Pop culture Archives

Hope your July 4 holiday is a blockbuster.

New York, June 23, 2008 – What’s weirder than throwing the launch party for your Dubai hotel in New York City?  Having everyone speculating about the cause of Demi Moore’s skinned knee.

Donald Trump launched his Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai with a lavish party in a geodesic dome-like structure outside the iconic Seagram Building in Manhattan on Monday, and tongues are wagging about the bruise on Demi Moore’s knee.  Theories we’ve heard bandied about include cosmetic surgery and, er, rug burn.  Yes, people are talking about Demi Moore’s skinned knee.

The line of guests waiting to get into The Donald’s party stretched down 52nd street, blocking the entrance to the Four Seasons Restaurant, which is located in the same building.  Hopeful crashers name-dropped furiously, and there wasn’t enough room for all of the photographers that turned up, creating an impromptu blue carpet arrival line outside the venue.  There was plenty of picture taking with Naomi Watts and Heidi Klum joining the Trump family for the bash. 

New York, 17 June 2008 – This year’s Whitney Art Party outdid itself, with a torrent of celebrities, art-world luminaries and fashion designers streaming into the Skylight Studios, downtown in trendy Shnot.  A burst of flashbulbs went off while we were chatting with Spider-Man star James Franco – first daughter Barbara Bush had arrived.  Sean Lennon, Monique L’Hullier, newlyweds Eli Manning and Abby McGraw, Sean Avery and Ivanka Trump were just a few of the other notable folks at the party. 

Many of the female guests wore the Herve Leger bandage dresses that Max Azria, the evening’s sponsor, revived – and they all pulled off the form-fitting frocks sensationally. Rocking a short white bandage dress, Rachel Bilson told us what she’d been up to while in New York – shopping in the meatpacking district that afternoon.   Gossip Girl star Michelle Trachtenberg talked up her line of jewelry, called Bella Veritas, that she makes on her dining room table.  “It’s all handmade by me, one of a kind pieces.  It just sort of started out as fun gifts for my friends and it escalated into we should sell this in stores”, she tells us. 

Eva Amurri collects black and white photographs, but has not worked up the courage to bid at a live art auction.  “I’d be too scared to, like I’d put my hand up when I wasn’t sure”, she said as she made her way through the cavernous space, eyeing possible acquisitions – this was a silent auction, after all.

New York, June 16, 2008 – The Peabody Awards ceremony was unique this year.  The prestigious awards are for excellence in radio and television journalism, and news journalists normally dominate the luncheon, but this time entertainment personalities took precedence.   Heidi Klum was the center of attention for her work on Project Runway, leaving hardcore newsies like Kimberly Dozier and Bob Woodruff, both of whom were critically injured by bombs in Iraq, cooling their heels. 

Stephen Colbert found the mirrored back of his award statuette perfect for grooming, and smoothed his hair, checked his teeth and squeezed pimples while gazing at his reflection.  He thinks the Peabody award is better than an Emmy – mainly because he hasn’t won an Emmy.  Colbert said his dream guest to snag for his Comedy Central show is John McCain, because he’s “not exciting”.  (Is he gunning for V.P.?  Remember, Colbert ran for president once.)

There were no formal tributes, but people talked privately of NBC newsman Tim Russert’s sudden death the previous Friday. 

New York, June 10, 2008 – Who knew that the American Ballet Theatre has a Latin night?  Apparently all the folks who turned up at the Metropolitan Opera House on Tuesday for “Noche Latina”, a dinner and special performance of Don Quixote.  Among the prominent Latinos on hand was Carolina Herrera, who was honored at the event.  “I’m so proud of the award, because I love ballet, and I love also the Latin American and Spanish dancers”, the designer said.  “They have contributed so much to the American Ballet Theatre and they are really great”, she added.  The evening’s other honoree, former principal dancer Julio Bocca came specially from Argentina, and was thrilled to be back at Lincoln Center.  “It’s very special for me to be back here because I worked for 20 years with American Ballet Theatre", he said.  Bocca’s pal Isabella Rossellini came to lend her support.   Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima confided that she’d always dreamed of being a ballerina. “Unfortunately, where I grew up in Brazil, you need to have money to become a ballerina”, she told us.  “And I guess I’m too old to start dancing”, the 26-year-old said with a laugh.