Will George Bush Join the “Club”?

In 1975, when New York was at its economic nadir, a famed headline in the New York Daily News proclaimed, "Ford to City: Drop Dead." Although Gerald Ford never uttered those words, his refusal to bail Gotham out of its fiscal woes certainly made for a juicy headline. (Even funnier, in retrospect, is the secondary headline on that front page: "Stocks Skid, Dow Down 12." Twelve whole points? Call my broker! Say what you want about Ford's snub of New York. At least he knew a Manhattan institution when he saw one. He, along with every sitting U.S. president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the city's most beloved speakeasy, the '21' Club, while in office. Heck, Nixon even has a few bottles of vino still in storage in the eatery's wine cellar. Sadly, the unbroken string of presidential visits now looks to be in jeopardy. Despite repeated entreaties from the '21' Club's general manager, Bryan McGuire, and its ever-gracious director of public relations, Diana Biederman, the forty-third president has yet to grace the jockey-adorned townhouse on West 52nd Street with his presence. In a story that first appeared last week in the New York Sun, reporter Robert Simonson quotes Bruce Snyder, former manager of the restaurant, as saying that he, too, invited the president to come by, but was told by the president's aides, "He doesn't like to go out to dinner." Interestingly, the First Lady is on record as having said that '21' is her favorite restaurant in New York. The First Daughters, Barbara and Jenna, have also been to '21' (no word on whether Jenna attempted to score a drink prior to actually hitting the age of 21). This would not be the first time "W" has ruined the record books for followers of all things commander-in-chief. A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting and befriending the photographer Arnold Newman, a man who had taken portraits of every U.S. president since Harry Truman. George W. Bush, not so much. Newman speculated to me that Bush the Elder must not have liked his photo and therefore, convinced his son to take a pass. Regrettably, the famed lensman died in 2006, and Junior missed his opportunity to sit for an amazingly talented man. The nation's chief exec has a little more than a year in office and presumably, will make at least a few more visits to Manhattan before he vacates the White House. A word to the wise: Mr. President, as you attempt to burnish your legacy with a new Mideast peace initiative, it might be a whole lot easier to remedy this situation. And though you're a teetotaler, make sure to pay a visit to the restaurant's hidden wine cellar. %%showphotos [setid=72157603324173375]%%

A Picture You Don’t Want to Miss

Attended a screening this evening of Persepolis, an animated coming-of-age tale about a precocious Iranian girl who grows up during the overthrow of the Shah and bristles under the Islamic law enforced by the Ayatollah Khomeni. The gorgeously drawn film, which is rendered in black-and-white, has received raves at film festivals around the world, and was a jury selection at the Festival de Cannes earlier this year. Written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi, the autobiographical movie opens in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Day. Get an advance peek on the film's stylish web site, which includes a movie trailer and a making-of featurette.

A Chocoholic’s Dream

Last night marked the kickoff of New York's much-anticipated Chocolate Show, the tenth annual, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, on W. 18th Street. But if you missed the $200/ticket extravaganza-cum-fashion show (benefiting City Harvest), don't go crying and reaching for that Hershey bar just yet. You've got two more days to sample designer cacao to your heart's content. Exhibitors come from around the nation, including Cosmic Chocolate, of Walnut Creek, California; Fairytale Brownies of Phoneix; and Lillie Belle Farms, of Jacksonville, Oregon. One chocolatier has even come all the way from Japan. Tomorrow's schedule appears below, but for more information and tickets, ($28 for adults) visit here. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and by all means, please pace yourself. TOMORROW, November 10 12:15-1 p.m.: "The REAL Chocolate Chocolate Martini" Brian Von Flandern, Consultant Mixologist for the Carlyle Hotel 1:25-2:30 p.m.: "Artisan Chocolates and Vodkas" Jeff Shepherd, Lillie Belle Farms & Modern Spirits Vodka 3:15-4 p.m.: "ChocAmolé" Tad Carducci, Pluckemin Inn & Tippling Bros. 4:45-5:30 p.m.: "A guided tasting of Cognacs and Chocolates" Jean-Louis Carbonnier 6:15-7 p.m.: "Fabulous Chocolatina!" Martin Howard, Brasserie 8 1/2 7:15-8 p.m.:"Cocktail Party" Presented by Pipeline Brands and Brooklyn Brewery

The Founders Visit SNL

The Founders Club, an über-exclusive group of Internet entrepreneurs, met tonight at Studio 8H, legendary home of NBC's Saturday Night Live. Although Tina Fey and company were nowhere to be seen, the set's familiar environment provided the perfect creative backdrop for this coming together of some of the finest minds of Web 2.0. Anyone who's anyone in the New York Web world clears his or her calendar to network at the Founder's Club, from Graham Hill of treehugger, to Divya Narendra, creator of ConnectU (progenitor of Facebook). If only the writing on SNL were as sharp as the intellect in the room was this evening.

Click Here for VIDEO %%showphotos [setid=72157602980421165]%%

House & Garden Shuttered

Venerable Condé Nast mag House & Garden will cease publication after its December issue, it was announced today. The magazine, with its sumptuous design spreads and seemingly bottomless pockets for photography, was 106 years young. Writes Dominique Browning in her final editor's letter, "A magazine is a reflection of all the people who put it out, and I like to think that ours expressed integrity, intelligence, beauty, and above all else, a passion for houses, gardens, and the life that weaves its way through every nook and cranny." The mag has been folded and resurrected once before, so here's hoping that another reincarnation is not out of the question. In the meantime, New York Insider sends its well wishes to all of the H&G staffers we met at the New Tastemakers 2007 party, among them the talented Zem Joachin, Joe Ligani and Randi Sidgel.

New York Visits the Big Easy

Top stars from the New York restaurant world descended on New Orleans this weekend for a special benefit organized by superchef Emeril Lagasse. Eric Ripert, Mario Batali and Drew Nieporent were among those who flew to the Crescent City for the Carnivale du Vin, the third-annual food and wine extravaganza held to raise funds and awareness for the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which is the benefactor for several local charities. The combined proceeds of a silent auction as well as a live auction raised in excess of $2 million for the following groups: • St. Michael Special School, which is expanding its facilities to include a kitchen where developmentally challenged students will learn to cook. • Cafe Reconcile, a lunch spot staffed by at-risk youth, who learn life skills as they immerse themselves in the running of a restaurant. • The Green Charter School, which has created a so-called Edible Schoolyard where the formerly asphalt lots surrounding the building have been ripped up and replaced with vegetable gardens tended by elementary and middle school students. The bounty from these gardens is then cooked and served as part of the school's healthy lunch program. Knowing all-too-well the ravages of an urban disaster, New York and its residents have not been shy with their generosity when it comes to helping the city of New Orleans. This weekend's Carnivale affirmed that special bond in a way that few ringleaders but Emeril could possibly have dreamed. %%showphotos [setid=72157602958143722]%%

Chilling Out at the U.N.

It enjoys no diplomatic representation, but the continent of Antarctica managed to take center stage at the United Nations tonight in the form of an exhibit by photographer Sebastian Copeland. An environmentally conscious crowd gathered in the mighty building's main lobby to toast Copeland's just-published book, Antarctica: The Global Warning. The lensman's arresting images—from icebergs to ice shelves—are sure to inspire the uninitiated to ponder a trip to the great white continent. (As one who has been, I cannot recommend the journey highly enough. There is no place on earth like it.) But until you find the time to head to the land where penguins roam, find an excuse to get over to the U.N. to view these photos. To that end.... INSIDER TIP: Make a lunch reservation at the U.N.'s Delegates Dining Room (which is open to the public) and on your way out, check out Copeland's arresting landscapes. The exhibit is at the far end of the main hall, just past the entrance to the elevators that will bring you to the Dining Room. Call (212) 963-7625 for a reservation. %%showphotos [setid=72157602743517415]%%

The First Supper

A gregarious group of New York gadabouts gathered at the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park this evening to commemorate the New York launch of the Supper Club. This London-based members-only group throws a rotating roster of parties and exclusive events for UK-based up-and-comers. It was only a matter of time before the concept crossed the Atlantic and if tonight's party was any indication, it will be a great success here. The group, founded by Tamsin Lonsdale, in 2005, claims to have signed up 300 members for the New York chapter. One word of advice to the nascent group: Next time you host an event for 500 people, make certain the venue has air-conditioning. As the National Arts Club became more crowded, the mercury rose to uncomfortable levels, forcing stylish sorts to shed Brioni jackets and Burberry shawls like so many American Idol cast-offs. %%showphotos [setid=72157602741397656]%%

Flavor of Love

Flavor Flav was not in the house, but the Spice Market launch party for Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges brought out everyone from architect David Rockwell to chefs Eric Ripert and Wylie Dufresne. They and a batch of lucky guests descended on the Meatpacking District eatery to sample some of the new book's culinary highlights. Funny....as tantalizing as the passed hors d'oeuvres were, the evening's crowd-pleaser was not an Asian flavor at all, but the chocolate dessert. Its magic ingredient? Ovaltine. For more party pics, click here.

Judgment Day Lands on Le Bernardin

After being chased down a labyrinthine corridor by a belly dancer, you emerge in the back of a kitchen guarded by two Lenny Kravitz lookalikes, barechested twins who direct you past a sea of chefs. You emerge in the dining room of Le Bernardin, which is populated by scantily clad whispering angels and surveyed by an ominous-looking Grim Reaper. The room flickers with the glow of votive candles placed atop two extra-long tables, set for 100 diners apiece. Before long, the room starts to fill up with the stars of the world of fine cuisine....Daniel Boulud, Anthony Bourdain, the Lidias (Shire and Bastianich), Eric Ripert, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Anita Lo, April Bloomfield, Tom Aikens. Martha Stewart breaks out a point-and-shoot camera and starts clicking off pix of a suckling pig. The Moët & Chandon flows. And then the food begins to appear....white tuna poached in extra-virgin olive oil; Santa Barbara spiny lobster curry and hearts of palm meuniere; stuffed capon with truffles and foie gras; and for dessert, milk-chocolate pot de crème with caramel foam and maple syrup. An angel approaches to whisper in your ear that she has a surprise for you. Guiding you to the farthest reaches of the kitchen, she shows you a towering sculpture into which Da Vinci's Last Supper has been frozen. "Tequila shot?" another woman asks, pouring the Mexcian liquor into the chilly creation, and you catch the newly cold liquid in a shotglass as it exits the ice. Back in the main room, a false-eyelashed torch singer by the name of Lady Rizzo entertains the revelers with her slinky version of Billy Idol's White Wedding. By the end of the night, the Steinway that Rizzo so gracefully stands upon will (temporarily) bear the weight of an ebullient table-dancing Daniel Boulud, who (sadly) breaks the piano in the process. Is this the apocalypse, you wonder? Either that or the launch party for Melanie Dunea's just-published My Last Supper: 50 Great Chefs and their Final Meals (Portraits, Interviews and Recipes). The star-studded, over-the-top and downright unbelievable event has got to be the most fun book party ever thrown. Yes, I go to a lot of amazing events, but this one I will remember for a long, long time. It's also gotten me pondering my final meal. I'm thinking Chateau Lafitte and a Fluffernutter. %%showphotos [setid=72157602611420817]%%