MTA Chairman Sued

cityfile · 06/02/09 09:58AM

As if the Dale Hemmerdinger, the chairman of the MTA, didn't have enough on his plate on the moment given the state of the city's transit system, two of his half-brothers are now suing him for allegedly siphoning off $2.2 million from 555 Fifth Avenue, a building that's part of the family's real estate conglomerate. [NYDN]

A New Use For Your Old Cards

cityfile · 06/02/09 09:24AM

If you've been laid off recently and you have a stack of useless business cards sitting in your desk drawer, there's something you can do with at least one of them. CardsofChange.com asks people to submit photos of their old business cards with their new contact info scribbled in, along with "one positive change that happened in your life as a result of being downsized." You don't get anything for participating, naturally. The same can't be said for the founders of the site: They've already landed a deal to turn the project into a book. [CardsofChange]

Spotted

cityfile · 06/02/09 08:53AM

Anne Hathaway and boyfriend Adam Shulman walking around ... Helena Christensen carrying shopping bags full of flowers in the West Village ... Tim Robbins playing hockey at a playground downtown ... ... Kate Hudson walking downtown with a friend ... Paris Hilton getting out of an SUV in front of her hotel ... Rachel McAdams arriving on the set of Morning Glory ... Robert Pattinson leaving JFK ... Nicole Kidman filming scenes for her new movie outside Sotheby's on the Upper East Side ... and Alessandra Ambrosio posing for photographers on the sidewalk.

Who Are the Tomcat Brothers Making the Hollywood Rounds?

Richard Lawson · 06/02/09 08:42AM

Today we have a pair of brother ladykillers, a starlet with some eating issues, a comedian who has to pay his new assistant an exorbitant amount of money just so they'll stay, and a vainglorious reality star.

Barclays Chairman Buys at One Beacon Court

cityfile · 06/02/09 08:00AM

• Archibald "Archie" Cox, Jr., the former CEO of Morgan Stanley International who was appointed chairman of Barclays Americas in 2008, has paid $12 million for a 49th floor apartment at One Beacon Court. The three-bedroom pad (left), which had most recently been listed for $14.4 million, was sold by Muirfield Capital Management chairman John Chalsty and his wife Jill. [Cityfile, floorplan]
• Retired tech exec Lawrence Mueller and his wife Mary Kay have put their 25th floor condo at 15 CPW on the market for $16.5 million, or nearly three times more than what they paid for it back in December '07. [Real Deal, PDE]
• Real estate magnate Murray Goodman has dropped the price of his duplex at 960 Fifth Avenue for the second time since listing it for $32.5 million in January. The four-bedroom co-op, which Goodman bought for $1.41 million back in 1981, is now priced at $27.6 million. [Cityfile, Sotheby's]

Spitzer Family Update

cityfile · 06/02/09 07:33AM

It's been a year a half since Eliot Spitzer resigned as governor, but there's some fresh news today about his ties to the Emperor's Club V.I.P. escort service. Court records unsealed at yesterday's sentencing of Temeka Rachelle Lewis, one of the agency's bookers, reveal that Spitzer hooked up with Emperor's Club prostitutes for 18 months to 2 years, met the ladies in "cities outside New York and Washington," employed a variety of aliases, and often paid for their services via postal money orders. In totally unrelated—but interesting—Spitzer family news, WWD reports today that the former governor's daughter will be spending the summer interning at the Huffington Post. Let's hope more embarrassing Spitzer news doesn't surface between now and September. Things could really get awkward around HuffPo's offices! [NYT, WWD]

Happy Birthday

cityfile · 06/02/09 06:55AM

Dating Drew Barrymore isn't the only thing that Fabrizio Moretti and Justin Long have in common. They also share a birthday. Fabrizio is turning 29 today, while Justin is turning 31. Others celebrating: Times columnist Frank Rich is turning 60. American Express CEO Ken Chenault turns 58. Princeton professor Cornel West is 56. Westchester DA-turned-TV judge Jeanine Pirro turns 58. Hairdresser-turned-movie producer Jon Peters is 64. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is 57. Dana Carvey is turning 54. Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts turns 68. Dennis Haysbert is 55. Nikki Cox turns 31. And comedian Wayne Brady is 37 today.

Lindsay in Paris, Britney on Tour, Amy's Failed Detox

cityfile · 06/02/09 06:31AM

• Lindsay Lohan is stirring up a bit of trouble in Paris. Apparently she's been in discussions with Emanuel Ungaro about signing on as a "creative consultant," although Ungaro's Esteban Cortazar is threatening to walk if that happens. [P6]
• An "insider" says a "fragile" Britney Spears doesn't really want to be on tour, but her dad has been forcing her into it. [MSNBC]
• Christie Brinkley says she has no plans to get married again and doesn't really know why anyone would bother getting married, but does still believe in "true love," if that's any consolation. [Us]
• Amy Winehouse's "last-ditch" plan to sober up isn't going so well. Instead of six shots of tequila for breakfast, she now settles for two. [DM]

Britney Rocks Britain With Decadent Sex Parties

The Cajun Boy · 06/02/09 06:00AM

Britney is planning the "filthiest aftershow party" to ever hit the UK, Lady Gaga wants to bang all the Jonas Brothers at the same time, Lindsay Lohan is seeking to enter fashion as a "creative consultant," and the Susan Boyle crazy breakdown story gets even sadder.

Wall Street: Tuesday Morning

cityfile · 06/02/09 05:56AM

• JPMorgan Chase, American Express and Morgan Stanley all announced plans to raise fresh capital today, so they're prepared to repay the taxpayer money they've received as soon as Washington gives them the go-ahead. [WSJ, BN]
• Related: The Federal Reserve says next week it will announce an initial set of banks that have been approved to exit the bailout program. [NYT]
• Citigroup has stopped paying out massive severance payouts to a handful of execs who recently left the company. Is it legal? Not really, but they're betting that it would be too embarrassing for them "to file lawsuits against the struggling, taxpayer-backed company seeking the money." [WSJ]
• Ex-Bear Stearns chief Alan Schwartz is joining Guggenheim Partners. [WSJ]
• After a good day on Monday, stocks are taking a breather today. [NYT]
• GM says it has a deal to sell Hummer, but won't disclose the buyer. If you were buying Hummer, would you want your name publicized? [WSJ]

Yes, the Bruno-Eminem Crotch Run-In Was Staged

The Cajun Boy · 06/02/09 12:51AM

So apparently there's been this huge debate raging all across America today over whether or not Bruno's bare-assed landing on Eminem in the "69" position was staged? Though we're utterly baffled that there's even any question at all over this, we have confirmation tonight that it was fake.