Remembering Bobby Van's Glory Days

Bobby Van, the founder of the popular eponymous restaurant chain, died earlier this week, "Page Six" reports.

While his name lives on at the Bobby Van's in Bridgehampton, as well as at four steakhouse outlets in Manhattan and two in Washington, DC, Van, who had unhealthy appetite for booze and cocaine, was forced out of the business many years ago. "He was reduced to driving a cab. He was on dialysis," said a source who spent many a pleasant evening at the original East End restaurant.

Van was 64. "Page Six" noted that Truman Capote often went to Van's Bridgehampton restaurant to drink his favorite drink, an "orange thingee" (four parts vodka, one part orange juice), and that James Brady, George Plimpton, and John Knowles were regulars as well. But that's not the half of it.

Posted 11/29/07 in Daily Intel : In Other News

Tags: bob dylan, bobby van, In Other News, kurt vonnegut, truman capote, william de kooning

Truman Capote Slept Here, But Not for $40,000 a Month

Boerum Hill: Believe it or not, the new Boerum Heights Condos are 100 percent sold out even though they're smack up against the Atlantic Yards project. [One Hanson Place] Brooklyn Heights: Rent 70 Willow Street (where Truman Capote used to live) for only $40,000 a month. Call Sotheby's for details. [Brownstoner] Chelsea: Body-conscious Chelsea boys will no longer be tempted by the huge, pink rotating cupcake atop 23rd Street's Burgers and Cupcakes. The store has 30 days to take it down. [Blog Chelsea via JamesWagner] Dumbo: With all these CGIs of planned improvements for the area (including a new Brooklyn Bridge walkway), it's almost like they've already happened! [Dumbo NYC] Fort Greene: One resident is launching a campaign to get Zipcar to place some cars here and in Clinton Hill. [Brooklyn Record] Howard Beach: Was Liberace's last bungalow mistakenly constructed in Queens? [Queens Crap]

Posted 03/06/07 in Daily Intel : Neighborhood Watch

Tags: boerum hill, brooklyn heights, chelsea, dumbo, fort greene, howard beach, neighborhood watch, truman capote

Breakfast at Truman's

Joanne Carson's glee grew with each sale of Capotiana, her arms shimmying with delight. Truman Capote's longtime friend, with whom he frequently stayed in L.A. and at whose home he died, Carson put over 300 of the writer's personal items up for sale today at Bonhams & Butterfields auction house on Madison Avenue. Tweedy men and reedy women sat tightly among the writer's belongings. Bidder No. 4445 declined to answer questions, but he did repeatedly knock his chair and elbow into a dummy wearing a diminutive blue "Kid Capote" jersey that somehow retained its shape. (It looked like 4445 was bidding on Lot 1095, two engraved and, one hopes, durable pewter mugs.) The early lots were books from Capote's personal library.

Posted 11/09/06 in Daily Intel : Cultural Capital

Tags: auctions, books, Cultural Capital, truman capote