Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



(image via nytimes)

"NOW whom could Gwyneth Paltrow have had in mind when she wrote this blind item on her Web site, goop.com? 'Back in the day, I had a frenemy who, as it turned out, was pretty hell-bent on taking me down. This person really did what they could to hurt me. I was deeply upset, I was angry, I was all of those things you feel when you find out that someone you thought you liked was venomous and dangerous. I restrained myself from fighting back . . . But one day I heard that something unfortunate and humiliating had happened to this person. And my reaction was deep relief and happiness." Paltrow once shared an apartment with Winona Ryder. The two had a falling-out after Paltrow got the lead in 'Shakespeare in Love' -- a part Ryder had coveted and for which Paltrow won the Oscar. A few years later, Ryder was arrested for shoplifting at Saks Fifth Avenue in LA. Paltrow's rep told Page Six, 'No comment. She didn't write this to name names but to share a lesson she learned.' Ryder's rep didn't return e-mails." (PageSix)



"Mahmood Karzai, the older brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and the first vice chairman of the Afghanistan chamber of commerce, spoke at the National Press Club today. The subject of the elder Karzai's presentation? "How to address corruption in Afghanistan and economic solutions.' The topic is relevant to the Obama administration's hopes for Afghanistan, where it has recently outlined its plans to increase its military and political commitment, as well as its frustrations with the Karzai government. The elder Karzai's growing business empire has been a key point of friction. "An immigrant waiter-turned-restaurant owner ... Mahmoud Karzai has major interests in the country's only cement factory, its dominant bank, its most ambitious real estate development, its only Toyota distributorship and four coal mines,' the New York Times recently reported. 'He has collected millions in American government loans for real estate developments in Kandahar and Kabul, capitalized on a friendship with Jack Kemp, the former Republican congressman, for introductions to American officials and international business executives, and benefited from what his rivals charge were sweetheart deals with the Afghan government. Mr. Karzai's swift rise has stirred resentment and suspicion among many Afghans, who have grown disaffected with the Karzai government and its seeming tolerance for insider dealing, favor trading, bribe taking and other unsavory activities.' Another Karzai half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, 'has been accused of narcotics trafficking by Afghan and American officials, who are frustrated that the president has not taken action against him,' the Times further reported." (ForeignPolicy)



"Last night I attended the Conde Nast Traveler Hot List party. The event was held at the new mega restaurant Pranna in midtown. I was joined by my partners in crime Lydia Hearst, Ryan Brown and Naeem Delbridge. We arrived, did the step and repeat .. Afterward, we joined hands with Lindsey Benoit and were whisked past the throngs into the VIP room. We actually didn’t see much else of the party and can’t really tell you much as the place was beyond packed and we were afraid to leave our cozy spot. We were joined by designer Justin Tranter, Katrina Bowden, Miss New York Leigh Taylor, Olympian Tim Morehouse, Kelly Killoren Bensimon (spouse abuser) .. We waved to Greg Link and Paul Sevigny, made fun of Adrien Field’s shirt and did Patron cupcake shots." (Guestofaguest)

"New York Democratic Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney raised $427,000 for her House campaign treasury in the first three months of 2009 and ended March with $1.1 million in the bank. That is more money than she needs to defend her safely Democratic seat in the 14th District, located on Manhattan’s East Side and in part of Queens. But it would come in mighty handy were Maloney to launch a special election primary challenge in 2010 to appointed Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — a possibility that the nine-term congresswoman hasn’t ruled in, but also hasn’t ruled out. Maloney had publicly stated her interest in the Senate seat that Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton vacated after she became secretary of State in the Obama administration. But Democratic Gov. David A. Paterson gave that appointment to Gillibrand, who had just won election to a second House term. Maloney has kept a relatively low profile since, but her first-quarter fundraising suggests she still is considering a Senate primary as an option. Her receipts were almost double what she raised in the first quarter of the 2007-08 election cycle for a House contest that she won with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Anyone who wants to take on Gillibrand will need lots of money, as she has proven her fundraising clout during a meteoric political career that began with her 2006 upset of Republican Rep. John E. Sweeney in New York’s 20th District. Maloney’s first-quarter fundraising doesn’t rival the $2.3 million reported by Gillibrand, who also had $2.2 million in cash on hand." (CQPolitics)

"Also last night, the Kips Bay Show House had its official Opening Night Gala Cocktail at this year’s venue – the Julius Forstmann mansion at 22 East 71 Street (between Fifth and Madison), now owned by Aby Rosen who generosity lent it to Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club for the occasion. This is a great house to visit – built in 1922 by CHP Gilbert for the woolens tycoon, and still in beautiful condition. The Show House opens to the public today and will remain on view through May 17th. The Kips Bay Decorator Show House raises more than $1 million annually for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, a non-profit organization that provides essential after-school and enrichment programs for over 14,000 young people between the ages of 6 and 18 at ten locations in the Bronx. The Show House receives as many as 20,000 visitors during its four-week run and has raised over $16 million since its inception in 1973." (NYSocialDiary)



"Who says making the world a better place can't be fun? Last night Converse, Lupe Fiasco and Marcus Samuelsson held Conversations, a dinner at Aquavit celebrating Converse's 1HUND(RED) Artists. It's part of the Red campaign which aims to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Several of the artists who've designed shoes for the project were in attendance and included Miho and Thuy from United Bamboo, Lupe Fiasco, Terence Koh, and Lisa and Sophie from Vena Cava. Mr. Mickey loves when the cuties come together for a good cause!" (Papermag)



"'Does this look backwards?' asked Poppy Delevigne at last night's Fools Fête, the annual young-folks gala benefitting New Yorkers for Children .. 'Dayssi [Olarte de Kanavos] started this thing eight years ago in her apartment,' marvelled Lydia Fenet, one of the evening's co-chairs. "And now everyone from Serena Williams to Steven Schwartzman shows up.' Indeed, Williams was squired by boyfriend Common, who came over to greet Italo Zucchelli. 'I love your stuff,' he told the designer, gesturing to his Calvin Klein Collection suit ..Eventually, guests such as Rachel Roy, Bettina Zilkha, David Patrick Columbia, Kate Lanphear, Lauren Santo Domingo, Hana Soukupova, and Tara Subkoff settled in to a meal of filet mignon and heriloom tomato salad." (Fashionweekdaily)