Spotted

cityfile · 04/07/09 08:26AM

Jon Stewart jogging across the street with his son ... Sienna Miller arriving at JFK ... Kiefer Sutherland walking in the West Village with his girlfriend ... Taylor Momsen going to church with her mother and sister ... Katie Lee Joel taking her dog for a walk in the Village ... Michelle Williams pushing daughter Matilda in a stroller ... Sarah Jessica Parker walking in the rain in the West Village with son James ... Hilary Duff and Mariska Hargitay hanging out on the set of Law & Order: SVU ... Sheryl Crow carrying her son Wyatt in a car seat ... and Sean Penn walking around on the set of his new movie Fair Game in Brooklyn.

Toxic Tour

cityfile · 04/07/09 08:19AM

Andrew Luan worked at Deutsche Bank until recently. When he didn't get paid a bonus, he quit his job, but he didn't plan on spending the next six months in the company of his Wii, waiting around for the job market to improve. Luan launched a "financial meltdown tour" this week, "guiding packs of mostly European tourists around the epicenter of the collapse—and explaining his own role in the crisis along the way." (He was a CDO trader at Deutsche Bank where he says he shorted collateralized mortgage-backed securities.) Sounds like time and money well spent: "For only $40, he'll show you the word integrity engraved on the front of the New York Stock Exchange—and tell you about his all-male bond-trading desk's workplace push-up contests." [The Big Money]

Art Prices Take a Plunge

cityfile · 04/07/09 07:52AM

Art just isn't what it used to be. According to the Mei Moses index released today, art prices fell 35 percent during the first quarter of 2009, which means Steve Cohen's ten-figure collection is now worth a much more modest $650 million. [FT]

The Most Stressful Point of the Week: Right About Now

cityfile · 04/07/09 07:31AM

Are you by any chance feeling overwhelmed, anxious about various annoying tasks, perhaps sorely tempted to go and strangle the guy two desks over who's talking too loudly on the phone? You're not alone: A survey has identified 11:45 on a Tuesday morning as the most stressful time of the working week, when we pay for slacking off on Monday, realize we're going to have to work through lunch, and are consumed with dread for the rest of the week. So just take some deep breaths and go eat a candy bar/smoke a cigarette/swallow a Xanax.

Triplex at 895 Park Finds a Buyer

cityfile · 04/07/09 07:24AM

• It took a year and a half and three price cuts, but the triplex penthouse at 895 Park that belonged to the late fashion mogul and film producer Charles Evans has gone into contract. The four-bedroom spread, which first went up for sale for $29.5 million in October 2007, had most recently been listed at $15.5 million. [Cityfile, Stribling]
• Mortgage exec Steve Schnall and wife Sherri have dropped the price of their 11,300-square-foot townhouse at 2 North Moore Street, which set a record for Tribeca when it was put up for sale for $35 million a year ago. It's now available for the slightly reduced price of $33 million. [Cityfile, Corcoran]
• Donald Trump's son Eric paid $540,000 for the 14th-floor apartment next door to the one he already owns at 100 Central Park South. [Real Deal]
• Diane Keaton has cut $1 million off the price of her Beverly Hills home, which she originally put on the market in March for $12.995 million. [Luxist, WEA]

Happy Birthday

cityfile · 04/07/09 06:28AM

Former Giants star turned Today show commentator Tiki Barber and his twin brother Ronde turn 34 today. Russell Crowe is 45. Nightlife impresario Jason Strauss is turning 35. Francis Ford Coppola is 70. John Oates of Hall & Oates is 60. Michael Dorf, the founder of the Knitting Factory and City Winery, is 47. Islanders head coach Ted Nolan is 51. Renowned French chef Joel Robuchon is 64. British journalist Sir David Frost is turning 70. Bill Bellamy is turning 44. And Jackie Chan celebrates his 55th birthday today.

Sam Ronson's Restraining Order, Scarlett's New Diet

cityfile · 04/07/09 06:02AM

• Is it finally over between Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson? Her mom and sister certainly hope so: The two were spotted with Sam at a police station yesterday to "look into filing a restraining order" against Lindsay, although LiLo appears to still be in denial, telling E! that they're just taking a "brief break." [Us, E!]
• Madonna was crushed to learn her adoption petition had been rejected by a judge in Malawi—"I can't believe I'm leaving my beautiful baby behind"—but baby Mercy's uncle is now supporting her appeal, for whatever that's worth. [MSNBC, Sun]
• CNN's Campbell Brown had a baby boy yesterday. [HuffPo]
• Who does Scarlett Johansson have to thank for her new bod? Gwyneth Paltrow, apparently, since she reportedly introduced Scarlett to her trainer Tracy Anderson who put her on a "rigid diet." [Sun]

Wall Street: Tuesday Morning Headlines

cityfile · 04/07/09 05:50AM

• A half-dozen bidders have emerged for AIG's asset management unit, although efforts to sell it have been "complicated," not surprisingly. [WSJ]
• Congressman Dennis Kucinich has asked the SEC to determine if Bank of America violated the law by not disclosing Merrill Lynch's bonus plan. [DB]
• GM is speeding up preparations for a possible bankruptcy filing. [BN]
• Quadrangle Group has halted fundraising for its next fund. [Crains]
• The Tokyo office of Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity has been closed. [DB]
• RBS may eliminate an additional 9,000 jobs. [BN]
• It's never been a better time for a hostile takeover. [NYP]
• What's Hank Paulson doing with his money these days? He's backing his son's effort to bring Major League Soccer to Portland, Oregon, that's what. [BN]

Graydon Carter Denies Report He's 'An Amazing Fuck'

Ryan Tate · 04/07/09 05:13AM

A more cocksure man might have played along, but Graydon Carter's tenure atop Vanity Fair has apparently taught him the danger of hype and high expectations, so he's denied a flattering sex story.

Ruth Pays Bernie a Visit

cityfile · 04/07/09 05:03AM

Ruth Madoff took a little break from her busy shopping routine to visit her husband yesterday for the first time since he was locked up three weeks ago. But what's with the $5 cheapo umbrella she was carrying? Looks like she forgot a thing or two when she stopped at Neiman Marcus last week. [NYDN]

Rihanna Would Like Chris Brown's Problems To Go Away

Ryan Tate · 04/06/09 11:17PM

After Chis Brown pled not guilty to assaulting Rihanna in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday, Rihanna's attorney said something peculiar: The apparent victim of Brown's attack would like to bring the case to a rapid conclusion.

Rumors: Anne Hathaway & Marc, Theyskens & Halston

cityfile · 04/06/09 06:02PM

• Is Anne Hathaway going to replace Victoria Beckham as Marc Jacobs' latest muse? That's the rumor, at least. [Daily Mail]
• One more rumor: It's said Olivier Theyskens may be taking over at Halston. [Hint]
• It's not all bad news on Madison Avenue: Jil Sander and Nanette Lepore both have stores opening in the next few months. [FWD]
• Lindsay Lohan's latest brand extension? A line of panty hose, naturally. [WWD]
• Barneys is getting a small (but much-needed) infusion of cash. [NYP]
• Filene's Basement is not bankrupt. Not yet, at least. [NYP]
• Jessica Joffe goes topless for Katy Rodriguez. [Pipeline]
• The Cut has the list of every piece of clothing Michelle Obama wore on her trip overseas. And it includes the Alaïa cardigan that she wore twice. [NYM]