NY Observer > Hollywood http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/25586/feed Articles from Observer.com en A Brand New Reason to Hate L.A. http://www.observer.com/2008/brand-new-reason-hate-l

MY LIAR
By Rachel Cline
Random House, 252 pages, $23

In my experience, New Yorkers tend to be bipolar when it comes to Los Angeles: Either they love it—love it!—after visiting once or twice, and quietly nurse dreams of living there at some point, or they hate it—really hate it—and look with disdain on their neighbors who secretly lust for West Coast weather and perma-tans. Often, those with hate in their bellies have actually spent time in L.A., and will warn the others: Trust me, if you lived there, if you knew what I knew, you’d hate it, too. It’s all plastic. No way, say the dreamers. How could you hate a place with so much sun, so many movies and so much good Mexican?

Until I read Rachel Cline’s My Liar, I counted myself among those with California dreams. On my few trips to L.A., I even loved the driving! But if the characters in Ms. Cline’s book are at all typical of Angelenos—and I think they’re meant to be—then, no thanks! It’s just like I’ve been warned: full of narcissists, creeps and insecure idiots.  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/2008/brand-new-reason-hate-l#comments Arts & Culture Hollywood Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:56:31 -0500 Hillary Frey 65505 at http://www.observer.com New York World http://www.observer.com/node/37118 It Takes a Pillage, Part V    read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37118#comments Style Bill Clinton Hollywood Oakland Raiders Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Observer Staff 37118 at http://www.observer.com In This Week's Observer... http://www.observer.com/node/35993 Hell's Kitchen Is Too Pretty For Reality TV Hollywood screenwriter Bobby Moresco spoke in Dickensian terms about growing up Irish in Hell's Kitchen, back in the mob-ruled pre-condo era. "For me, it was the greatest life on the face of the earth," he told The Observer. "It turned into the worst life on the face of the earth." Go to story by Chris Shott. Second Avenue Subway Convert Protects First Leg of Biggest Dig Thursday's groundbreaking for the Second Avenue Subway will be a huge victory for the new chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but the hardest part may lie ahead--finding the money to complete a project that has been abandoned twice before. Go to story by Matthew Schuerman. Council: We Want Control Of All School Sites Everyone knows signing a lease in New York City is a lot easier than buying, but that's doubly true if you're opening a new school. Ordinarily, the city Department of Education needs City Council approval to construct a new school, but council members recently discovered that schools have been opening up in leased buildings for years without anyone even mentioning it to them. Go to story by Craig LeMoult. Macklowes Mull East 57th Street Monster Tower Harry and Billy Macklowe are so busy. Two months ago they more than doubled their New York portfolio with a $7 billion buy from Blackstone. And now here comes their next prize. Introducing Craig Nassi! He wants to buy 3 million feet of Manhattan He said he's serious about Manhattan. He said he's bullish about office space in Manhattan. He said he's going to buy a lot of office towers, that's how serious he is. Welcome to New York, Craig Nassi! Go to Commercial Breaks by John Koblin. Smith & Wollensky Takes It in The Chops The rather crude talk and mere pub fare might not exactly reflect the intended high-end image of such a traditionally refined outfit as Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group. But the more relaxed vibe may represent the future of the now-beleaguered Manhattan-based brand. Go to Counter Espionage by Chris Shott. 'Money Honey,' Hubby Buy $6.5 M. East Side Townhouse Despite her salacious scandal earlier this year, CNBC's top anchor, Maria "Money Honey" Bartiromo, and husband Jonathan Steinberg are settling into domestic bliss: They've closed on a five-level townhouse on East 62nd Street, paying $6.5 million. Time Warner Chief Cedes Tribeca Summit Dominance for $2.2 M. Manhattan tycoons should have bad toupees and bad tempers and badly decorated Fifth Avenue triplexes. But Dick Parsons, the mild chairman and CEO of Time Warner Inc., has sold off one of his comparatively modest apartments atop 166 Duane Street. Go to Manhattan Transfers by Max Abelson. Mutual Assured Construction In the first quarter of 2007, the Manhattan housing market notched a record number of apartment sales for a single quarter. In the same three-month period, the Manhattan office market recorded its lowest vacancy rate since early 2001. Is this simultaneous success a coincidence? Maybe. But probably not. Go to The Lab by Tom Acitelli. Cruise Decor Redefines 21st-Century Love Boats Not only are cruising enthusiasts starting younger and long before retirement, but New York City's cruise industry is booming with the 30-year master plan, according to the Economic Development Corporation. Go to Interiors by Toni Schlesinger. Ian Schrager: Viewing Studio 54 From Age 60 The man who forever placed 'boutique' before 'hotel' talks about his High Line plans, Brooklyn dreams, and why he wouldn't mind selling One Madison's clock tower. Go to The Sit-Down by Max Abelson. Deeds and Deals A Week in New York Real Estate]]> http://www.observer.com/node/35993#comments Real Estate Craig Nassi Hollywood Manhattan New York City Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:29:20 -0400 Observer Staff 35993 at http://www.observer.com Dutch Treat! I Can’t Get Over Verhoeven’s Black Book http://www.observer.com/node/37065 Fasten the safety belts: After standing ovations on the festival circuit, cult director Paul Verhoev  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37065#comments Arts & Culture Amsterdam Hollywood Sebastian Koch Sigourney Weaver Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Rex Reed 37065 at http://www.observer.com Off the Record http://www.observer.com/node/37234 L.A. Times May Have Dumped Grazer, But It Could Have Been Rummy    read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37234#comments Media Brian Grazer Chris Anderson Dean Baquet Hollywood Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Observer Staff 37234 at http://www.observer.com Ari vs. Mata Hari http://www.observer.com/2007/ari-vs-mata-hari The night of April 8 is going be a big, big, BIG one for HBO.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2007/ari-vs-mata-hari#comments Arts & Culture Edith Wharton Hollywood Los Angeles Mandy Moore Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Sara Vilkomerson 37021 at http://www.observer.com Off the Record http://www.observer.com/node/37037 L.A. Times May Have Dumped Grazer, But It Could Have Been Rummy    read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37037#comments Media Brian Grazer Chris Anderson Dean Baquet Hollywood Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Observer Staff 37037 at http://www.observer.com Next Year … the L.A. Power Seder http://www.observer.com/node/37054 LOS ANGELES—On this Wednesday, April 12, some 30 people will gather in a cramped West Hollywoo  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37054#comments First Night International Inc. Hollywood Jill Soloway Tom Sherak Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Nicole LaPorte 37054 at http://www.observer.com NYU Prof Wrapped Up in Grazergate http://www.observer.com/node/33010 On Thursday morning, Dalton Conley, chair of sociology at New York University, sent out a pair of emails, one to the Los Angeles Times and one to the office of Hollywood producer Brian Grazer. He wanted to confirm something, which he had just heard about in a voice mail from the Media Mob.

Was the publisher of the Times, in fact, considering killing off the upcoming special opinion section of the paper, guest-edited by Mr. Grazer?  read more »

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Conley received confirmation from both camps. Sure enough, the Times had decided to spike the entire section amidst concern about a romantic relationship between editorial page editor Andres Martinez and a publicist close to Mr. Grazer. ]]> http://www.observer.com/node/33010#comments Media Brian Grazer Dalton Conley Hollywood New York University Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:42:51 -0400 Observer Staff 33010 at http://www.observer.com Rock Ages http://www.observer.com/node/36879 The current cover of Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue—the biggest wet smackeroo poss  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/36879#comments Arts & Culture Chris Farley Chris Rock Hollywood Jack Black Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:00:00 -0400 Sara Vilkomerson 36879 at http://www.observer.com