Giving ’til it hurts
Give it up for Contribute, a new magazine devoted to philanthropy which has given your correspondent a new column called Scene. It’s about the social side of the giving game, and debuts in the December issue. My philanthropy? Previewing it here: It’s called Benefit Hell. It would be a hell of a world if we […]
Village Under Siege Pt. 2
Finally caught up with my pal Jay McInerney’s obit for the Upper East Side and he got it half-right. But I think the real story’s not the death of the UES; it’s the plague of roaches newly nesting Downtown. Just before my wife and I sold our place off Washington Square and moved to a […]
Gold(berger) Standard
In the new issue of Bergdorf Goodman Magazine (out today), The New Yorker’s architecture critic, Paul Goldberger, lists his ten favorite new buildings in New York. No, your cheesy Chelsea condo tower isn’t among them.
Corrections
On page 59 of 740 Park, there is a reference to the Bank of the United States, which failed in 1930. It had no connection with the institution of the same name founded in Philadelphia in 1791. On page 86, Abby “Babs” Rockefeller is referred to as John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s sister, and her husband, […]
Spy Masters Spreak Freely
Spy co-founders Graydon Carter and Kurt Andersen and their Boswell, George Kalogerakis, engage in a gloriously self-deprecating BG Conversation in the Holiday issue of Bergdorf Goodman Magazine (out later this week). You can read it here. Its even got the Page Six seal of approval.
Beautiful Fall, Great Book, Lousy Title
The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris is, hands down, the best book ever on contemporary fashion. Unlike the cheeky roman a clefs that have such currency, it’s non-fiction and courageous: none of the names have been changed (and what names!!!). Which, alas, is why it’s no surprise that it’s […]
Sock Puppetry Will Get You (Almost) Everywhere
What a way to start your day (and a brand-new blog)! I woke to the news from gawker.com that I’ve got quite a creative detractor [or two] at 740 Park. All I can say is, anonymous negative pejoratives are the highest form of flattery. Oh, and Janet Maslin’s Times review also said, “The curb appeal […]
“History via the Social Register”
“A history of wealth lies in these walls,” says Canada’s Financial Post of 740 Park, which “tells the story of the building and its fascinating roster of residents. In doing so, [Gross] has also related an economic history of the United States. An interesting idea… 740 Park is fun to read.”
“The meat of novels and movies. And myths.”
David Patrick Columbia’s New York Social Diary celebrates the publication of 740 Park in paperback. “Michael Gross’ book,” the web site says, “is fascinating, because aside from his respectful reportage on the architectural plans for the completed building, he tells you the stories of those who lived in the apartments, right up to today. All […]