Lunch at Michael's



FishbowlNY's Lunch at Michael's series is as addictive as crackrock. Or so we're told. (Averted Gaze) Yesterday afternoon some intriguing additions to the bonfire of the vanities, including Richard "Ghostface Killa" Holbrooke and Bob Scieffer, apparently basking in his last media lap before Katie "Coo-Coo-Ca-Choo" Courick eats his lunch. The unbelievably gorgeous Phoebe Eaton was there (Will you marry The Corsair, Phoebe?).

Also on hand at separate tables were former CBS News (yes to blackrock, no to crackrock) heavy Andrew "Rathergate" Heyward and Morley Safer. God, we'd love to know if any words were exchanged. According to the fishies:

"(Table)2: A trio of gentlemen, including fashion designer Alexander Julien looking super-casual in a borderline-Hawaiian shirt. Arriving later, for the second shift was eternally youthfull U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who was getting around with the help of crutches because of an apparently mangled foot.

"3. Former United Nations ambassador Richard Holbrook lunching with a pair of ladies."

and, the winner of the "Lunch at Michael's PowerTable goes to:

"4. In a nod to Ron Perelman's sartorial insistence that moguls dress just like us, Barry Diller materialized in a GQ-would-approve combinatiion of white shirt, candy-striped green tie, and light olive cargo pants. His lunch date, Paramount chief Brad Grey, made a more elitist sartorial statement in a dark suit that signified a Town Car was no doubt waiting outside.

"5. Bob Schieffer, playing out the string with a colleague from CBS.

"... 7. Seated at Michael's de facto fashion table today were semi-regular George Malkemus, the president of Manolo Blahnik and Candy Pratts Price, the executive fashion director of Style.com.

"8. It was a summit of socialite magazine chief here, with New York Social Diary's/Quest's David Patrick Columbia breaking bread with Avenue's Pamela Gross. Both magazines were amply represented in the lobby today, along with copious amounts of Hamptons, Gotham (of course, with Michael's being half of Jason Binn's distribution strategy) Art & Auction, BizBash, and, oddly, Discover. (Obviously, Bob Guccione Jr. was here.)

"... 11. Power publicist Peggy Siegel peeked out from behind the wall today. Her lunch date, however, was obscured.

"... 18. Former CBS News president Andrew Hayward, just two tables away from his former employee (and indirect beneficiary), Schieffer.

Also seen on arrival but not spotted at a table: 60 Minutes' Morley Safer, and editor-at-large (in the world) Phoebe Eaton."

The full breakdown of the tables here.