PolitickerNY
Erie Democrat Calls for State Investigation Into Golisano PAC
ALBANY—One of the Erie County Elections commissioners is calling on the State Board of Elections to investigate alleged improprieties of the "Responsible New York" PAC backed by Tom Golisano and Steve Pigeon. read more »
How Many of the 20 NBA Finalists Did Times Critics Maslin and Kakutani Review? Two!
Twenty authors attended Wednesday night's National Book Awards ceremony as finalists, each of them selected by a committee of readers made up of poets, novelists, historians, and critics of all stripes. The judges on each of the four committees spent three and a half months reading over a hundred books (the non-fiction judges read 530) before settling on their short-lists last month.
The New York Times reported on the finalists here in a 400-word item that ran in the Arts section. In the case of several of the authors, it was the first time in years that their names had appeared there. read more »
Crafty Agent David Kuhn's Mystery Author Revealed: William Morrow Preempts Novel by Joyce Maynard
Earlier this week the literary agent (and former magazine editor) David Kuhn pulled a funny trick, and submitted a novel to publishers across town without telling them who wrote it. The only clue the agent gave was the novel itself, which, according to people who have read it, is told from the perspective of a young boy growing up in the 1980s.
Mr. Kuhn told publishers the identity of the author would be revealed to anyone who expressed an interest in the book.
If it was buzz Mr. Kuhn was after, he got it. Rumors about who the author might be flew immediately among scouts, editors, and other agents. read more »
America's Next Top Model Judge Jay Alexander Sells Book on 'Presence, Poise and Power'
Endearingly boisterous America's Next Top Model judge and walking coach J. Alexander (Miss J to the fans) has sold a book, Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power, to Simon Spotlight Entertainment, to be edited by Patrick Price (Mr. Price was also responsible for the seminal He's Just Not That Into You, not to mention the Lance Bass biography Out of Sync).
The book promises to include "inspiring advice, life lessons, and self-esteem coaching for all women," punctuated by Mr. Alexander's "colorful anecdotes." Expect sometime in Fall 2009, possibly alongside his CW pilot Operation Fabulous, which is described as a mix between Top Model and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. read more »
Fashion Roundup: Target Announces New Collaborations; Anna Wintour Doesn't Want to Talk Retirement; Thakoon's Obama Dress Plans
Target has announced two new collaborations: a handbag line with Felix Rey designers Lily Band and Sulaika Zarrouk to launch on March 29 and a shoe collection with footwear designer Trish Carroll, called Miss Trish of Capri for Target, for April 5. [WWD]
When asked about her possible retirement, Anna Wintour asked a reporter from The Cut to leave her alone and please go away. [The Cut]
Stylista contestant Kate: "What you see on television is a 100 percent accurate depiction of me and the entire cast." [Racked] read more »
Paper of Record Goes Team Aniston
Today, The New York Times' Brooks Barnes offered a hard-hitting A1 investigative report on how Angelina Jolie manipulates the press, especially how she uses access to her family to further her own agenda.
Writes Mr. Barnes:
Shifting the focus is one of Ms. Jolie’s best maneuvers, magazine editors and publicity executives say. When she became romantically involved with Mr. Pitt, for instance, she faced a public relations crisis — being portrayed in the tabloid press as a predator who stole Mr. Pitt from his wife, Jennifer Aniston.
This time, it was Ms. Jolie’s charity work that helped turn the story. Long interested in international humanitarian work, Ms. Jolie appeared in Pakistan, where she visited camps housing Afghan refugees, and even met with President Pervez Musharraf. Ms. Jolie and Mr. Pitt made a subsequent trip to Kashmir to bring attention to earthquake victims.
In a conspiracy like this, you build from the outer edges and you go step by step... read more »
Transom Week in Review: Narcisco Rodriguez on Michelle Obama; National Book Awards Go Glam; Christian Siriano's Birthday Bash
The National Book Awards tried to glam things up, with mixed results.
Narciso Rodriguez told us about Michelle Obama's controversial Election Night dress at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.
We caught up with the MisShapes at Christian Siriano's birthday party at Citrine.
At the re-dedication of the Bridge Formerly Known as Triborough, we discovered that Nancy Pelosi isn't one for frivolous questions (but Martha Stewart is!). read more »
PolitickerNY
Senate Republicans Will Beat Paterson Back to Albany
ALBANY—The State Senate will reconvene here at the Capitol the night before David Paterson is expected to present his budget for 2009. read more »
PolitickerNY
Elsewhere: Geitner for Treasury, Maybe Not Cuomo for Senate
New York Fed President Timothy Geitner is almost certainly going to be Barack Obama's Treasury secretary. read more »
What You Didn't Know About Georgina Bloomberg
This morning, 25-year-old Georgina Bloomberg—daughter of Mayor Michael, little sister to 29-year-old Emma, accomplished equestrian—made a Page Six headline for claiming she was "not rich" despite owning nine horses and a BMW. Naturally, she got teased by a few websites for saying this.
The quote was pulled out of an upcoming profile of Ms. Bloomberg in Page Six Magazine, to be published Sunday. But it also prompted a question: What do we really know about the young Ms. Bloomberg?
We've read things over the years about her being a professional equestrian and, oh yes, she was part of Jamie Johnson's Born Rich documentary. read more »
