Friedman Reveals a Little Bit (Just a Little Bit) About John Dory, Rusty KnotDeodorant-eschewing Spotted Pig honcho Ken Friedman sits down with Bruni to say not much of anything about what he’s planning for the Rusty Knot, his “East Village–style dive bar” in the old West space. Despite the fact that he was last heard talking about the bar in a series of Belvedere ads, he says he doesn’t want the sort of exposure Sam Mason enjoyed on this very blog (“I was sick of [Tailor] before it even opened”) and reveals that his first choice for partner was Amy Sacco of Bungalow 8 rather than Taavo Somer of Freemans — a restaurant that’s one of his faves despite the fact that “the food’s never really that good.” Ouch!
A Chat with Ken Friedman [Diner’s Journal/NYT]
Earlier: Daniel Boulud and Ken Friedman Reveal New Projects in Belvedere Ads
party lines
Amy Winehouse Looks Good, Throws Spares at All-Star Fashion Bowling TournamentLast night an all-star bowling tournament raged at London’s private members’ club Shoreditch House (a cousin of New York’s Soho House). Mark Barât and Gary Powell from the Libertines showed off ferocious gutter balls, while drag royal Jodie Harsh, London’s answer to Amanda Lepore, looked on. Their opponent, Amy Winehouse, also seemed to know her way around a bowling alley, as she nabbed herself a couple of spares.
Ethan Hawke Pulls a Jude LawEthan Hawke is dating the woman who used to be his kids’ nanny. Mayor Bloomberg hit Joey Pantoliano with his car. Former Condé Nast chairman Steve Florio is still in the hospital despite having suffered a stroke two weeks ago. Former Sopranos star Aida Turturro left Stereo the other night after finding out that the stagehands’ strike was over. Fergie took the stage twenty minutes late at a Wilhelmina party because of a wardrobe malfunction. A fourteen-acre property in Southampton is going on sale for $59 million.
gossipmonger
Amy Sacco, Battling Love’s Velvet Rope?A Long Island woman Michael Lohan met in family court is pissed off because he has another girlfriend. An item claims there’s “trouble in paradise” between Amy Sacco and fiancé Luigi Di Carolis but doesn’t specify what it is. Bill Clinton threw Chelsea’s ex Ian Klaus a book party at Tabla. A number of people invited to the In Touch party at Tenjune never made it inside because the doormen let in their personal friends instead of invited guests. Denise Rich plans to take her 6,000-foot yacht, now docked at the Battery Park Marina, to the Caribbean for Thanksgiving. Gillian Hearst-Shaw and Christian Simonds are getting married tomorrow at the Pierre Hotel, with Lydia set to be her sister’s maid of honor.
party lines
Deconstructing District With Amy Sacco
We read in the Times yesterday that the financial district is so dead at night, most people who move there experience instantaneous buyer’s remorse. Not club impresario Amy Sacco, whom we ran into at Saturday’s Cinema Society screening of Things We Lost in the Fire and who will be moving into her new condo in the District, the luxury development on Ann Street she consulted on, this spring. She thinks the financial district is just fabulous! Of course, as with most people involved in the real-estate trade, when Sacco says one thing, she really means another. Since we have a lot of experience with these things — hello! We’ve been renters for our entire adult life! — we were able to translate her Realtorspeak, and really, practically read her mind.
intel
Heath Ledger Enjoying Open Season
Is Heath Ledger already on the prowl? It’s been just days since the actor’s split with Michelle Williams was made public and already we’ve seen him hit the town for two marathon nights. The first was on Sunday, when he attended a Dazed & Confused magazine dinner at Bowery Hotel with five friends and ended up getting squired around the city by Amy Sacco, who took him to Narciso Rodriguez’s tenth-anniversary party on the roof of the Gramercy Park Hotel, then to the Rose Bar downstairs, and finally to the Box, where he spent quality time in a banquette chatting up a chicly dressed blonde who looked like a taller Sienna Miller.
party lines
Amy Sacco Wears Boy ShortsThe brains behind MMK Brands Intimate Apparel clearly knew what the phrase “Bungalow 8 Underwear Party” would conjure up. George Clooney clad only in boxers? Paris Hilton in panties (for a change)? But at last night’s fête for the company, undie-shaped cookies were as racy as it got. “This is my first underwear party,” admitted designer Rebecca Minkoff. “I’ve been to a pajama party, but it was all women so you could only have so much fun.” Guests quickly emptied the vases brimming with “Passport Panties” — individually wrapped candy-colored bikinis and thongs that ickily included a cleansing wipe as a Cracker Jack prize. Co-host and club queen Amy Sacco, having just returned from partying with Diddy and attending the MAGIC tradeshow in Las Vegas, told us: “These packets are going in my Walk of Shame Prevention kits,” she said. And what kind of underpinnings does Sacco prefer? “I wear a lot of black thongs or boy shorts, but every once in a while, I love a naughty red pair.” There’s no shame in that. —Nick Burns
Restroom Report
Better Bathrooms: Bette or Butter?Consonant rhyme isn’t the only thing Bette and Butter have in common: They’re both owned by impresarios known to cater to the Olsen twins (Amy Sacco and Richie Akiva, respectively); they both have organic, clubby interiors with big murals; and let’s face it, they’re both frequented by the sort of night creatures who know the value of a nice, private bathroom. So just how are those powder rooms?
Bungalow Renovates While Neighbors Go to Pieces
What you see here is a construction Dumpster containing the disco detritus (everything from LPs to bar stools to the happy-happy drink tickets pictured) from defunct clubs Spirit and BED — a metaphor for the death of West 27th Street if ever there was one. Also spotted on the block yesterday, a posting on Bungalow’s door: “Bungalow 8 will be closed Saturday, July 7th until Tuesday, July 10th for renovations.”
gossipmonger
Gore and Sting, BFFAl Gore hung out at Sting’s apartment on Central Park West after the Live Earth concert. Roger Clemens got his hair highlighted for $120 at the Pierre Michel Salon. Jane Pratt feels vindicated now that Jane magazine has folded. Newly IPO’d billionaire Stephen Schwarzman and his wife dined at Club 55 in St. Tropez. A movie starring Alec Baldwin is set to hit theaters, even though he doesn’t want it released because he thinks it’s so bad it’s “unrecognizable.” Jon Bon Jovi took a helicopter to Ron Perelman’s party in the Hamptons. Teri Hatcher acted like a diva at Eva Longoria’s wedding. A clubgoer caught Paris Hilton smoking pot.
party lines
SJP Won’t Bite at Bitten Launch, But Amy Sacco Warns Us About Ellen Barkin
Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t talking to the press at last night’s press event for her new clothing line, called Bitten, for cheapie department store Steve and Barry’s. (“Thank you for respecting our no-interviews request,” her rep hissed. We heard a rumor that was because People had an exclusive, but the rep insisted it was merely because they’d rather we “write about the exciting new line of affordable clothing” than pay attention to the celebrity they were using to get attention for the line.) So instead we asked our bite-focused questions to the very svelte Amy Sacco, who reported that she has largely stopped biting. “I’m over food,” she said. “I’m doing all fish and really light stuff like salads. I want to get into a bikini this summer and be brave.” What about other kinds of biting? No doubt some kinky stuff happens late-night at Bungalow. “I’ve been bitten by Ellen Barkin,” Sacco gamely reported. “Ellen Barkin gave me a hickey. You have to be careful. She is very fast and you don’t see it coming.” If only Ron Perelman had known. —Shira Levine
gossipmonger
De Niro and Bowie, Kushner and Trump, Wenner and Nye Make NiceRobert De Niro and David Bowie were cordial at Vanity Fair’s party for the Tribeca Film Festival, despite reports that De Niro is mad that Bowie’s High Line Festival comes right after Tribeca. Also at the party: “Friends” Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump (as we told you yesterday). And Jann Wenner, with cuckolded boyfriend Matt Nye. Amy Sacco will open a hotel in the financial district. CBS’s Bob Schieffer and Lesley Stahl may have been behind a hit piece on Katie Couric in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Speaking of Couric, her cell phone ringtone is the Pussycat Dolls’s “Don’t Cha.” Bill Clinton is going to a party at Gabriel Byrne’s house to fundraise for Hillary. Les Moonves went to go see his son’s rock band play at the Plumm.
NewsFeed
In the Latest Round of Clubland Musical Chairs…It’s possible nightlife blog Down by the Hipster shouldn’t have been patting itself on the back yesterday for relaying rumors that Bungalow 8 plans to move downtown soon and that Cain is relocating to 17th Street. According to a rep, Cain “moves to its new location later this year which, just for the record, is not 17th and Ninth.” Meanwhile Bungalow’s boy writes in to insist (again) that “Amy’s not moving. Bungalow’s staying on 27th Street.” While we’re on the subject of club migrations, the official word is now that it will be mid-summer before Double Seven’s new location opens in the former Rhone space on Gansevoort Street. Got all that? In the meantime, we’ll keep our GPS units handy.
Related: Bungalow 8 to Abandon 27th Street [Down by the Hipster]
Breaking News: Cain Finds Home [Down by the Hipster]
Earlier: Former Cain Space: Yours for $1.5 Million (Plus Rent)
gossipmonger
Miss Anna Likes Cat People!Anna Wintour was in on that Romanian “Cat People” Fashion Week stunt from the get-go. Heidi Fleiss is set to sell a tape that supposedly features former client Charlie Sheen gallivanting with a transsexual named Kayla Coxx. Anderson Cooper wants kids. Georgina Chapman would like you to know she was in twelve movies before she landed roles in the Weinstein-produced Factory Girl and Nanny Diaries, thank you very much. Bungalow 8 owner Amy Sacco is a proud size 12.
gossipmonger
Amy Sacco Is Still Probably Not Selling BungalowLindsay Lohan wrote a long and incoherent e-mail, which for some reason referenced Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Amy Sacco says she’s actually not selling Bungalow 8, the Observer’s reporting to the contrary notwithstanding. (Daily Intel readers already knew that.) Mary-Louise Parker may be dating her Weeds co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Pataki consigliere Charles Gargano says he’ll keep his seat on the Port Authority board, even with his man gone from Albany. Frustrated Knicks fans, here’s your chance to vent: Garden chief Jim Dolan is performing with his band tonight at B.B. King’s. (It is, however, a cancer benefit, so don’t be too mean.) Paramount/Dreamworks execs are pushing Beyoncé over Jennifer Hudson for a Best Actress Oscar nod, and Jennifer Hudson is okay with it. Lenny Kravitz went to the dermatologist. Anna Wintour found The Devil Wears Prada “entertaining” and has had the same haircut since she was 15, she tells Barbara Walters during her “10 Most Fascinating People” interview (in which Wintour actually does wear Prada). TomKat didn’t invite Oprah to their wedding, and they didn’t invite her to their post-honeymoon bash, either. Kevin Federline showed up at a book reading for the free booze. Jordan’s Queen Rania and King Abdullah are on the rocks. Damon Wayans was fined $320 for dropping the n-word sixteen times at L.A.’s Laugh Factory. Jessica Alba and the Duff sisters are hosting a New Year’s Eve party at a club in Miami and are doing it for free. Ellen Pompeo wants to gain five to ten pounds, because they’d go straight to her boobs, she told Playboy. Robert Evans is suing the electrical company that installed a screening room in his home that mysteriously burned down. Liz Smith cried at the end of Dakota Fanning’s Charlotte’s Web.
in other news
Amy Sacco Might Be Done With Bungalow, and Fabian Basabe Will Happily Dance on Its GraveToday’s Observer brings the sad news that Bungalow 8, the West Chelsea lounge you’re nowhere near famous enough to get into, will likely soon be divested from club queen Amy Sacco’s empire. “I’m gonna do whatever I feel is necessary for myself,” she tells the paper. “But I’m not going to stay if I can’t get my customers to walk down the block.” Mother of mercy, is this the end of Bungalow?
We asked someone who’d know: Party boy about town Fabian Basabe, who was a Bungalow regular until he filed a pesky little lawsuit in August after he was denied entrance and subsequently, he claims, punched by the doorman. Basabe was less gleeful than we’d have expected, but he also got right to the point:
I think that when certain people started going and other people stopped going, it died. There isn’t that kind of exclusivity on 27th Street anymore. The Gramercy Hotel and Double Seven blow Bungalow away.
Presumably, of course, those places are still letting him in. — Brian Niemietz
UPDATE: Sacco calls back to tell us that reports of her desire to sell Bungalow are “total bullshit.”
A Nightlife Queen Gets Ready to Sell Her Chilly Hotspot [NYO]
Bungalow 8 Update II: Sacco Maybe Just Airing Frustration, Maybe Not Selling [Eater]
gossipmonger
Oh, Rats!Suge Knight on Snoop Dogg (who was arrested again Tuesday, this time with drugs and a gun in his possession): “He’s a rat. I don’t like rats.” Al Gore on Britney Spears’s refusal to wear underwear: “No comment.” Kelis on why gay men love her: “I’m like a gay man’s purse.” Candace Bushnell says Jay McInerney is very serious about sex. 50 Cent thinks Oprah caters to middle-aged white American women because “she’s become one herself.” Gambling-minded investors want to take over New York’s racetracks; horse purists aren’t happy. Lindsay Lohan has been attending AA meetings in Los Angeles. For exhaustion, of course. Andrew Cuomo forced two of his campaign operatives to pull out of a panel on politics. Naomi Campbell was going to be in a movie, but she made too many demands. Fabian Basabe avoided Amy Sacco recently because he’s suing her. Danny Meyer to open a Union Square Cafe in Tokyo. Sean Connery stood to make almost half a billion dollars from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he declined to play Gandalf. A month ago, Kid Rock went to a strip club, drank a lot. Matt Lauer held a door open for a woman with a stroller. Julianne Moore is so nervous about the opening of her new play she can’t eat. Michael Jackson watched the new Bond flick in his hotel room.
Back of the House
Rocco’s Reality; Sacco’s Igloo; Three Ways Into the WaverlyRocco returns to reality TV. [Snack]
Now in Carroll Gardens, “the largest selection of Italian after-dinner drinks in the country.” [Gridskipper]
Graydon Carter not looking to be the godfather of Bank Street. [NYP]
Three ways to score a table at Ye Waverly. [NYO]
Sacco has an igloo. [NYO]
More zingers from the Batali roast. [NYDN]
Rogue taxidermists teach “jackalope”-making at Union Hall. [Gawker]
Did Food Network lift celeb-kitchens idea? [Gawker]
fashion album
Amy Sacco’s Fashion Week FavoritesWhat looks will get you into Bungalow 8? We asked club owner Amy Sacco for her Fashion Week favorites.
