cityfile

Paterson Stands His Ground

cityfile · 02/09/10 02:02PM

Gov. David Paterson gave a press conference a little while ago, ostensibly to address how the state is preparing for tonight's big snowstorm. Not surprisingly, he quickly segued to the topic everyone in the room wanted to hear him address: those rumors that have been hounding him for the past few days and the supposedly damning New York Times article that's in the works. Paterson said that he met with reporters at the paper earlier today and the topic of drugs or sex didn't come up. And if you were still thinking he was planning on resigning, think again: "The only way I'm not going to be governor next year is at the ballot box and the only way that I'll be leaving office before is in a box." [CBS News, NYDN]

Klein, Moss. Pot, Kettle

cityfile · 02/09/10 01:12PM

In an interview with Britain's Telegraph, Calvin Klein says Kate Moss was always a "difficult" model to work with: "I have worked with so many women, great ones, and Kate was always difficult." That may very well be true—working with any supermodel is never easy, especially one that subsists on a diet of vodka and Marlboro Lights. But what's it like to work for Calvin Klein?

Snow Day

cityfile · 02/09/10 11:51AM

The snowstorm that was supposed to hit NYC last week didn't amount to much in the end. This time around, though, it's shaping up to be the real thing. With as much as a foot of snow expected to fall between tonight and tomorrow, the Department of Education has gone ahead and decided to close all NYC public schools tomorrow. [NYDN]

Harold Ford, Yellow-Dog Democrat

John Cook · 02/09/10 11:25AM

Harold Ford may or may not remember where he lives, but he certainly knows when he's home—because his eyes are assaulted by a garish array of yellow and turquoise walls. No wonder he's trying to sell it.

Spotted

cityfile · 02/09/10 10:31AM

Heidi Klum leaving the Mercer Hotel in SoHo and later turning up at ABC studios for an appearance on Regis & Kelly ... Alicia Silverstone riding the subway with husband Christopher Jarecki ... Whitney Port filming a skin care commercial in SoHo ... Natalie Cole going to dinner at Nello ... Mad Men's John Slattery walking his dog in SoHo ... Liev Schreiber carrying son Sasha on his shoulders ... Angela Lansbury arriving at the Pierre Hotel ... Rachel Weisz getting in a car ... Matthew Broderick walking with his son in the West Village ... and Pierce Brosnan going to lunch with Irish singer Ronan Tynan.

DJ AM's Pad Listed; 2 North Moore Finds a Buyer

cityfile · 02/09/10 09:44AM

• The SoHo apartment where Adam Goldstein (aka DJ AM) died from a drug overdose last year has arrived on the market. The 1,147-square-foot condo at One Kenmare Square, which Goldstein purchased for $1.9 million in 2007, is listed for $1.795 million. [Curbed, PDE]
• Nearly two years after they first put it on the market for $35 million, mortgage company founder Steven Schnall and his wife Sherri have found a buyer for their over-the-top 11,000-square-foot mansion at 2 North Moore Street. The five-bedroom townhouse, which is equipped with a 50' heated lap pool, screening and billiards rooms, and "outdoor dining atrium"—and which had been listed most recently for $29 million—went into contract to sell late last week. [Cityfile, Corcoran]

The Loneliest Man in Albany

cityfile · 02/09/10 09:06AM

It's still unclear what the big "bombshell" involving David Paterson is. Or if there's one at all. Or when the New York Times plans to publish the story that has had politicos buzzing for days. But that didn't stop the governor from lashing out at his political rivals and members of the media yesterday.

A-Rod's Latest Catch; Donald Trump's Denial

cityfile · 02/09/10 08:17AM

Alex Rodriguez's plan to bed every woman in Hollywood continues apace. The Yankee and Cameron Diaz are now hooking up, according to OK!, although now that the news is out, he's probably already moved on to someone new. Which is too bad, really, since RodDiaz has a nice ring to it. [OK!]
• Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, was charged with involuntary manslaughter yesterday. (He pleaded not guilty and faces up to four years behind bars if convicted.) At the arraignment, prosecutors asked that Murray's medical license be revoked, but a judge turned down the request, so if you've been wondering what it's like to get pumped up with propofol, you still have time. [NYP, TMZ]
• It's been a busy week for Angelina Jolie. Yesterday she and Brad Pitt said they plan to sue Britain's News of the World for reporting that they're planning to divorce. And today she's off to Haiti to meet with earthquake victims, since they've been requesting her help—or so she says. [Us, PE]
• She may have spent every episode of Jersey Shore whining about not having a boyfriend, but Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi seems to have landed the man of her dreams: a "typical guido juicehead with a good personality," who also has waxed eyebrows, double-pierced ears, and a penchant for Ed Hardy. [NYDN]
• Despite recent reports that Donald and Melania Trump are having marriage troubles, The Donald says "all is well." Then again he said the same thing when his casinos were going bankrupt and his real estate holdings were imploding, so you may want to take his denial with a grain of salt. [People]

Happy Birthday

cityfile · 02/09/10 06:55AM

Mia Farrow turns 65 today. Joe Pesci is turning 67. Model Amber Valletta is 37. Actress Mena Suvari is 31. Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple, is turning 66. Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee is 70. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz is turning 67. Columbia physicist and author Brian Greene is 47. Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang is 31. Virginia Senator Jim Webb is 64. Retired TV news anchor Roger Mudd is 82. Singer-songwriter Carole King is 68. And Judith Light of Who's the Boss fame turns 61 today.

cityfile · 02/08/10 05:30PM

[Photo via Flickr]

cityfile · 02/08/10 04:45PM

Super Bowl XLIV made history last night: It's now the most-watched TV program in U.S. history, having bypassed the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983. [THR]
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have filed suit against the Rupert Murdoch's News of the World for reporting the couple was separating. [Guardian]
• Talks between Fox and Conan O'Brien seem to be moving ahead. As for the Super Bowl ad featuring Letterman and Leno, Letterman was reportedly interested in having Conan appear as well, although it didn't pan out.
• Ellen DeGeneres makes her debut on American Idol tomorrow. Meanwhile, talks to have Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell next season are progressing.
• Mixed news for the magazine business: newsstand sales fell in the second half of 2009, although the situation was even worse a year ago. [NYT, AdAge]
Sarah Palin won't have to fly to NYC to tape her appearances on Fox News: The network is building its new "contributor" a TV set in her living room. [NYT]
• After dominating the box office for seven weeks, Avatar was dethroned by Dear John this weekend, although it remained No. 1 internationally. [MTV]
• Ads for Snickers, Doritos, and Google were big winners with Super Bowl viewers this year. As for the Motorola spot starring Megan Fox, she may be the first person in history to have had a "thumb double." [Reuters, NYT, NYM]

André Leon Talley Is Ready For His Close-Up

cityfile · 02/08/10 04:03PM

Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley makes his debut as a judge on America's Next Top Model when the new season begins on March 10. And although he says he'd never watched the reality TV competition before deciding to join his dear old friend, Tyra Banks on the show (he says his boss, Anna Wintour, has never seen the show either), it looks like he'll fit in just fine. In addition to a special outfit for each episode—"13 custom-made Chado Ralph Rucci cloaks, varying only in color or fabric"—he'll be unveiling his very own catchphrase, too: "dreckitude," a combination of his favorite word, "dreck," and "quackitude," a "term he'd heard Rachel Maddow use on her show. 'Dreckitude was whipped out when I thought the challenge was not met or if [the contestants] showed up in perhaps an outfit that I just couldn't wrap my mind around.'" [WWD]

Botox Numbs More Than the Face

cityfile · 02/08/10 02:29PM

Not only does Botox prevent people from expressing emotion, it may also prevent them from experiencing emotion, according to researchers, who say that when you're physically unable to frown or smile, you're less likely to feel happiness or sadness, too. And you thought the total lack of affect on the faces of certain celebrities was masking a really rich inner life. [Newsweek]

Even in Scandal, Paterson Disappoints

cityfile · 02/08/10 01:26PM

Here we were expecting to hear a tawdry tale about coked-up key parties at the governor's mansion in Albany. But now word has it the much buzzed-about David Paterson scandal may not be quite as juicy as some have been suggesting, says Gabriel Sherman: "According to a source close to the Paterson camp who is familiar with the scope of the Times' reporting, the Times piece will be an in-depth profile of the governor focused on his personal character. There are likely to be new details about his marital infidelities, but the source added that it's not going to be the bombshell the blogs have predicted. "The piece is PG-13, not XXX.'" [NYM]

Greenwich Gets Back to 'Normal'

cityfile · 02/08/10 11:43AM

Now that the economy has rebounded—for people who make their living on Wall Street, at least!—and big bonuses have returned, how are residents of fancy schmancy Greenwich faring? Life is "slowly returning to normal," apparently. "The Greenwich version of normal, anyway," which means people are once again turning up to the local Ferrari dealership:

Spotted

cityfile · 02/08/10 10:33AM

Rosario Dawson leaving the Bowery Hotel ... Keanu Reeves walking in SoHo ... Larry King picking up food on Madison Avenue ... Renee Zellweger arriving at JFK ... Eliza Dushku and Rick Fox walking in the East Village ... Madonna arriving at the Kabbalah Center in Midtown with her kids ... Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts in Soho pushing their kids in strollers ... Amanda Seyfried picking up coffee in the East Village ... Natalie Portman taking a break on the set of Black Swan ... Sarah Jessica Parker leaving her townhouse in the Village ... and an unrecognizable Kate Gosselin leaving the Ted Gibson Salon before heading to dinner at Butter.

New York Times Sticks Boss's Kid With Crappiest Possible Shift

Hamilton Nolan · 02/08/10 09:51AM

After the weekend's blindingly obvious NYT scoop that the police department fudges the crime stats for its own benefit (they showed that on the The Wire like years ago, duh), the question remains: What do New Yorkers "at churches, businesses, community meetings and along the sidewalks on a bitingly cold Sunday morning" think about all this? The paper sent lowly metro reporter and publisher-to-be A "to the" G Sulzberger Jr. to find out, mostly because it was a good excuse to send the kid out on a "bitingly cold Sunday morning." Stay strong, AG. You'll be able to fire all those editors before long.
[NYT]

Conan Looks for Payout on CPW; Madoff Buyer Revealed

cityfile · 02/08/10 09:47AM

Conan O'Brien's tenure as Tonight Show host has ended, but it looks like he and wife Liza may be planning to stay in LA, since they're reportedly looking to unload their penthouse duplex at the Majestic on Central Park West. The 17th and 18th-floor spread, which features three terraces and Central Park Views, is being "quietly" shopped around for $35 million. [NYP]
• The buyer of Bernie and Ruth Madoff's penthouse has been revealed. It's Al Kahn, the CEO of 4Kids Entertainment and the man behind Pokemon and the Cabbage Patch Kids, who is said to be buying the place at at 133 East 64th Street for "just under" the asking price of $8.9 million. [NYP, previously]
Jimmie Johnson has unloaded one apartment and picked up another. The Nascar driver has sold his 3,200-square-foot loft at 32 West 18th Street, which he put on the market last year, for $4 million. Meanwhile, he and his wife paid $8.33 million for a condo in the Superior Ink building on W. 12th St. [NYT]