The New York Observer » Chris Shott

Youssou Crazy! Documentarians Rally Around Senegalese Singer at Paris Theater

“I feel like the Benetton ads,” said filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, posing for photos with Senegalese singer Youssou NDour and fellow director Mike Nichols at a screening of her new documentary, Youssou NDour: I Bring What I Love, at the Paris Theater on Thursday night, June 4.

The film follows the recording and reception of Mr. NDour's Read More

No More Dancing Dogs: Prosecution Finally Lets Brooke Astor’s Laywer Resume His Life

And on the seventh day, Henry Christensen rested.

The late socialite Brooke Astor's former attorney sat for his sixth (and mercifully final) consecutive day on the witness stand as the trial of Ms. Astor's son, Anthony Marshall, wrapped up its sixth week of testimony on Thursday, June Read More

Bikini Babe Fernanda Motta Risks Modeling Career on ‘Thrilling’ Pesto Pasta at Le 55

Restaurants are notoriously risky investments, especially for a supermodel.

"I cannot come here," Fernanda Motta told the Daily Transom the other night at Le 55 in the meatpacking district, "because I love Italian food."

Despite the inherent danger—every carb-laden bite of pasta a potential career-ender for the slender, four-time Sports Illustrated bikini babe—Ms. Motta and her Read More

Countess Luann de Lesseps Conjures Lascivious Mae West at the Night Hotel

The classy Countess Luann de Lesseps is a big fan of the old bump and grind.

"I love burlesque!" Ms. de Lesseps confessed to the Daily Transom on Wednesday night, May 27, during intermission at former Roxy and Palladium promoter Lee Chappell's risque weekly Foreign Affairs show in the dimly lit lounge at Vikram Chatwal's Night Read More

Lily Pond on Fire! Stereo Refugee Mike Satsky Exults in East Hampton, Trashes Greenhouse, Mum on New Manhattan Spot

Impresario Mike Satsky has what he calls a "LeBron James attitude" when it comes to his Lily Pond nightclub in East Hampton.

"Our product and what we bring to the table we feel is extremely valuable and we feel like we’re the only ones doing it, even though there are other people in the business, just Read More

Another Capricious Season Begins at Coney Island

Another uncertain season begins along Brooklyn Read More

Graydon in the House! Vanity Fair Boss Testifies About Brooke Astor’s Writing Skills

No need for the maitre d' to issue the standard announcement of his arrival.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Loewy did just fine: "The people call Graydon Carter."

At 3:48 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, the 59-year-old Vanity Fair editor in chief entered a Manhattan courtroom sporting a royal blue blazer with brass buttons, striped shirt, Read More

Hockey Star Sean Avery Drops the Puck for Boozy Offseason at New Tribeca Bar

Tempestuous New York Rangers left-winger Sean Avery won't be lacing up the skates any time soon, following his team's anticlimactic exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But he still knows how to tie one on.

"How do you say 'cheers' in the Jewish language?" the flashy Read More

Danny Meyer Drops Out of Race for Tavern on the Green

Popular restaurateur Danny Meyer no longer has his eye on the late Warner LeRoy's illustrious Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

Bids on the city's top-grossing eatery are due on Monday, May 18, but Mr. Meyer, an early favorite for the famous space, has decided to withdraw his name from the competition.

According to a statement Read More

Waverly Inn Chef John DeLucie, Macin’ and Cheesin’ in Full Book-Tour Mode

Chef John DeLucie has been serving celebrities at Graydon Carter's exclusive Waverly Inn since November 2006. Lately, he's been soaking up the spotlight himself.

"Someone, somehow told Hugh Jackman that I was doing the food for Graydon’s Vanity Fair Oscar Party," Mr. DeLucie told the Daily Transom. "So I walk over to his table and Read More

Gabba Gabba Goof! Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Finally Honors the Late Joey Ramone

How low can a punk get?

Joey Ramone, the late, lanky, leather-clad lead singer of the seminal New York punk rock band the Ramones, finally got his just deserts on Thursday afternoon, May 14, at a brief ceremony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho.

"This is a day of kind of not Read More

High Times With Greg Brier: Impresario to Conjure Old Times Square 10 Stories Up

Greg Brier likes it on top.

In June, the 42-year-old proprietor of Highbar, Amalia and Aspen Social Club plans to open his second rooftop nightspot in the past year with the debut of Ajaxx, high atop Vikram Chatwal’s 10-story Stay hotel on West 47th Street.

“If you want to experience New York, you cannot be Read More

HBO Gets Ill: Adam Yauch’s Protest Flick Brings New Meaning to ‘Fight for Your Right (to Party)’

What's the time? It's time to get informed.

On Thursday, May 7, Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys joined HBO Vice President Sara Bernstein in hosting the New York premiere of Burma VJ, director Anders Ostergaard's brutal documentary about the 2007 uprising in Myanmar, at the network's headquarters at 1100 Avenue of the Americas.

Prior to the Read More

Axis Spies? Alex Who? Four Seasons Guys Get Treated Like Guests at 50th Anniversary

"With friends like you, who needs relatives?" quipped Alex von Bidder, co-owner of the illustrious Four Seasons restaurant, after enduring a rollicking tongue-lashing on Tuesday night, May 5, from such luminaries as Pete Peterson, Martha Stewart and Liz Smith.

Hotelier Jonathan Tisch and restaurateur Drew Nieporent also piled on, during a Friars Club-style roast of Mr. Read More

Drew Nieporent Has a Dog Pile Premonition of James Beard Awards Glory

Jovial restaurateur Drew Nieporent stood outside of Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on Monday evening, May 4, holding an umbrella in one hand and a smoldering stogie in the other.A Cuban? Never! “You’re too young to remember, but Ken Aretsky almost went to prison for that!” Mr. Nieporent said, referring to the proprietor of midtown’s Read More