Scoop From The Runways

Originally Posted: September 15, 2008

Just a reminder to all of you that summer is NOT over yet. Stop rushing it. Summer doesn't officially end until Monday, Sept. 22 at 9:44 a.m. when the Fall of 2008 officially begins. And that comes from the National Weather Service. So slow down, take some time off and head to the beach now that the summer colony has packed up, or simply grab a table at one of the outdoor cafes like Babette's or 75 Main and enjoy a cocktail - or two.

I don't know about anyone else but after Labor Day weekend, I really needed to recharge my battery with some down time. But what a weekend it was!

By now everyone has heard about the sold-out concert to benefit Save Sag Harbor featuring home grown star on the rise Alexa Ray Joel. The Whalers Church was literally packed to the rafters with the young set who were lucky enough to score a modestly priced $30 ticket. What you didn't hear was that Christie Brinkley hosted an after concert supper at her North Haven beach house. A real family affair with Alexa's dad Billy Joel and a host of friends including People magazine's Lindsay Tyler and her mom and sister where everyone got into some down home food including Christie's macaroni and cheese which folks said was over the top. Hey Christie, maybe you've got a cookbook you'd like to share?

The next day Billy and wife Katie Lee capped the summer with a barbecue blowout at their new Sagaponack spread. Howard Stern played some competitive beer-pong with Ivanka Trump (who was shown how to guzzle through a funnel by Mrs. Joel). Also on hand were Christie, Alexa Ray, Alec Baldwin, Jon Bon Jovi, Chevy Chase, Roger Waters, Penny Marshall, Rachel Ray, Lorne Michaels, Ron Perelman, Brad Grey, and Kevin Mazur. With Katie Lee and Rachael on hand I'm sure there were plenty of good eats.

Jon Bon jovi and Dorothea Hurley at the Costume Institute Gala. Photos by PatrickMcMullan.com

Speaking of Jon Bon Jovi, he's starting to give rock stars a good name. Jersey's favorite son - besides The Boss, Bruce Springsteen - has teamed up with New Jersey officials to help build new affordable housing in the state's largest city. His Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation is providing $1 million towards construction of a $15 million, 51-unit building for homeless people with special needs, such as AIDS patients. Jon was joined at the recent groundbreaking by Gov. Jon Corzine, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and Kenneth Cole and his wife, Maria Cuomo Cole, who runs Help USA, the non-profit organization helping to build the units.

Last week, Jon and his wife Dorothea Hurley opened their palatial Jersey Shore manse for a concert by Jon and his pals to benefit the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. Just a little at home musical for those able to pony up the -yikes! - $30,000 for a ducat. No matter - the place was packed with Obamaites anxious to rub elbows with the rocker.

Lest you think Jon reserves his largesse for the Jersey crowd, do know that he is also about preserving local East End landmarks. Well, landmark might be stretching it but word is out that he and buddy Ron Perelman are in talks to buy Blue Parrot, the beloved Tex-Mex restaurant in East Hampton known for its potent margaritas and its karaoke nights with the literary crowd which has been shuttered for two years.

You might remember there was a lot of talk a while back about Ralph Lauren taking over the eatery but that sort of fizzled. Now I hear Ron and Jon plan to reopen it next summer much the way it used to be - relaxed, fun, funky, and not too pricey. This is not the first time Ron has dipped his toe into the restaurant biz, he is said to be a backer of Graydon Carter's Monkey Bar, and almost bought Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett a couple of years ago.

More food notes: Would be Southamptonite Rachael Ray who has yet to move into her new digs with hubby John Cusimano, got an early 40th birthday present. Forbes Magazine's list of "Ten Top Earning Chefs" has her the Numero Uno slot thanks to her estimated earnings of a little over $18 million this year. That eclipses such stars as Alain Ducasse, Top Chef's Tom Colicchio, Bobby Flay, and Wolfgang Puck. You go Rach! The next forty are a piece of cake.

Got a call from one of my Canadian friends who raved about this year's Toronto Film Festival and especially about a little documentary "Picasso & Braque Go To The Movies," produced and narrated by none other than Martin Scorsese. The film, from famed East End art dealer-producer-director Arne Glimcher ("The Mambo Kings") delves deep into the relationship between film and the visual arts, and it features folks like Scorsese, Chuck Close, and Julian Schnabel. For more than 20 years Arne had carried around a theory, more gut feeling than scholarly research, that Picasso and Braque had been seduced by that siren song of the early cinema, and that Cubism, with its fractured surfaces and multiple perspectives, owed much more to the movies than anyone had noticed.

Also a note was passed on to me from my BFF West Coast girlfriend Rolonda Watts reminding me that her buddy Carl Lewis had won nine, yes nine, Olympic Gold Medals in sprinting and the long jump and reporting that he's running through Hollywood now with a role in the Max Myer's upcoming jewel heist movie "62 Pickup". Hopefully he'll be running up the aisle to pick up another bit of gold - the Oscar.

Congrats to Steve Munshin and Brian Haweil on the launch of Edible Manhattan which they celebrated at the Fulton Fish Market last week. If you, like me, simply devour each issue of their fabulous Edible East End, you will just love this new mag. The handsome first issue introduces readers to the sensory joy of freshly grated wasabi, a yacht cruise featuring New York wines, Amy Goldman's gorgeous book "The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table", the De Gustibus cooking school, and a community-garden dinner thrown by Outstanding in the Field. These two, leaders in the Slow Food movement, also have Edible Brooklyn in their stable and are slowly spreading the news of supporting local agriculture across the region. In their words, "Eating local means fresher and tastier fare, embracing the beauty of our landscape, and building a constellation of relationships with farmers, fishers, wine makers, chefs, bakers, cheese makers, beekeepers, and our neighbors." Well said guys!

The Trumps simply can't avoid making headlines, this time it's the meltdown of the Blaine Trump and Robert Trump marriage after three years of separation. Word is they can't reach a settlement and Robert is refusing to turn over the financial information that Blaine has asked for repeatedly so the gloves are coming off. She's hired Robert Cohen, who represented Christie Brinkley in her headline making split from Peter Cook. As with anything involving a Trump, the divorce trial will likely come with all the expected media circus that a Trump divorce brings. Making the situation, shall we say, sticky is the fact that the couple has no prenuptial agreement. Robert, who is Donald's lower key brother, has been living on Long Island with another woman after walking out on Blaine.

The tents at Bryant Park are empty now and nothing is left but some stray pins and ribbons. Betsey Johnson cartwheeled as usual after delivering a wild collection. Surprise number one, Marc Jacobs started on time and sent out a retro glam collection that knocked everyone sideways including A-list fashionistas Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham. Surprise number two, Diane Von Furstenberg, after issuing a stern edict to everyone to start on time, was very late in getting her first model down the runway. No surprise Oscar de la Renta had the ladies swooning with his romantic, utterly fem gowns. Calvin Klein's models wafted down the catwalk in sheer crumpled fabrics. Vera Wang, inspired by artists Niki de Sainte Phalle, wowed the crowd with her most interesting and ground-breaking collection in recent memory. And, Georgina Chapman of Marchesa made sure that the red carpet ladies in hubby Harvey Weinstein's films would shoot off mega kilowattage.

Victoria Beckham, designer marc Jacobs, and Jennifer Lopez backstage at Marc's Fashion Week show.

According to the New York City Economic Development Corp., the eight-day production of designer shows, parties and events produced by Fern Mallis, Vice President of IMG Fashion, generated some $233 million in direct visitor spending for the city and attracted over 116,000 attendees to the tents at Bryant Park, which were filled to capacity. The total economic impact for the week is estimated at $391 million. That's a lot of buttons and bows!

Of course, your Jen wasn't just checking out the fancy drag on the runways but was keeping her ear to the ground to check out what was really going on in the world of high fashion. And Honey, there was tons of fabulous scoop to be had and heard.

First of it seems wedding bells and business mergers are ringing in Matthew Mellon's future. The banking heir (formerly married to my personal goddess Tamara Mellon of Jimmy Choo shoe fame) who recently dumped designer girlfriend and business partner Noelle Reno, has proposed to his new designer girlfriend and business partner, Nicole Hanley. My spy said Matthew proposed on a boat ride around Fishers Island last week and they're starting a line called Mellon-Hanley. At least he sets his ladies up in business.

Perfumer Bond No. 9 launched Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue that features a label with a Warhol-like collage of shoes and boots. Andy, who would have been 80 this month, would love it! Project Runway judge Nina Garcia launched her new book "The One Hundred: A Guide To The Pieces Every Woman Must Own" to rousing accolades. Just picked up a copy and found a few things missing from my tremendous closet.

Good news for all my BFFs who love the designer clothes but don't have the extra cash. Rumors are circulating in the U.K. that ready-to-wear and couture designer Alexander McQueen is in talks with U.S. retailer Target for its next capsule designer collection. The award-winning, Gucci-backed designer already has a number of licensing deals under his belt, with Puma and Samsonite among them, plus perfume and eyewear.

Sears opened a lifestyle exhibit during NY's Fashion Week complete with a new portfolio of brands for the general public to view. The retailer debuted its newest menswear line with LL Cool J, which lands in stores this same week. Another exhibit will feature renowned 90210 plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Rey's Shapeware line. Ty Pennington of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and teen actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens are also expected to be there to showcase their home décor and apparel lines, respectively.

Lela Rose will continue her partnership with Payless into the fall and winter seasons for women, as well as infants and toddlers. She will also launch Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, a special-occasion collection exclusively for Payless, in early 2009. The retailer will also carry exclusive fall collections from Alice + Olivia and Abaeté.

Richard Chai and Jonathan Saunders are the newest designers to participate in Target's Go International program, which delivers the latest styles from up-and-coming designers to female shoppers. Past participants include British designer Luella Bartley and eco-friendly designer Rogan Gregory.

Comme des Garçons by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo will arrive in H&M stores this November, while Tracy Reese will be launching her Plenty collection for Keds in March 2009.

The main reason these designers are working with the mass retailers is to gain brand exposure. By having collections at mass retailers, the designers can use this income to fund their higher-priced collections.

With the influx of film action in the Hamptons, 75 Main has become the "Nick & Toni's" of Southampton. Just last week, Hugh Grant was there with a young lovely, the next evening the dazzling Jane Krakowski was charming the bartending brothers Mark and Justin, and Tony award winner Christine Ebersole took a little break from filming the pilot for "Royal Pains" as Lorraine Bracco lunched with friends.

When "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly heard that a bride-to-be having her bachelorette party at Oakland's Restaurant and Marina in Hampton Bays was a huge fan, he came over to her table. The star kissed the bride, posed for pictures and, after he rejoined his buddies, paid for all 15 girls' drinks! Later, at Dune, he left the waitress a $200 tip.

Paul McCartney caused a buzz when he dropped by the Amagansett library with daughter Beatrice for the lecture "Eric's Big Bugs."

No piker she, Renee Zellweger had lunch with a gentleman friend at Indian Wells Tavern where she noshed on a salad and a burger and left a very generous tip.

Seen at Joe Watson's VINe Wine Bar on the North Fork was Paul Giamatti of "Sideways" and the TV mini-series "John Adams" with his wife, son and family friends. His meal of choice was the arugula salad, macaroni and cheese with truffle oil and a mineral water. No Pinot Noir as his character in "Sideways" preferred.

We spotted the usual suspects at Nick & Toni's over the week including Itzhak Perlman, Chuck Close, Robert Benton, Alec Baldwin with friends, Jason and Haley Binn with Kelsey and Camille Grammer and Donny Deutsch, L.A. Reid with wife and friends, Mark Feuerstein and his wife, Russell Simmons with friends, and Monday Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni.