Harvey Weinstein

We channeled the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe alongside Josh Lucas, David Schwimmer, Arden Wohl, and Mary-Kate Olsen at the Accompanied Literary Society Halloween party.

The art world remembered Robert Rauschenberg at a Coalition for the Homeless benefit. 

We spent an anxious Election Eve with Graydon Carter, Tina Brown, Salman Rushdie, Regis Philbin, and Nora Ephron at the New York Public Library’s Library Lions benefit. 

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As regular people partied in the streets last night, the city's Hollywood imports gathered at the Public House in Midtown, where producer Harvey Weinstein, GQ editor Jim Nelson, Borghese CEO Georgette Mosbacher, and Glamour editor Cindi Leive hosted a bipartisan election night party. (On the bar was a bowl of Obama/Biden pins alongside a bowl of McCain/Palin pins.) 

Mr. Weinstein, originally a Hillary Clinton supporter, looked on giddily with wife, designer Georgina Chapman (clad in a glittery cocktail dress), as Barack Obama took the presidency. But Ms. Mosbacher, a well known Republican fundraiser, who served as the co-chairman of John McCain's 2000 campaign and is the co-chair of the Republican National Committee's Finance Committee, was not so thrilled.  read more »

As election night neared, New York’s power elite—but also its creative class, its political class, its partying class, lurched to find the center of gravity for election night.

The premonition that New York’s obvious choice, Barack Obama, was likely to win was not the smallest consideration here.

And then there were those who attempted to provide the city with its own massive town square, to hold election night, for the first time in eight years, as a massive, citywide, public event.

ABC did Times Square, NBC of course did Rockefeller. Harvey Weinstein and Georgette Mosbacher cultivated a list, checked it twice, added a bunch of plus ones and basically accounted for every boldface name in town.  read more »

At the Harvey Weinstein/GQ party at the Public House on East 41 St., Georgette Mosbacher, another one of the hosts, was putting on a brave face. “As a Republican I plan to have fun in spite of it all. I’ll make the best of it,” said Ms. Mosbacher, who is the CEO of the Borghese cosmetics company and the ex-wife of Robert Mosbacher, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under George H.W. Bush.

But how upset was she really about the election? “I am so upset, you have no idea,” she said, though she was laughing as she said it. “But I will not show it. I will not give my other friends the satisfaction of seeing me melt down!”  read more »

At the Bipartisan Election Night Party hosted by Harvey Weinstein and Georgette Mosbacher, Mr. Weinstein was remembering to another party guest about things were going around 6pm in 2004 for John Kerry. Then Michael Moore called Mr. Weinstein to say that something was wrong in Ohio.

This year, "I'm gonna stay nervous ‘til Ohio and Florida," he said.

In case anyone questioned his loyalties, Mr. Weinstein was wearing an Obama/Biden pin

"I was gonna wear my other pin that says Vote Twice," he joked. Tonight, "we're just gonna sweat it out."

At the Harvey Weinstein/GQ party at the Public House on East 41 St., Georgette Mosbacher, another one of the hosts, was putting on a brave face. “As a Republican I plan to have fun in spite of it all. I’ll make the best of it,” said Ms. Mosbacher, who is the CEO of the Borghese cosmetics company and the ex-wife of Robert Mosbacher, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under George H.W. Bush.

But how upset was she really about the election? “I am so upset, you have no idea,” she said, though she was laughing as she said it. “But I will not show it. I will not give my other friends the satisfaction of seeing me melt down!”  read more »

Per his agreement with Page Six, Harvey Weinstein now owes a charity $1 million after a leaked Scott Rudin email describing Weinstein's bad behavior during the production of The Reader turned out to be real. (Yesterday, Mr. Rudin told Gawker that the email was fake, but that turns out to have been a lie. Confusing!) Also, fun story: "When they were making The Hours, Scott sent Harvey an enormous box of cartons and cartons of cigarettes and a note that read, 'Die!''' [P6]

Heather Locklear "walked drunkenly through a California supermarket" before her arrest for driving under the influence. Also, the person who reported her to 911 is a former US Weekly staffer--clearly, she has retained her scandal spotting instincts. [R&M]

Howard Stern had a dull bachelor party at Nobu, possibly because he has finally gotten tired of strippers. Also, he's old. [P6]  read more »

Scott Rudin has admitted that he lied to Page Six about an email that Harvey Weinstein supposedly sent to producer Sydney Pollack on his deathbed, along with the widow of another producer, Anthony Minghella, over issues related to the upcoming release of The Reader. [Gawker]

During a talk about the joys of philanthropy featuring Bill Clinton, The Economist's Matthew Bishop noted, "Neuroscientists have monitored the part of the brain where you get the reward for giving, and it's the same place for sex." The former president's response? "The older you get, the more the giving scale goes up."  [R&M]

Drummer Travis Barker, who was injured n a plane crash two weeks ago, has been released from the hospital.  read more »

In an 11-year-old tape anonymously leaked to Page Six, Harvey Weinstein can be heard warning director Quentin Tarantino of potential "weird late night phone calls" from Robert De Niro, who was apparently angry about the salary he received for Tarantino's 1997 film Jackie Brown. [P6] 

Actor Shia LaBeouf will not be charged for a July drunk driving incident due to insufficient evidence. [TMZ] 

OK Magazine's Kent Brownridge may be putting a moratorium on the purchse of celebrity baby photos. Meanwhile, staffers are complaining that he seems "addled." [P6] 

 

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At Marchesa's Wednesday, Sept. 10 presentation at the Chelsea Museum, models stood atop several foot tall white pedestals in voluminous evening gowns that flowed, twisted and turned about their petite bodies as the guests closely examined them like sculptures.

Georgina Chapman, the designer behind Marchesa along with Keren Craig, was fluttering about saying hello to her guests as they were being served mini champagne bottles with insertable flute nozzles that allowed them to neatly drink straight out of the bottle.

Ann Dexter-Jones stopped by. As did Olivia Palermo, Barbara Bush and Tinsley Mortimer, who was, strangely, acting out of character. When the Daily Transom approached Ms. Mortimer, she was not in the mood to catch up.  read more »

Vanity Fair has come out with its list of 100 most powerful influentials, most of which—since they've already been covered by various lists in Time (the Time 100), Forbes (celebs and richest Americans) and elsewhere—come as no surprise.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and Google boys Sergey Brin, Larry Page, and Eric Schmidt are all in the top 10, followed closely behind by David Geffen, Bill Clinton and billionaire Ronald Perelman.

But there do appear to be some changes from last year's list. Some powerful names have sunk or even disappeared to make room for names in fashion and entertainment.  read more »

Halston, the '70s-tastic label revived last year by Jimmy Choo designer Tamara Mellon and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, has announced that it will show at the Museum of Modern Art during fashion week, even though designer Marco Zanini departed from the label recently. [FWD]

Model Agyness Deyn and her boyfriend, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., wear matching shoes. [Jezebel]

Project Runway is suddenly not looking like an automatic hit, as the contestants are lackluster this season and the show is on too early (9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.). [Portfolio via Racked]

Gisele Bundchen reportedly gave her boyfriend, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a calendar featuring "specially shot" photos of herself.  read more »

Harvey Weinstein has finally—finally!—started a blog. The former co-chairman of Miramax and current head of the Weinstein Company has written a post for Portfolio's newest blog, the hiply titled Playas, which will be guest-edited by celebrities and executives. (No, it's not about beaches en Mexico.) According to a press release, Mr. Weinstein will be writing for a week.

In his link-free and comment-disabled post [Update, 2:27 PM: Looks like links and comments have been added], Mr. Weinstein bemoans how superhero movies are eclipsing indie films like the Weinstein Company's Boy A, which Mr. Weinstein plugs throughout as a four-time BAFTA TV Award winner and recipient of "rave reviews after its premiere.  read more »

Less than a day after designer Marco Zanini was reported to be out at Halston, the fashion house recently revived by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Jimmy Choo designer Tamara Mellon, Fashion Week Daily is reporting that celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe may also be departing.

"She has no creative control over Halston," said a brand spokesman back in February when Ms. Zoe reportedly failed to appear for Halston's fall show. "Her main responsibility is as an adviser for red carpet and celebrity styling." Sources at Halston are wondering if she will follow Mr. Zanini out the door.

Georgina Chapman, Mr. Weinstein's wife and designer for Marchesa, is apparently not taking over the creative role, leaving Ms. Mellon, who, according to unnamed sources, may be taking on a more prominent creative role at Halston.

One year after hiring Marco Zanini away from Versace to be Halston's new creative director, Harvey Weinstein and Tamara Mellon, who took over the fashion house last July, are already reportedly looking for a replacement.

According to Women's Wear Daily, sources inside the company's Soho headquarters say that Mr. Zanini no longer works at the office. And while the Spring collection to be shown this fall is designed by Mr. Zanini, sources speculate that the announcement of a new creative direction could be made before the fall shows.  read more »

Might we spot Harvey Weinstein picking up loose change off New York city streets soon? The man is on the financial outs, according to Nikki Finke on her blog Deadline Hollywood Daily. The media mensch thinks the rumors are true about The Weinstein Company's recent money troubles, since news broke about Harvey producing (not financially backing) Quentin Tarantino's movie Inglorious Bastards.

The movie, a World War II "Spaghetti Western," has been in the works since 2001 (originally with Miramax). But Ms. Finke said the script has been presented to four other studios, "Universal, Warner Bros, Paramount (all yesterday) and Sony (today)"

She writes:

This certainly adds fuel to those rumors that The Weinstein Co is having movie money woes.  read more »

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This week's print edition of The Observer is packed with media goodness. Here's a rundown:

John Koblin profiles Portfolio's Jacob Lewis, the man who made the trains run on time. Plus, a look at Pulitzer day celebrations at The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Felix Gillette checks in on Politico TV, coming soon to a Sunday morning near you.

Leon Neyfakh notes Rob Weisbach's departure from Harvey Weinstein's publishing arm and notes, "there was a perception that Mr. Weisbach, who enjoyed a reputation as a brilliant, if slightly showy, editor, was being wasted at Weinstein Books." Plus, meet Thomas Kohnstamm, the delinquent travel guide writer.

When Rob Weisbach announced last week that he was resigning as president of Weinstein Books, many in the publishing world said they wouldn’t be surprised if the imprint he created three years ago from the ashes of Miramax Books would be allowed to die as quietly as it lived.

Mr. Weisbach’s famously mercurial filmmaker boss, Harvey Weinstein, seemed to have lost interest in the book business after he and his brother left their home at the Disney Company, and it was widely known that Mr. Weisbach had been looking for a new job for months.

“There’s only so much Harvey to go around,” said one insider source, “and his attentions were focused on the core businesses of the Weinstein Company: film and television and home entertainment … which leaves very little Harvey for books. Ultimately, Rob was there with virtually nothing to do. And eventually even high-paying jobs where you have nothing to do become onerous.”  read more »

Rob Weisbach, president and C.E.O. of Weinstein Books, is leaving the company "to pursue other publishing opportunities," reports Michael Cader at industry resource Web site Publisher's Marketplace. Harvey and Bob Weinstein brought Mr. Weisbach in as head of Miramax Books back in 2005, just as they were preparing to split from Disney and form their own company. When that new company was formed, Mr. Weisbach moved into the job he has held until today.

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It looks like Criterion has some fresh competition. Former Miramax chiefs Bob and Harvey Weinstein, now of the Weinstein Company, launched their own DVD label, the Miriam Collection (named after their mother, how sweet!) in January. Reuters reports that the duo is shooting for 12 to 15 branded releases per year, ranging from major productions, like Miriam's inaugural DVD, Anthony Mann's El Cid, to niche titles like Stephen Frears' (The Queen) made-for-British-TV movie, The Deal. Miriam's second release, slated for April 29, will be The Fall of the Roman Empire, also by Mr. Mann, "a lavish 1961 production starring Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif ... that earned its place in the record books for the largest outdoor set in Hollywood history: more than 55 acres, with a reconstructed Roman Forum."  read more »

Sigh. So Nikki Finke had a little chat with Harvey Weinstein and he wants a sequel to the current Rambo romp, despite the fact that it will probably tank in U.S. box offices within a week. Mr. Weinstein estimated that Rambo "will end up doing $50 mil here and $100M to $150M foreign. That's what usually happens since this franchise is really big overseas." He "is already talking sequel and even has a plot in mind 'bringing the character back to the United States,'" according to Ms. Finke. "Rambo in a wheelchair, I asked? (Given that Sly at age 61 is ridiculously old to still be an action hero.) Harvey laughed and said, 'I like the idea of an older guy kicking ass. Maybe it's because I'm older, too.' (Weinstein turns 56 this March.)" So it looks like scheming to make old guys look tough in a new Rambo is on Mr. Weinstein's Bucket List. Good luck with that, Harv!

Movie macher Harvey Weinstein doesn’t do anything small, especially when it comes to his nuptials. Case in point: his wedding last weekend to fashion designer Georgina Chapman. After guests parked at a school near Mr. Weinstein’s waterfront Westport manse, they were shuttled to the home, where they found the Miramax mogul nattily clad in a Tom Ford tux—no doubt the result of a loving nudge from his new fashion-friendly wife, who reportedly looked stunning in a pleated, ivory tulle dress of her own design. While rocking out to the Gypsy Kings, partygoers noshed on eats catered by Nobu and Cipriani, who provided the Dover sole and veal osso buco. To cap off the festivities, fireworks were sent up over Long Island Sound. Accompanying the groom’s stylish duds were some big players from the fashion world: Anna Wintour, Glenda Bailey, Natalia Vodianova, Margherita Missoni, Helena Christensen, Jacquetta Wheeler, Carol Hamilton, Rachel Zoe and Karolina Kurkova. And while Bill Clinton, Sean “Diddy” Combs, George Clooney and God Almighty sent their regrets, there was plenty of Hollywood glitz, politico heft and media meat provided by Rupert Murdoch, Leslie Moonves, George Pataki, Andrew Cuomo, Renée Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Anne Hathaway and Cameron Diaz.

The New York Times' David Carr takes a look inside the mind of Daniel Battsek, the man whom the Weinstein brothers left behind at Miramax to carry on their tradition of making risky, quality films.  read more »

Here’s a shot of a few people waiting outside Hillary Clinton’s fund-raiser at Capitale last night. Hillary was voting on an immigration bill in D.C. and didn’t attend, but a few other big names did:

Rapper Darryl McDaniels, also known as DMC. Dressed in a Harley Davidson t-shirt and black jeans, he told me, “I came to experience something I can talk to my grandkids about.”

Paychex billionaire Tom Golisano, the erstwhile Independence Party gubernatorial candidate who recently became a Republican, was also there.

And, unmissably, Harvey Weinstein.

“I’ve met an estimated 56 of 100,” said NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, surveying the crowd at last night’s Time 100 gala. “I always assumed I might come as a guest but not a lapel-wearing member.”

Oh, Mr. Williams, don't be so modest! Or quite so serious, either: he said he was most looking forward to meeting Elie Wiesel, author of Night.

When guests include the likes of Cate Blanchett, Martha Stewart, Michael J. Fox, Harvey Weinstein, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Richard Branson, Tina Fey, and Stephen Schwarzman, that almost seems like taking things a bit seriously.

But Elie Wiesel was there, just like the others, to be honored at Time’s third annual party for the magazine’s hand-picked influencers. It was held, as these things are nowadays with an almost monotonous regularity, at Jazz at Lincoln Center.  read more »

Grindhousing film mogul Harvey Weinstein has had trouble with this weekend’s grosses, though that hasn’t interfered with his massive real-estate plans.

His new Far West Village townhouse, which he bought last June for $14.95 million, will now have more than its eight fireplaces, seven bedrooms and a screening room. According to neighbor Mimi Sheraton, the veteran food critic (and a Greenwich Village resident since World War II), Mr. Weinstein is building a greenhouse and a koi pond.  read more »

Near midnight, Pacific time, on March 23, actor Ryan O’Neal pulled Dr.  read more »

I’ve cringed a lot for Martin Scorsese over the last few weeks, but his March 3 appearance on  read more »

I’ve cringed a lot for Martin Scorsese over the last few weeks, but his March 3 appearance on The  read more »

Jeffrey, Uli, Laura and Michael of Project Runway showed this morning in Bryant Park. Because we so enjoy flooding the zone, we sent both Rebecca Dana and Sara Vilkomerson. They met Jeffrey Zucker, Harvey Weinstein and Anthony Michael Hall--but not Robin Givhan? Below, their thoughts--point, counterpoint!  read more »

Broadway producer Jimmy Nederlander Sr.  read more »

WEB HEDS: 07.19.06

Page One

Cover Story:

(a) Jason Horowitz  read more »

Last month, The New York Times reported that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had bought a West Village  read more »

Lately, there’s been plenty of activity over at Soho’s New Museum Building, located at 1  read more »

She’s the One    read more »

With Courtney Love moving out, others are already staking claims on Crosby Street.

Fishbowl is reporting that Gawker Media chief Nick Denton is eyeing space at 89 Crosby Street as headquarters for his blogging empire.

Mr. Denton lives nearby at 76 Crosby Street, where Harvey Weinstein also resides. And with renovations currently underway in Kelly Ripa's duplex penthouse at 76 Crosby, the office might provide a nice refuge.

We're still waiting for a comment from Mr. Denton. Hopefully, he'll IM us back.  read more »

- Michael Calderone

When film mogul Harvey Weinstein and his now-estranged wife, Eve Chilton Weinstein, decided to separate in the summer of 2004, there were sure to be some loose ends to tie up.

Last November, the deed to the couple's Central Park West duplex was transferred into Eve's name.

Since Harvey had already relocated downtown to a ritzy Spring Street condo, Eve is now selling the place for $25 million.

The duplex apartment comes with mahogany French doors, a corner library, a great big dining room, and original ceiling moldings.

Not surprisingly, the apartment includes a few nifty features that you don't find in every Central Park West co-op: a 35-mm screening room with twin film projectors, Dolby sound, and an oversized roll-down screen.

The broker, John Sheets, is away on vacation, a representative from Brown Harris Stevens declined to comment on his behalf. Mr. Weinstein declined comment.  read more »

-- Michael Calderone

Even with a new company starting up, Harvey Weinstein has found time for real estate endeavors to ease the transition. Recently, the Weinstein Company purchased the old Miramax office in Tribeca. And now, Mr. Weinstein is buying a couple apartments at 55 Wall Street for the talent, according to the New York Post. Sam Waterston takes a break from his Law & Order duties to fight for a Chelsea seminary’s right to build a 17-story building. The Times discovers that “strangely organic yet somewhat self-consciously cutting-edge neighborhood” sprouting around the High Line. Ritzy restauranteurs, starchitects, and gallerists all get in on the action.

Not content with just building a hotel over the High Line (and dating Uma), André Balazs is developing a luxury condo near Wall Street.

Brighton Beach Russians say Net! to the smoking ban.

And York Prep students get ready for reality television.  read more »

-Michael Calderone

Only on the Upper East Side would the coming deluge of Bloomberg robo-calls kick off with one from Harvey Weinstein, as one reader who lives up there reports it has.

"Could their database KNOW I like Miramax films?" she asks in jest. Mostly in jest.  read more »

Jay-Z is heading over to the celebrity-filled Time Warner Center, according to the New York Post. The rapper and music and clothing entrepreneur will be renting a four-room apartment for $40,000 a month.

Embattled media mogul Conrad Black recently sold his co-op at 635 Park Avenue to developer Marty Berman for $10.5 million, according to New York magazine. And Hugh Jackman has been looking around some pricey properties lately, most recently in Harvey Weinstein’s old building on Mercer Street.  read more »

Actor Samuel L. Jackson recently paid $4.8 million an Upper East Side previously owned by the former basketball player Greg Anthony and his ex-wife, the novelist Crystal McCrary, according to the New York Times.

Who else is better to profile in the The Times Habitats column than the self-described “queen of New York real estate?” Take a walk inside Barbara Corcoran’s Park Avenue apartment with an audio slide show. Believe it or not, you don’t even need TimesSelect!

Let’s hope Harvey Weinstein’s post-Miramax ventures run more smoothly than his real-esta  read more »