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Table of Contents

January 19, 2004 Issue

Cover Story

Bullets and Bolognese

With its eleven tables prized by big shots (Ron Perelman’s a regular) and movie stars (Madonna was turned away), tiny Rao’s is the most exclusive red-sauce joint in the world. Ruled by Sopranos regular Frankie Pellegrino, Rao’s has an air of mobsterdom that makes it au courant. And when Louis “Louie Lump Lump” Barone, a 67-year-old numbers runner, was seriously disrespected by a young “made” punk—a member of the Lucchese crime family, no less—did he have any choice but to settle the matter with his Smith & Wesson? Fuhgeddaboudit. Behind the scenes of an East (Harlem) Side story.

Features

Body and Soul

The holidays—not to mention the January deep freeze—have taken their toll on mind and body. Luckily, New York’s spas, salons, and fitness centers offer countless cutting-edge services to pump and pamper you. In “The Gurus,” you’ll meet beauty and fitness experts you’d follow anywhere. PLUS: Anguilla Calling The hot new spot for spa getaways. The New West How five classic spas keep earning their reputations. Sweat Stuff The season’s coolest workout clothing and gear. Power Players Super-luxe gyms that make workouts more private—and more demanding—than ever.

The Complete Guide to Health & Fitness.

Departments

Letters to the Editor

Readers sound off on the new wave of anti-semitism.

Real Estate

Leave your key at the door: Finger and retinal scanners are the wave of the future

Smart City

Best of New York

The most fabulous bazaar in town—the Winter Antiques Show

Best Bets

Sparkly thongs, oversize goggles, and a rubber tote

Shop Talk

A southern son shines on Sullivan Street.

Sales & Bargains

Deal of the Week: Groovy clutches by Minium Make.

Plus, this week's sale listings

Travel

Hot new ski destination: France

Who Will Pick Up My Clothing Donations?

I live near Columbia and have 24 bags of clothes that I can’t get Goodwill or the Salvation Army to pick up. Who’ll do it?

Bright Tights

A roundup of eight eye-catching looks for big-city legs.

Intelligencer

Intelligencer Column

American Media rolls out Red Carpet for Victoria Gotti. Plus, Daniel Boulud's PXX list.

Watching the Watcher

An open letter to Daniel Okrent, the New York Times’ public editor.

Future Past

What do you think of the proposed WTC memorial?

Fanning the Flames

Before 9/11, would this have been such a story? Why firemen have become tabloid fodder.

Rated XXX (for Language)

A new book on Harvey and other indie-film stars.

Hasidim vs. Hipsters

Trucker hat, schmucker hat: Williamsburg’s religious Jews want the ’hood’s arty arrivistes to go away.

All You Need Is Rove

One woman’s fixation on Bush’s right-hand man.

Hot Coco

The chef (and the crowd) are back at Coco Pazzo.

Play Boys

“Don’t I know you from Dalton?” The guys behind Play cater to private-school club kids who don’t entirely want to grow up.

Columnists

This Media Life

Op-ed columnist David Brooks is a conservative for our times—but is he a conservative for our Times?

The Bottom Line

Five ugly-duckling companies that just might be this year’s Nextel

Cityscape

Creating beauty in an eloquent void at the WTC memorial site

Naked City

Dating prospects on Friendster

Critics

Movies

Jafar Panahi offers a grand tour of Tehran life in Crimson Gold; Gary Keys celebrates the pastiche that is Cuban music

Books

Kevin Phillips offers up the Bushes as America’s newest royal clan

Theater

A skeptic’s view of two revivals: Wallace Shawn’s pointless Aunt Dan and Lemon, and Bill Irwin’s semi-new The Regard Evening

Classical Music

At the Met, Roberto Alagna sings an unexpectedly moving Werther

Television

A third drug-crazed version of Traffic; Tony Shalhoub is back as the brilliant, neurotic Monk

Restaurants

At Asiate, a masterful new chef outdazzles the view from Time Warner’s tower

The Week

Top Five

Americana Week's fairs are worth braving the chill—even just to browse.

New on DVD

On DVD this week: Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Swimming Pool, Cabin Fever, Buffalo Soldiers, Manny & Lo, Spellbound, thirteen

Restaurant Openings & Buzz

Chef-partners and caterers Debbie Lyn and Marco Morillo cook up ten-ounce burgers and duck-leg confit at their Carroll Gardens café.

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