• The most stunning assesment of Fashion Week no comes, of course, from the Observer. A sampling: "I want to be an important person, too!" [NYO]
• Understanding international relations through the characters of the O.C. Obviously, Marissa Cooper is Iraq. [YDN]
• So now that we've cleared the air about Fake Writer James Frey's fake books, lets talk about the real money: sup with his film deals? [LAT]
• Where do we draw the line on watching porn on the subway? OK on the iPod, but not on a 4-inch screen? [Too Saucy]
• You probably won't get salmonella poisoning at the Hotel on Rivington, but it's not a guarantee. [HotelChatter]
• You'll be happy to know that Tom Ford fought tooth and nail to show us Angelina Jolie's buttcrack in the latest Vanity Fair. [Tittle-Tattle]

Oh, Jann Wenner. Jann, Jann, Jann — aren't you busy enough juggling your wife, boyfriend, publishing company, desk checks, private plane and forthcoming MTV show? Do you really need to plant your seed in Vegas? Shouldn't you be focusing on micromanaging your editors?

• FishbowlNY blogger Rachel Sklar gives notice, as Mediabistro's dark goddess Laurel Touby has finally killed her happy disposition. Sklar lasted 10 months, which is a testament to her sheer strength and boa-blocking abilities. We'd say she'll be dearly missed, but it's not like she's dead or anything. In fact, she's alive more now than ever. Go free, young Sklar! [Media Mob]
• It's a lengthy, socialite-heavy blind item, but it's awfully intriguing. We're dying to know which Muffies and Sukies are involved! [NYSD]
• The Pink Elephant is back, but it's downgrading considerably to the likes of Crobar. For shame. [Jossip]
• 2006 should bring some fancy new hotels to NYC — assuming, you know, the damn things ever open. [New Yorkology]
• Musings on the separation of church and indie. [Pitchfork]
• New York City Restaurant Week starts today — enjoy it, as it's the one time it's almost OK to be fat in Manhattan. [NYCVisit]

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Summer dwindles to a close, the boiling stench of Manhattan becomes slightly less putrid, and suddenly the streets are lined with stick people and glittering with cocaine. Why, it's time for Fashion Week!

You'd think that, for over a grand per night, the Ritz-Carlton would be able to keep the riff-raff locked up and under control. Not so much, sadly, when Tommy Lee and Eva Longoria come to town:

A friend pointed us to a very special offer at the Tribeca Grand. Now through the end of the year, the hotel is offering a presumably Weinstein or DeNiro-inspired special it calls the "Director's Cut" package.