Gawker Stalker Newsflash: Diddy, Derek Jeter, and Penelope Cruz Can Afford to Eat at Per Se
In this edition of Gawker Stalker: P-Diddy, Derek Jeter, and Penelope Cruz dine out, Jon Stewart, Sean Connery, Anna Wintour, Katie Couric and Chris Botti, Peter Boyle, Jon Stewart again, Bill Clinton, Johnny Knoxville, Pharell, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Andre 3000, Diane Keaton, Barry Diller, Harvey Keitel, Heath Ledger, Sean William Scott, Dave Chappelle, Ashley Olsen, Lydia Hearst, Fabian Basabe, Jared Leto, Hillary Swank, John Cusack, Glenn Close, John Mayer, Chloe Sevigny, Alec and Stephen Baldwin, Alan Cumming, Joan Allen, Minnie Driver, LL Cool J, Sam Rockwell, Scott Speedman, Fisher Stevens, John Legend, Charlie Rose, Kal Penn, Michelle Trachtenberg, Christine Lahti, Bobby Cannavale, Eva Herzigova, Damon Dash, David Blaine, Janice Min, and Rick Solomon.
I saw the most bizarre assemblage of celebs last night at Per Se. P-Diddy, Derek Jeter, Tristan Kennedy (as in the London and Barcelona club owner), Penelope Cruz, and a few other waif mannequins getting ready to be seated. They all looked in very high spirits, making quite a bit of noise and seemingly oblivious to the kings of industry seated all around them. We left well before they did, but by the looks of it they were drinking up quite a tab and having a blast. I kept hoping that Derek or Tristan would call me and my girlfriends over, but alas an invitation was not forthcoming! Bastards.
Jon Stewart, wife and child were enjoying a nice breakfast at Le Pain Quotidian on 5th Avenue and 8th Street this morning. He is beyond dreamy and was regarding the kid with the same bemused look that he shoots at the camera. Also spotted Sean Connery at the W at 50th and Lexington last night. He was very tall and accompanied by a woman who looked to be age appropriate. Go Sean!
At 8:40 this morning, as I was walking to work, I saw Anna Wintour leaving her mecca on 57th Street. She was coming out of Chanel, fully outfitted in the designer's duds. She quickly slipped on her sunglasses, pulled out her cell phone and began discussing breakfast with someone on the line. It all seemed rather routine, including her stroll down E. 57th Street, as she checked out her reflection in the store windows.
Thurs, Oct. 20th: While working the American Red Cross 100th Anniversary Ball in the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center I heard a disturbingly high-pitched voice behind me and knew it could be none other than perky Katie Couric. Couric, who looks skinnier in person, was seated at Table 1 (natch). I was waiting on Table 2. She was seen canoodling (to use the Page Six term) with on-again-off again beau, trumpeter Chris Botti. He looks like a washed up gay Boy Band member and this Friend of Dorothy knows when he sees one. His hair had more Highlights than a table in a pediatrician's waiting room. Couric and her pestilent publicist (Is there anything but a pestilent publicist?) demanded drinks without saying "Please" as soon as they sat down. You'd think the 13 plus million/yr lady could afford some Emily Post lessons. One Couric compliment: She's had good work done. Face-lift looks very natural. Also seen: onetime monk/current actor Peter Boyle, formerly of Everybody Loves Raymond; small in stature comedian Jon Stewart (as corroborated by other Gawker sightings); and Bubba himself, former Prez. Clinton, who was receiving the main award last night.
10/15: I spotted Johnny Knoxville and his 3 person entourage downing drinks at The Hotel on Rivington s bar on Saturday night while my girlfriend and I were waiting to be seated. He was laughing the whole time and left with his Amstel Light still in hand.
Pharrell Williams in Gucci on 5th Avenue on evening of 10/18, dressed in his requisite Bathing Ape hooded sweatshirt, hat and sneakers. Was with other dude from Neptunes, I think? (Not Chad, but the other one) along with his girlfriend and another girl. The store wasn t crowded, so I was the only creepy one staring and no one else seemed to notice them.
I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman having dinner outside at a restaurant on Great Jones between Lafayette and the Bowery. I saw/heard him and kept walking, but as I entered the restaurant muttered to my friend "Did you see Philip Seymour Hoffman?" and she turned and gawked. Luckily he was too absorbed in his conversation to notice. He looked more polished than I imagined.
On my Delta flight from NYC to Atlanta on Wednesday evening spotted a denim overall clad Andre 3000 in first class, he slept the entire flight.
I feel like Prometheus. I just want to bring my celebrity sightings to the world, but instead of running them, you peck out my liver. Anyway: Michael s was busy today. Liz Smith interviewed Diane Keaton in the back corner table, ie no man's land, where we were sitting. Diane did not look like she'd poached her wardrobe from Michael Jackson. She was wearing hot shoes, but with big chunky gray socks. Barry Diller was at table 1, and William and Leonard Lauder ate together a table away. William s weight and EL stock price appear to be inversely proportional.
10/20. Walking north on Greenwich in Tribeca. Harvey Keitel with a denim jacket and heavily gelled, slicked back hair. Didn't notice him at first but his voice gave him away immediately
Saw Heath Ledger and Sean William Scott (separately) at Bungalow last night. Both were subdued and achingly well behaved.
10/18. 10 PM at New Pizza Town on 78th and B'way (right next to Stand-Up NY comedy club). Pretty positive it was Dave Chappelle looking tall, skinny and stoned. I called the club to see if he was doing an act that night but they denied it.
Bungalow 8, morning of 10/19: Ashley Olsen was here tonight, standing on the ottomans to dirty dance with some guy while wearing some ridiculous baby-blue diaperish jumper nightmare. Lydia Hearst showed up for a little while and stopped by to say hi to Fabian Basabe (ew!) who was dancing with the same dude he always dances with. He never seems to bring his "wife"...
Saw Jared Leto looking positively homeless in the east village Thursday night. The guy needs a shave, and possibly your spare change.
On Monday afternoon, I saw Hilary Swank walking west on Houston with a nondescript guy. She's really beautiful and feminine in person, she was all done up and wearing a great lacey, peasant type top (I noticed the top before I noticed her). Not too tall, which I was surprised at. From their conversation, I don't think they knew each other that well, maybe he wants her to do his movie or something. Then saw Lauren Hutton in front of Da Silvano, she was dancing on the sidewalk wearing a tweed pantsuit and electric blue Pumas. Also not so tall but that lady looks fantastic and real.
10/18 was walking down CPS passing the plaza when I looked up and saw John Cusack pass by. Was a lot taller than I expected and I when I whispered to my mom that we had just passed a well known "movie star" she replied, "ew." Rightfully said considering the fact he looked really dirty. You could see the grease was just sliding off his hair even though it was covered by a baseball cap. Not good.
Fresh off seeing Glenn Close in the pizza line at the Whole Foods in Time Warner. She is short, and her legs were really thin, but she was dressed smartly. (Except for jeans tucked into boots. Fatal attraction? More like fatal mistake.) She looks good on the whole. Her voice, though, sounds like steam coming out of a teakettle. She is also evidently opening up a Middle Eastern restaurant or deli because she had more tubs of hummus and bags of Stacy s chips in her basket than I ve ever seen in my life.
Someone get John Mayer a hairbrush! I saw him last night at the My Morning Jacket show...he was there for the opening act (Kathleen Edwards) and looking very Edward Scissorhands.
Saw Chloe Sevigny looking for her table at the Whitney gala last night, in a textured black strapless with black boots and very plain hair. Also spotted the all-American Lauren Bush chatting happily, sporting some side cleavage, and Ivanka Trump, wearing a cropped white jacket, looking
severe but ok, with roots.
I saw Alec and Stephen Baldwin Tuesday at the opening night performance of MTC's Absurd Person Singular on Broadway. Alec looked like he looks onscreen while Stephen just looked creepy and bloated. Ew. Mo Rocca and Spiderman's Rosemary Harris were also in the audience.
Saw Alan Cumming at "Dumpling Man" in the east village yesterday. He got two orders of dumplings, one steamed and one seared, and proceeded to hand over his credit card for the $16 purchase. When it was explained to him that it was a cash only establishment, he managed to stop talking on his Blackberry phone just long enough to scrounge together the funds. At least he wasn't wearing lipstick.
Saw Joan Allen on the 1/9 heading downtown from 96th St. Well, she got of at Times Square, which I guess doesn't really qualify as "downtown." I found out later she was going to a Broadway Cares event as I later ran into friends of mine from out of town who said "We had our picture taken with Joan Allen at the Broadway Cares event." Weird. Anyway, she is very thin, and her hair is extremely dry and I wanted to yell out "Deep condition! Alberto V0-5! Something! Joan c'mon!" Also saw her at a Yankees game once WAAAY up in the nosebleeds and I liked her jacket. She always seems a bit lonely to me.
10/19 Saw Minnie Driver at Cafe Gitane shaking her leg uncontrollably like a crack head. It wasn t that cold and the door was definitely closed most of the time. She was fidgety throughout her dinner looking around constantly as though everyone was looking at her. I only noticed who it was after she tapped my table for the umpteenth time. What was the last movie that she was in anyway?
Saw LL Cool J at Bergdorf corporate offices - maybe he's working on getting some free stuff? He tripped over an old lady on the way out, and was also spotted licking his lips in the elevator.
Saw a VERY stoned Sam Rockwell dressed like a white Pharrell at Kate s Joint in the LES Monday night for dinner. He was rolling with about 8 other dudes, he tipped well according to my friend who served them.
I saw Scott Speedman (Ben from Felicity) at WXOU in the W. Village last night, drinking alone. A gaggle of girls tried to chat him up, but he wasn't into it. He looked kinda scruffy — longish hair, corduroy jacket over red hoodie - but I wouldn't kick him out of my bed for eating crackers.
Saw Fisher Stevens and a hot blonde at Fiddler on the Roof last night. He looked cute, laid-back and dressed down in an orange and navy sweater. She was very skinny, very blonde and decked. They looked cute together; she was definitely much younger and enjoyed the stares from everyone during intermission wondering where they knew him from.
I saw John Legend at Hotel Gansevoort. He is so mini! He was with a small entourage exiting the hotel when they stopped to talk to one of the prettiest girls I have seen in a while. Maybe he isn t gay? But he definitely let his entourage people do most of the talking...I think they were trying to get her to go to some playboy party at Aer...she didn t seem interested.
Saw Charlie Rose today (10/19) near the corner of 53/Lex looking disheveled in a suit sans tie. Nearly bumped into me, actually.
Not sure if this is Gawker Stalker A-List material, but it crossed one off of my things-to-do-before croaking list. Saw Kal Penn, of Van Wilder and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle fame at the Bravery concert at Roseland Ballroom Thursday night. Hardly anybody noticed him, but saw a few kids at the end of the show trying to get a picture with him. Kal was pretty nonchalant about it, but his sidekick meathead friend thought he was pretty important for being boys with big bad Kal and started making a stink. Real cool guy.
Just saw Michelle Trachtenberg walking quickly down 56th near 7th Ave to get out of the rain. She was wearing a brown fall coat, jeans, and is super tall.
This Saturday 10/15 saw Christine Lahti at the matinee of Sweeney Todd. Hard not to notice her, as she was probably 6 ft. at least in boots. She had a very bohemian UWS mom look going on; frizzy hair, John Lennon type glasses, earth tone-y outfit with scarf, but very pulled together. She was there with what appeared to be her daughter, and waited on line to get in to the crowded matinee with the rest of the plebes. Seemed very sweet, was rubbing her daughter's back.
I saw Bobby Cannavale last week at the Rangers-Devils game with his son (or other cute little boy). He had like third row seats, center ice and is extremely hot in person, if a little over-tanned. There was also a blonde, model-y type sitting near him who may have been Eva Herzigova. Maybe she was visiting fellow Czech Jaromir Jagr, since I do think she headed off to the Rangers locker room-area after the game. She was fully blonde and made up, like a Wonderbra shoot would start any minute.
Damon Dash (former co-owner of Rocafella with Jay-Z) walking out of an office building around 3 today @ 7 West 45th. He was getting into his Maybach with a bodyguard. He was real dressed down in a white t-shirt and looked overweight.
10/18 Amtrak train from Philly to NYC, set to arrive at 5:00 PM. I saw David Blaine and locked eyes with him, as I was trying to use my superior celebrity sighting skills rusty after two years in Philadelphia. After I recognized him, and we were set to get off of the train, he wouldn t stop staring at me. He must have thought that I liked him or something. Manager/handler/whatever asked him what number his apartment was, and he said Which one?
Don't know why, but US Weekly editor Janice Min is now a constant visitor at Sony Music, home to one of her favorite subjects, Jessica Simpson. Saw her a couple of times recently with Charlie Walk, one of the top execs. Maybe she was picking up free CDs. Each of them is height challenged, which may explain the attraction.
Paris Hilton fuckbuddy Rick Solomon was at Bungalow 8 last night too (8/19), looking even grosser than usual due to his new Grizzly Adams look.