(Photo: Patrick McMullan)

Why does Vanity Fair hold its annual Tribeca Film Festival party at the State Supreme Courthouse? “It’s a great space,” said Graydon Carter at the April 22 soirée. “And most people who’ve been here were here under duress with bad divorces and that sort of thing. This makes them leave with a nice smile on their face.” The initial party was held there the year after Carter split with his first wife. Fran Lebowitz said there are always plenty of divorcés among the guests: “That’s all everyone talks about: ‘This is where I came for my divorce.’ ” And Carter says they’re easy to spot: “They all know where the bathrooms are.” John McEnroe sidled up with his second wife, the singer Patty Smyth. Both said they’d fought custody battles in the building. But they have no bad memories, says Smyth: “They ruled in our favor, so it was okay.”

Have good intel? Send tips to intel@nymag.com.

Related:

• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Bennett Marcus
• Table of Contents: May 5, 2008 issue of New York | Subscribe!