Sneaking Into Steve Brill’s House, and Doing Shots With the ‘Daily News’Believe it or not, companies are still having holiday parties, even though you’re like, so totally over the festive season. Luckily, you have us to attend them for you, so you don’t even have to get up off your bedroom floor, where you’ve been sitting and weeping for the last three days trying to wrap presents and figure out what to re-gift from last year. Last night saw some big parties: The Hearst gala occupied the bottom floors of their massive Eighth Avenue Tower, and Elle and Elle Décor took over both floors of Socialista. We skipped those and opted for a nice blend of holiday high and low. After the jump, read our reviews of the down and dirty Daily News party at Columbus 72, and the cozy and cultured Clear party at Steve Brill’s Upper East Side apartment.
in other news
Preppy Ladies, Robbing Out of Sisterly LoveYesterday we called out the Daily News for labeling the preppy ladies who robbed open houses “THELMA & LOUISE.” Surely, we argued, that was a slight exaggeration — nobody in the theft case, for example, was shot, or committed suicide while running from the law. But today the News star columnist Michael Daly responded to our complaint:
[Jessica] Joyner and [Jennifer] Jones had been armed with nothing more deadly than wigs to disguise themselves as they posed as luxury-home buyers. So it initially seemed a touch extreme to be dubbing them “Thelma and Louise” as the detectives brought them cringing into the courthouse. But the movie was not really about gunplay. It was about sisterhood, the bond between women in a man’s world.
Daly, in his typically calm, heart-wrenching fashion, describes how other female defendants came to court for unrelated cases and were drawn to Joyner and Jones because they looked so scared. The group eventually sat together, comforting one another before being called before the judges. “The four had gone beyond Thelma and Louise to Jessica and Jennifer and Silva and Lettitia,” writes Daly. “They seemed proof of an important truth: No matter how mean women might be to each other, however competitive they are, in their heart of hearts, they are sisters.” Wait a minute. What’s that feeling? Are we being touched? Dammit Michael Daly! You had us at “Lettitia”!
‘Thelma and Louise’ duo had a bond born of a sisterhood in crime [NYDN]
Earlier: Preppy Ladies Gone Wild
Back of the House
Food Portal Launches, Sea Palace Folds, the Falls Gets a MakeoverIn possibly the most nutso opening profile ever, Michael Daly visits Midnight Cafe and ponders its former incarnation as the Falls: “The mirrors behind the long-bar-turned-diner-counter were also the same, the very mirrors that had shimmered with Imette St. Guillen’s reflection as she lingered alone at closing time, sipping her last drink before final moments that would end in terror.” [NYDN]
So much for the Calorie Restriction Diet: A study indicates wine and fat are the way to health. [NYDN]
They’re just like us: Lydia Hearst gets bounced from Scores. [NYP]
Danny’s Grand Sea Palace (home of the Skylight Room) to close after 31 years. [NYP]
Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray fans, meet Yahoo Food. [Yahoo]
A butcher shop becomes a café; Japanese fundamentals with French-Thai flair at Mantra. [Gayot]
Despite initial reports, the Grayz-Aquavit space may not be on the market. [Snack]