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 chilleven 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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