William Samuels

Liberal billionaire George Soros and members of his family have contributed a little more than $1 million into state campaign coffers since 2000, with nearly all of it going to help Democrats in the State Senate.

Already this year, George, his son Robert, Robert’s wife, Melissa, and another son, Jonathan, contributed $199,500. George, Robert and Melissa each gave $25,000 to the New York State Democratic Party and gave the maximum allowable personal contributions - $9,500 - to Eric Schneiderman, David Valesky, Craig Johnson and Joe Addabbo.

(Two other members of the Soros family also contributed this year. Son Jonathan gave $9,500 to Democratic State Senate candidate Rick Dollinger and his wife, Jennifer, gave $1,000 to a pro-abortion rights lobbying PAC that donated to Johnson and Dollinger.  read more »

As far as local politics go, the East Side seems to be divided when it comes to this year's race for Attorney General.

An invitation to Mark Green's upcoming comedic fundraiser listed as a vice chair of the event William Samuels, whose sister, Jacqui, is a fundraiser for Carolyn Maloney.

And two East Side District Leaders, Sally Minard and Linda Foa, who are listed as benefactor and patron, respectively, are also close to Maloney. (Ms. Minard held a fundraiser for the congresswoman at her home last year.)

The catch, of course, is that Maloney is supporting Andrew Cuomo, who won the endorsement of the Lex Club by a vote of 69 to 23 over Mark Green after she endorsed him.

Maybe her friends didn't get the memo.

—Nicole Brydson

Every year, when the mercury hits 90 degrees and the line for Nick and Toni's backs up to Manhattan,  read more »

Every year, when the mercury hits 90 degrees and the line for Nick and Toni’s backs up to Manhatta  read more »

Shortly after sunset on a recent May evening, in an Upper East Side apartment cluttered with tchotch  read more »