NY Observer > Julian Niccolini http://www.observer.com/taxonomy/term/28331/feed Articles from Observer.com en Nicks at Night http://www.observer.com/node/32555 Nicholas W. F-R. Dungan is president of the French-American Foundation. We're not sure what Mr. Dungan's impressive middle initials stand for, but his first name formed a sub-plot at the French-American Association's 30th Anniversary Gala at the Four Seasons restaurant. It kept popping up in conversation. There was a photographer from Agence France Presse also by the name of Nicholas. "I'm from Missourah," the photographer said. His middle name is David. "I was named after Nicholas from 'Eight is Enough.'" That television series, about the motherless Bradford clan, ran from 1977 to '81. Nick - he prefers the nickname ("I'm 'Nicholas' on paper.") - was born in 1979. He doesn't speak French. But he's learning German, just in case his girlfriend of six years, the lovely Jana, surname Meier ("Her last name is the equivalent of our" - our - "Smith."), originally from Germany, insists on returning there once her U.S. visa runs out.

Marie-Noëlle Pierce, a self-assured Franco-American (French father, American mother - she carries both passports) who is a director at the Foundation, ascended the stairs in a scorching red gown with a dramatic train. Her associate from the French office, clad in sensible shoes, stepped on it. "I heard a pop in the back," Ms. Pierce said moments later between sips of Pellegrino. She was steely yet jovial, an uncommon mix of emotions. "I hope it's going to hold up and I don't have a malfunction."

Something set her off on the topic of French Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy. "He's going to split the vote on the right," she said. But even more alarming is the story that recently ran in the Guardian, the British newspaper, in which Mr. Sarkozy's first name was Anglicized; an "h" was added where there should be none! Oh, never mind. The name Nicolas was the 21st most popular male name in France for the 20th century (Jean was the most popular). At the beginning of 2006, Nicolas' accounted for 376,946 registered French males. By contrast, or rather, au contraire, the choice of Nicholas as a name for American-born males has been spotty. In 1994, after placing outside the Top 10 for several years, it reentered at number six and held on there, some years slipping to seven, until getting knocked out again in 2003. (Note to AFP photographer Nick: in 1991, the names David and Nicholas tied for eighth place. You were a trailblazer!)

The Transom (check the name on our byline) ran into a couple of reporters from Source Media/Thomson Financial. And, by George, didn't one of them know our buddy, Nicholas Chesla, managing editor of The Bond Buyer, a Thomson newspaper. Nicholas is Australian, with a Polish father and English mother. "But have you met the boyfriend?" his curious cubicle-mate enquired.

Julian Niccolini, co-owner of the Four Seasons, engaged the two female reporters in conversation. The cocktail hour was drawing to a close and guests were being ushered into the dining room. Mr. Niccolini took leave of them to oversee the transition, but one of the women trailed behind him. She placed a hand on his pinstriped shoulder. "Wait, who are you?" she demanded. "What's your name and who are you?"

-- Nicholas Boston

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/32555#comments Style F-R. Dungan French-American Foundation Julian Niccolini Nicolas Sarkozy Thu, 09 Nov 2006 04:07:39 -0500 Observer Staff 32555 at http://www.observer.com Countdown to Bliss http://www.observer.com/node/48922 David E. Cohen and Keiko NiccoliniMet: July 2000

Engaged: Dec. 25, 2001  read more »

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/48922#comments Media David Cohen Italy Julian Niccolini Keiko Niccolini Sun, 14 Mar 2004 19:00:00 -0500 Anna Jane Grossman 48922 at http://www.observer.com Kissing Sister Eileen http://www.observer.com/2004/kissing-sister-eileen Jennifer Westfeldt, best known for playing the title character in Kissing Jessica Stein, the 2001 gi  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/2004/kissing-sister-eileen#comments Media Abe Hirschfeld Jennifer Westfeldt Julian Niccolini William Shakespeare Sun, 04 Jan 2004 19:00:00 -0500 Anna Jane Grossman, Alexandra Wolfe, Elon R. Green and Lizzy Ratner 48590 at http://www.observer.com Go-Go in Limbo http://www.observer.com/node/48243 Go-Go in LimboWhen former ImClone chief executive Sam Waksal pleaded guilty last March to conspiring  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/48243#comments Colin Callender Julian Niccolini Larry Gagosian Maxwell Anderson Sun, 26 Oct 2003 19:00:00 -0500 Alexandra Wolfe 48243 at http://www.observer.com Four Seasons Clutches Curtain http://www.observer.com/node/47231 Though Vivendi has already made $12 million by putting the Seagram art collection on the block, it m  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/47231#comments Christie's International plc Julian Niccolini Pablo Picasso Vivendi SA Sun, 09 Mar 2003 19:00:00 -0500 Alexandra Wolfe 47231 at http://www.observer.com Pasta Fungool http://www.observer.com/node/46448 Lunch at the Four Seasons restaurant on Sept.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/46448#comments Media Armando Manni Henry Kissinger Jennifer Esposito Julian Niccolini Sun, 15 Sep 2002 20:00:00 -0400 NYO Staff 46448 at http://www.observer.com David Tang's Big Publicity Trick Pits Sleeksters Against the Cops http://www.observer.com/node/39906 David Tang did not need the bullhorn that he carried into the confusion on Madison Avenue.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/39906#comments Media David Tang Julian Niccolini Pete Hamill Pete Peterson Sun, 30 Nov 1997 19:00:00 -0500 Frank DiGiacomo 39906 at http://www.observer.com Four Seasons owner Julian Niccolini throws a four-star fit. http://www.observer.com/node/39883 Four Seasons in Hell When he's in a good mood, Julian Niccolini wields a tongue sharp enough to slic  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/39883#comments Media Chris Carr Julian Niccolini Lisa Niccolini Sandra Bernhard Sun, 23 Nov 1997 19:00:00 -0500 Frank DiGiacomo 39883 at http://www.observer.com