Austin Scarlett, Jackie Warner and Ricki Lake

October 02, 2006

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I was so zonked from last week's management training and programming offsite and general fall craziness that on Saturday I doped myself on up on melatonin and spent the day in a haze. I made an early attempt at productivity so I screened episode 3 of "Top Chef" (it's really good) then hit my kitchen, where I whipped up an old favorite -- some Kraft mac and cheese that I bet would get high marks from Tom Colicchio. Did I brown the top using the broiler option on my toaster? Well, yes, I did. Please pack your knives and stay, Andrew Joseph.

I committed myself to staying inside all day and hit the DVR in a big way. I watched two episodes of Oprah (road trip and Janet Jackson), last week's "Studio 60" (why did I almost cry at one point?), the premiere of "The Class" (an actual funny sitcom!), and last week's "Survivor" (they mixed the races together to form two teams zzzz).

Saturday night I went with Graciela to a birthday party for the artist Jason Middlebrook at the Sara Meltzer gallery. His stuff is really cool. Walking around galleries always reaffirms my absolute inability to articulate or measure how much a piece of art is going to cost. Always a brain twister for this reporter.

When we were done at the gallery, we headed over to a soiree that promised "light fare" at the lower Fifth Avenue skypad of Master Austin Scarlett. We knew there would be curiousities awaiting us, and there were. I love that Austin. He is talented, alabaster, sweet, and kind.

Yesterday started with a monsoon and I was geared up for a rainy Sunday. I met Bruce at Florent for some breakfast. If you are ever looking for me on a weekend, stop by Florent on Gansevoort Street and chances are you'll find me. I have been having breakfast there since I first moved to the West Village in '91. I saw Florent (the owner) the other night and was telling him that one of the great things about his restaurant was the low turnover of his staff. There are folks who have worked there for 10/15/20 years who are still smiling.

The weather cleared up and I dragged Bruce to the set of a new Bravo series that we were shooting down on Wall Street. I wanted to pop down there and say hi to Bravo sensation Jackie "Work Out" Warner, who was making a guest appearance on said show. It is always great to see Jackie, especially in NYC. Last time I saw her in this town she was here for Mimi's birthday last year and we were pulling out the stops to make sure the GF's first visit to NYC was one to remember.

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