Though the engagement plans aren’t set, Paris Hilton says she’s ready for minor-league baseball player (and LC’s ex) Doug Reinhardt to be her hubby. And a soon-to-be single Countess LuAnn de Lesseps sang karaoke to “Suzie Q” at Almond in Bridgehampton, then smooched the restaurant’s (gay) owner, Eric Lemonides. Co-Housewife Jill Zarin’s wise words regarding the Countess’s divorce? “The Count will be a great ex-husband, and a great father. This is my advice: Marry someone you’d want to be divorced from.” Madonna lent a helping hand to Italy’s earthquake victims, donating something like $500,000 to the small town of Pacentro (where her ancestors are from!).
Ashlee Simpson Twitter-posted pictures of her baby boy, Bronx Wentz, then invited Beyoncé’s little sister, Solange Knowles, and her 4-month-old baby, over for a playdate. Maybe they’ll talk about how not-jealous they are of their older siblings. A Twitter imposter is pretending to be Le Bernardin owner-chef Eric Ripert. Barbara Walters, Carolina Herrera, and Bryan Lourd sneak-peeked the cuisine and (more important) the scene at Graydon Carter’s Monkey Bar. At Cru the other night, Anne Hearst told Rudy Giuliani that he shouldn’t read certain excerpts of her husband, Jay McInerney’s, latest short-story collection. She thought they were too naughty for him. Rudy said he could handle it.
Jon Bon Jovi avoided the paparazzi at the opening of The Toxic Avenger at New World Stages, while his bandmate and the show’s composer, David Bryan, enjoyed the spotlight for once. Carrie Underwood issued an apology to Matthew McConaughey after making a fairly innocuous comment at the American Country Music Awards about wanting to see the actor’s “boots.” Lotus, the meatpacking district’s closed hot spot of yesteryear, can’t pay its outstanding debts, claiming that its owners are Madoff victims.
The Obama buzz of the day? That he’s going to pick Madeleine Albright to be ambassador to France. Jennifer Aniston has the hots for Mets slugger David Wright, who was chowing down on wings at Brother Jimmy’s and signing little kids’ autographs. Angelina Jolie sported an awesome Russian hat. Co-Scientologists Tom Cruise and John Travolta are slated to remake Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. And in the spirit of Pesach, Jessica Alba noshed at Beverly Hills deli Nate and Al’s with documentarian Barry Avrich (who’s currently making a movie with Harvey Weinstein).
