Jason Binn

In the late 1990s and early part of this decade, a young journalist named Andrew Essex was on the rise in Manhattan. He was a Talk of the Town editor at The New Yorker under Tina Brown; then a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly; then executive editor at Fairchild’s revamped Details. There were also stints at Us Weekly and Salon.

In 2005 things took a turn for Mr. Essex. He was hired to be editor in chief of a magazine called Absolute—one of those shiny luxury publications that straddle the line between advertisements and editorial and leave the reader (flipping through it idly in a shiny luxury condo lobby, perhaps) feeling glazed and hollow, not sure exactly why.  read more »

Last week, The Observer reported that financier Roberto de Guardiola, and his interior designer wife, Joanne, are selling their East 64th Street townhouse for close to $30 million. They certainly move fast. Now, the couple has bought five apartments in the Sherry Netherland Hotel, according to Page Six.

Braden Keil provides an update on a previous story of the sale of a $90 million mansion in the Hamptons. The deal is still not done, but there are some hints that it could be in the works. Regardless, the buyer and seller are denying it.

Jason Binn has a new neighbor to spruce up the luxurious River Lofts. Supermodel Karolina Kurkova just dropped $2.3 million on a new apartment, according to New York magazine.

After his well-documented losses on the stock market, David Denby is trying to make some money in real estate, according to the New York Times.

On Sunday, The Daily News cover story declared a “War At Ground Zero.” In a candid interview, Mayor Bloomberg said that progress cannot be made at Ground Zero with Larry Silverstein hanging around. Today, The Times follows up.

And lastly, the L-Ification of Brooklyn. Next stop, Jefferson Street.  read more »

-Michael Calderone

Magazine publisher Jason Binn is known for luxury living, and his real-estate broker wife, Haley Lie  read more »

Those few who find themselves in a position to knowledgeably discuss the attendees of the Bridgehamp  read more »

The absolutely most luscious thing about working in an office is sharing the wealth of magazine subscriptions. Speaking of: The Transom purchased, actually paid for, a subscription to Hamptons magazine more than a month ago, and it has yet to arrive. Paging Jason Binn, your order fulfillment department is making The Transom very, very unhappy. Perhaps Mr. Binn should watch his step among the slippery divots of the Bridgehampton Polo Club this weekend.

Anyway.

In today's magazine mail comes August's Tatler, that tasty mag that always turns our minds to London emigration. (We do love the Brits! Although it's true that, in these quarters, some love them a little more carnally than others.)

Tatler—whose cover story is "How I Fell In Love With Tom Cruise: The Very Lucky Katie Holmes"— features a "100 Most Invited Top Party People" list, and it is making The Transom absolutely seethe with jealousy over the comparative state of society circuits.

A few fave excerpts:

Number 2: Ben and Kate Goldsmith, Eco-investor & earth mother Backgammon champ and the yummiest mummy in town. Made Drones Club totally hot after they bought it: the food is delicious and everyone is there. Often spend weekends at brother Zac's organic estate in Devon.

Number 8: Lady Gabriella Windsor and Aatish Taseer, Journalists Princess Michael's cool daughter and her man are mesmerizing the party set. She's a first-class wordsmith; he's dead sexy. Often eschew Kensington Palace for a grotty flat down the King's Road.

Number 17: Lady Eloise Anson, Model Whippet-thin stunna with eyes as blue as a swimming-pool. She's a dab hand at crazy looks...

Number 35: Andy and Patti Wong, Financier and Sotheby's director Enthusiastic collectors of Asian art who live in Battersea with daughter Skye. Andy is a naughty little schoolboy; Patti's the sensible one. Neither sunbathes. Their annual Chinese New Year bash is always the talk of the town—sushi was served on a nude model last year.

Also: Elton John and his lover, at number 51, beat out Madonna and her lover, who are down at number 54. Goodness.  read more »

Those entranced will be happy to know there's time enough to book on The Transom's favorite flight, American Airlines number 132, which is the 9:30 p.m. from JFK to LHR. There doesn't appear to be anything up front, unfortunately, but there's a number of empty aisle seats left for tonight. —Choire Sicha

According to a guest at the May 24 wedding of former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Judith Nathan, 17-ye  read more »

On a Friday evening in June, two blond teen heiresses were getting dressed for a party.  read more »

Donald Trump stammered when asked if Jason Binn, the 31-year-old publisher of Hamptons , Ocean Drive  read more »