We're edging close to the halfway mark of summer and the parties and the gossip roll on feverishly with divorce the hot topic of conversation as Christie and Peter duke it out, Ron Perelman and ex-wife Patricia continue their custody battle, and now Her Madge-sty Madonna is mixing it up with Alex Rodriguez. Lots of wagers on what will happen with these tawdry messes. As they say in TV land, stay tuned, the action's just getting started.

Speaking of the Revlon tycoon, I hear that Perelman is coming under fire from academic types for renaming a prominent building in honor of his late former wife - gossip queen Claudia Cohen. The renaming of the prestigious Logan Hall at the University of Pennsylvania has sparked some annoyance among students and others on the campus. In recent weeks, signs reading Claudia Cohen Hall started appearing on the building that had been known as Logan Hall, named over a century ago for James Logan, a secretary to William Penn and one of the first trustees of the University.

Governor Charlie Crist and Carol Rome at the ARTRAGEOUS Gala.

As I told you some weeks ago, Ron wanted to memorialize Cohen, a gossip columnist for the New York Post who died last year. He donated $20 million to Penn in 1995 and exercised his naming rights recently. Claudia and Ron, who both graduated from the University, were married for nine years. Despite their divorce in 1994, the two remained close friends.

Some faculty members and students say they were unhappy to see the building get a new name. One professor stated, "I as an academic am accustomed to seeing buildings with names like Newton, Copernicus, and Darwin. Then to see the name of this person, who is very fresh in our memory who is not associated with a pursuit of knowledge - a gossip columnist - it strikes me as being totally idiotic." In a statement, Ron replied, "No one was more deserving than this alumna, who was the first woman editor of the university's newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian. Claudia was a journalist with a thirst for knowledge, an amazing mother, and my best friend." So there!

Here's some good news about a much loved hostess on the social scene. Carol Rome just became engaged to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, called "Florida's most powerful bachelor". Crist, on the short list of names under consideration to be John McCain's running mate, met Carol - who was previously married to Blue Star Jet honcho Todd Rome - nine months ago and told friends, "She's special in every way. She's brilliant, beautiful and sweet." The governor gave his new fiancée a sapphire-and-diamond ring.

Eric Nederlander, of the powerful theatrical family, may be unlucky at love but he has at least one consistent pursuer - the IRS. The theater scion, whose first wife Jessica left him shortly after their honeymoon for Jerry Seinfeld, has been hit with a lien to the tune of over $220,000. Also named in the federal action is his second wife, Lindsey Kupferman, who has already filed for divorce from the entertainment heir.

I guess K-Mart isn't enough of a spread for domestic goddess Martha Stewart. I have just learned that Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that its Martha Stewart Crafts line is expanding into Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. and Canada. Investors cheered the news, sending the stock up 37 cents, or 5.3 percent, to $7.36 per share in morning trading.

The company said two new assortments — Martha Stewart Create and Martha Stewart Celebrate — will debut in the majority of the stores this month. The 'Create' line features crafting essentials and memory-keeping products like paper, cutting mats and ribbons, as well as craft and activity kits, and the 'Celebrate' assortment includes ready-made paper-based weddings essentials like stationery and cake toppers. All Martha, All the time!

The boundless energy of Tommy Tune never ceases to amaze. Tommy, who just received the first Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fred and Adele Astaire organization, is now directing a new musical by "Jersey Boys" writer Marshall Brickman. They are already in rehearsals with plans for a short out of town try-out then on to Broadway. "It's an original concept based on nothing that's ever been done before," says Tommy. "The title is 'Turn of the Century. It opens New Year's Eve 1999 in a chic New York apartment. The hostess, a singer who needs a break, invites friends including a guy, a one-night stand who seems to meld with her like oil and water. They do songs that ring in the new century. There are fireworks. There's 'Auld Lang Syne.' Then something happens that switches us back to a century earlier and she's singing 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' which hasn't been written yet."

Tony-winning William Ivey Long, who's done 58 shows from "La Cage Aux Folles" to "The Producers," "Hairspray," "Grey Gardens," and "Young Frankenstein," is doing the costumes for Dolly Parton's Broadway bound "Nine to Five." Directed by Joe Mantello of "Wicked" fame. Dolly, who starred in the 1979 movie and wrote its famous theme song, is not in it. She's producing, promoting it, doing music and lyrics for all 20 original songs.

Quick note: I hear from reliable sources that Rosie O'Donnell is prepping a one-woman show to take to Broadway ala Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg.

Katie Holmes, who is set to star in the revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" this fall, may be a nice little actress, but so far she's not much of a draw, say sources involved in the production who are beginning to fret as ticket sales aren't as strong as they'd hoped. "Where are all the Scientologists? Don't they want to see her?" joked one person, who requested anonymity for fear that the followers of L. Ron Hubbard would hunt him down and make him read all 10 volumes of "Mission Earth." Ticket brokers and group sales agents, who at one point thought Holmes would be this season's Julia Roberts - she pretty much sold out "Three Days of Rain" in one day - say interest in the Holmes show is zero.

That cutie pie Emanuel Sylvano was on the set of the new flick "When in Rome" featuring Fergie and Josh Duhamel and wouldn't tell me anything about the love struck duo other then they were lovely, thanked everyone on the shoot and went around the set wishing all a Happy 4th of July. Then the couple who have been inseparable for some time headed off to a beach hideaway. Not dishy but good to hear that some people are nice.

Speaking of nice, we have adored Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban ever since we ran into them one early spring morning on Main Street in Southampton when Nic was filming on location. They were the epitome of graciousness and charm. Now I have learned that they are parents. Nicole gave birth to a baby girl on Monday morning here in the United States. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces. You'll be pleased to know hubby Keith was by Nicole's side and mother and baby are very well.

Congrats also to New York Times Styles columnist, Bob Morris and literary agent extraordinaire Ira Silverberg. Bob has been shuttling back and forth from NYC to Los Angeles for the past few months working on movie development for his book "Assisted Loving." Last week he asked Silverberg to join him, to which he replied, "Only if you marry me," to which Morris responded, "Oh, all right." Taking advantage of California's latest ruling they flew out and got married in between meetings.

Seen Around The Villages:

Summer is truly here and our celebrity meter is going off the charts. Here's a sample of who was where when you weren't!

The "Hellboy II" premiere in East Hampton had a few boldfaced names on the popcorn line including Calvin Klein, Bill McCuddy, Howard Stern, and Beth Ostrosky.

Those who tuned in to "Good Morning America" this weekend for a holiday segment shot at B. Smith's harborside restaurant in Sag Harbor would have caught local musical fave Jim Turner of The Jim Turner Band leading a chorus of kids singing patriotic ditties for a national audience.

Lodgings on the East End were exceedingly hard to snare this weekend. Pro baller Eli Manning got the last room at 1770 House where the manager had to turn away David Schwimmer and Robert Downey, Jr. Note to owners: If that should ever happen again call me, I can always find a place for Robert in my crib as long as he brings along his "Iron Man" costume.

Over at that other historical hostelry, the American Hotel in Sag Harbor, "Philistines at the Hedgerow" author Steven Gaines hosted an Independence Day special on Sirius Satellite Radio on Saturday live from the hotel with such guests as Susan Lucci, Judith and Rudi Giuliani, Jerry Della Femina, and B. Smith.

"Fatal Attraction" director Adrian Lyne charmed the crowds at Saracens this weekend. While over at The Drivers Seat in Southampton, Michael Lohan was seen dining with a couple. I watched Mike who never put his phone down throughout lunch - probably working on his latest deal. I hear he is trying to sell the story about his alleged lovechild if DNA test results prove he is the father of teenager Ashley Kaufmann. Michael underwent testing this week, hoping to prove he is not related to the 13-year-old, and says he is already making plans for legal action against her mother. But according to the latest buzz, he has already approached OK! and People magazines asking for $20,000 for the rights to his story should the paternity tests reveal he is the teen's father.

At Wei Fun, we spotted Alec Baldwin who landed a new role doing voiceovers on an ad that blasts Mayor Bloomberg for not helping the homeless. The 60-second spots, which are sponsored by the Coalition for the Homeless and available on YouTube, were released Tuesday when the group said City Hall deserved an F on its homeless policies.

Mike Wudyka of The Enclave Inn welcomed famed portraitist Phillip Stewart Charis and his lovely wife MaryAnne to his Southampton hotel. They are in the Hamptons for the ArtHamptons art fair.

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker stopped into La Fondita with their son Wednesday for a quick Mexican bite. They noshed on chips and salsa, guacamole, rice and beans, tortilla soup, and a traditional grilled chicken plate.

The always pleasant Katie Couric returned to Tutto Italiano with a friend on Saturday. They watched Chef Pasquale Langella's demonstration of making fresh handmade mozzarella and picked up some fresh pesto sauce and ciabatta bread to make some Paninis. On Independence Day, a solo Billy Joel wearing boat shoes strolled into Tutto Italiano (his Moto Guzzi motorcycle was parked outside) and quickly picked up a few items to go.

Martha Stewart was spotted standing patiently in line at Citarella waiting to order some prime meat from the butcher and commented on how busy the store was.

Chef Joe Realmuto at Townline BBQ welcomed "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest who stopped in for a BBQ lunch on July 4 with friends. He sampled the pulled pork sliders. As well, restaurateur Jeffrey Chowdorow dined on BBQ with family and friends. He told the kitchen staff "everything was incredible." No small praise from one of the region's top restaurateurs

Weekly roll call at Nick & Toni's: Monday had Nora Ephron and Nick Pileggi, Bob Balaban, Sarah Jessica Parker with Nathan Lane; Tuesday brought George Stephanopoulos with his wife; Wednesday we saw Richard Prince; Thursday seated Howard Schultz, Ron Perelman with Penny Marshall, Sandy Gallin; and Sunday diners spotted Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky as well as Alec Baldwin.