Days after September 11, Cantor Fitzgerald's notoriously hard-edged CEO wept and promised a new mission: to take care of the families of his 657 dead employees. Then he stopped their payroll. It was weeks before he was prepared to make good on his promise. Was it a mistake? He still says no.

The convention's more than a year away, but the Gore and Bradley camps are already waging a townhouse-to-townhouse fund-raising war in Manhattan. Gore may have the Establishment clout, but Bradley's got the excitement. . . . Say what?

Forget terrorism. New York's postmenopausal women have a new anxiety to conquer -- so break out the chocolate.

Jaws dropped when unknown author Julia Glass beat a field crowded with literary luminaries to win the National Book Award for her debut novel, Three Junes. Why haven't we heard from this 46-year-old West Village mom before now? Just call her a late bloomer.

Groveling will get you nowhere, New York: Three-star-Michelin man Alain Ducasse isn't going to seat you until he's good and ready.

He's the most naturally gifted politician in years, Bubba with morals. But can a nice guy finish first?

Gina Glantz is the point guard on the Jersey boy's team.

Edwards and Kerry supporters rejoice, Deaniacs fret, and Gephardt backers get wooed.

Former front-runner John Kerry has a hero’s war record, a Senate seat, all the family wealth one could hope for. He even looks like a president. But to become one, he’s got to get past Howard Dean. And time is running out.

He knows you better than your shrink. He pays more attention than your spouse. The obsessed owner of Ruby Foo's and six other hot restaurants is trying to make a science of pleasing people.