Christian Slater

In a killed profile for Elle by Kevin Sessums (the piece is now available on Tina Brown's Daily Beast), Jennifer Lopez is described as "weepy and fragile" and "flu-ridden." She also discusses potentially sending her children to Scientology school and her postpartum insecurity. [P6] 

Michelle Rodriguez woke up her fellow guests at Florida's Mayfair Hotel by banging the door knocker to her room and screaming at her female "roommate." [R&M] 

Female employees of Hawaiian Tropic Zone are suing parent company Riese for $600 million over charges of physical and sexual harassment and rape. [NYP via Grub Street]

Christie Brinkley's ex-husband, Peter Cook, is finally sharing his side of the story in an upcoming interview with Barbara Walters. His explanation for having an affair with his then 18-year-old assistant?  "I was seeking a connection I could not find in my own marriage...I wanted a little acknowledgment, a little attention, a little thank you every now and then for my efforts, for the amount of time I took to care for her and my family, for the wealth I was building." [NYDN]   read more »

• Denzel Washington could be moving closer to God: The actor is eyeing a $5.96 million apartment in the Novare--a church-to-condo conversion on West 4th Street. Also, J.K. Rowling is dropping $150,000 on her summer home in the Hamptons. (New York Post)
• The luxurious home of the late Evelyn Annenberg Jaffe Hall, at tony 640 Park, is now on the market for $27.5 million. Coincidentally, the co-op apartment in 740 Park that housed her late sister, Enid Annenberg Haupt, is asking $27.5 million--and reportedly now under contract. (New York Times)
• Six Feet Under's Jeremy Sisto is heading to Hell's Kitchen, grabbing a $4,000 a month pad. In the past year, several actors doing more work on Broadway--like Rosie O'Donnell and Christian Slater--have purchased apartments near the theater district. (New York)

- Michael Calderone

Less than three weeks after his headline-grabbing arrest in May, for allegedly groping a woman on th  read more »

Less than three weeks after his headline-grabbing arrest in May, for allegedly groping a woman on th  read more »

Michael Calderone reports that a few weeks after an alleged “groping” last May, Christian Slater bought himself a condo. And a new synergy comes to open houses in the form of celebrity book signings!

Matthew Schuerman chronicles the campaign the International Freedom Center is waging to stay at Ground Zero.  read more »

Matt Haber reveals the true story of living on Chambers Street with literary it-boy Benjamin Kunkel.

And Anna Schneider-Mayerson learns the fine art of milkshakes over at The Shake Shack.

In honor of the 1,000th issue of Reader's Digest, the self-proclaimed world's most widely read magazine threw an oh-so-futuristic "interactive party" last week. According to Laura McEwen, one of the magazine's VPs, the magazine is so "awesome and hip that the emphasis on the future was so right." Grandparents across the country are high-fiving.

Sections of the skylight studios were split into themes: Life on an Asteroid, which featured a four seater simulated virtual space ride; Materials of the Future, like malleable concrete (huh); and most importantly, the bedroom of the future, which contained one very tiny single bed. In the future, apparently, we will all sleep alone. Maggie Gyllenhaal stepped out of her black SUV looking weary. Still, she had taken the time to dress to meet the future; she wore a steel-colored sleeveless frock ornamented with long green glass beads. The photographers descended upon Ms. Gyllenhaal's thin frame. "Don't run after Maggie Gyllenhaal, you desperate people!" shouted a Getty Images photographer. Several actually backed off. "They all calmed down," the surprised photographer marveled aloud.

Ms. Gyllenhaal, who was drawn to the Readers Digest party out of curiosity, not because she actually reads it, of course, explained that, "Readers Digest is such a powerful institution—really a mainstay of American culture. They invited me because they have an eye towards the future." She posed patiently and unsmilingly for photos, then turned and entered the future. A voice activated human sized robot was strategically positioned in the lobby to greet Ms. Gyllenhaal and the other guests. One woman, in a lovely white and red wraparound dress, was shocked when the robot complimented her. "This is scary," she said, "I'm not often spoken to by robots."

Frightened by an actual actor clothed in robot clothing—very Mars 2112—she took consolation in knowing that a humanoid could not physically fit inside the skinny talking robot. "This is my lucky dress," she told The Transom, "something always happens when I wear this dress. I got my job with Readers Digest when I was wearing this dress!"

Her boss, Ms. McEwen, also had a close encounter with the robot. "He said to me, 'You're wearing my colors.'" Sure enough, her silvery-gray dress did resemble the robot's own couture. "How did you know?" she asked the robot in wonder.

Hopefully in the future we will not still be forced to suffer through all the George Michael with which the DJ was hurting the crowd. Ms. Gyllenhaal and Christian Slater were billed as DJ's for the party, but Mr. Slater had yet to arrive, and Ms. Gyllenhaal was occupied; she perused the futuristic drinks at the bar at great length. She settled on the decidedly historic white wine.

"I'm not DJ-ing," she said. "I told them I'd pick some songs. And I have a feeling that when I do, the party will get better." The indie queen prefers the likes of Arcade Fire, and, what's this? "David Bowie and David Byrne say they are the new band and I totally agree with them," she said. Alas, the DJ had no Arcade Fire mp3s for Ms. Gyllenhaal to "spin" so she played David Byrne and the Rolling Stones instead.

When Mr. Slater finally appeared, he was swarmed by the ladies. Escaping out back into the smoker's lounge of the future, Mr. Slater smoked and talked summer vacay with his buxom publicist. One curly haired young thing brazenly approached and handed Mr. Slater a folded piece of paper. Mr. Slater opened the note, which, besides the requisite name, number and email address, bore the enthusiastic message, "I loved Pump Up the Volume!" Mr. Slater looked impressed, "Oh! A fan from way back!" and promptly handed the note to his disgusted publicist.

But how will Mr. Slater and all his ladies fit onto those tiny single beds of the future?

The Transom bumped into the Robot. It was still smack in the center of the lobby, bidding guests warm electronic good-byes.

The Transom bid the robot adieu. It had such lovely bright blue oblong eyes.

"Nice to see you again," replied the Robot, "you look beautiful."

"Thanks," said The Transom. Well, really, we were all lonely here. After a moment of hesitation, we threw caution to the wind. "Robot, will you come home with me?"

"I love you," replied the Robot.  read more »

--Raquel Hecker

You know you're watching a bad movie when you keep glancing at your watch waiting for everyone to di  read more »