deal to star in her own reality TV show. What the show is going to be about isn't clear, although Fabiola has dismissed the rumor it's restaurant-related. "I am working on a show," she told FWD. "But the New York restaurant scene has nothing to do with it." Whatever it is, let's hope she has better luck than Tinsley Mortimer, who filmed a bunch of episodes for a MTV reality show, footage that never saw the light of day after MTV execs determined the Tinz was a touch "boring" on camera. [FWD]
