Chris Meigher

Real Housewife Melissa Gorga Dishes on Her Sister-in-Law From Hell - Posted November 30, 2011
Slow moving holiday tourists and presidential motorcades be damned. Nothing could keep the faithful away from Michael's today. With the place decked out in its holiday finery, the mood was like a swanky office party on steroids. While the usual suspects and a cool visitor from California (producer/composer ... [FishbowlLA]

Tom Brokaw, Vernon Jordan and the Shy Divorcee - Posted November 16, 2011
It was SRO at Michael's today. The dining room was so jam packed every sqaure inch was occupied by a mogul (Mel Karmazin!), media heavyweight (Tom Brokaw, ... [FishbowlLA]

Tom Brokaw, Vernon Jordan and the Shy Divorcee - Posted November 16, 2011
It was SRO at Michael's today. The dining room was so jam packed every sqaure inch was occupied by a mogul (Mel Karmazin!), media heavyweight (Tom Brokaw, ... [FishbowlNY]

Al Roker, Barbara Bush and Peggy Siegal Fetes Elizabeth Olsen - Posted November 9, 2011
We were disappointed to hear that we'd missed seeing Wendy Williams who'd come by on Monday for lunch with her parents. A little birdie told me that the talk show diva issued this rallying cry to mom and dad before departing to face the lone papa... [FishbowlLA]

Al Roker, Barbara Bush and Peggy Siegal Fetes Elizabeth Olsen - Posted November 9, 2011
We were disappointed to hear that we'd missed seeing Wendy Williams who'd come by on Monday for lunch with her parents. A little birdie told me that the talk show diva issued this rallying cry to mom and dad before departing to face the lone papa... [FishbowlNY]

Roger Ailes, Barry Diller & The Squawk Box Super Heroes - Posted October 26, 2011
Hail! Hail! The Wednesday gang is all here. The lunch scene at Michael's was firing on all cylinders today as moguls (Barry Diller! Roger Ailes!), high-profile edito... [FishbowlLA]

Roger Ailes, Barry Diller & The Squawk Box Super Heroes - Posted October 26, 2011
Hail! Hail! The Wednesday gang is all here. The lunch scene at Michael's was firing on all cylinders today as moguls (Barry Diller! Roger Ailes!), high-profile edito... [FishbowlNY]

Barbara Walters, Harold Ford, Jr. and Bravo's Chris March - Posted October 5, 2011
We could barely keep up with the steady stream of A-listers who poured into Michael's today. When we arrived a little before noon, there was a handful of power brokers quietly hunkering down to business over their Cobb salads in the back of the room. By the time Bravo's latest star,... [FishbowlLA]

Barbara Walters, Harold Ford, Jr. and Bravo's Chris March - Posted October 5, 2011
We could barely keep up with the steady stream of A-listers who poured into Michael's today. When we arrived a little before noon, there was a handful of power brokers quietly hunkering down to business over their Cobb salads in the back of the room. By the time Bravo's latest star,... [FishbowlNY]

Melania Trump, Charles Grodin and Princess Di's Wedding Designer - Posted July 20, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE The oppressive heat didn't keep the faithful away from Michael's today. The joint was jumping with media mavens of every stripe, including one editor who is clearly having a moment (David Zinczenko), high-profile publish... [FishbowlNY]

Glenn Close and Damages Cast Celebrate Season Four - Posted June 29, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Before dashing off to their summer cottages in the Hamptons for the long holiday weekend, the media mavens and moguls were at their regular perches at Michael's today for a bit of last minute networking. It was SRO at the bar and the dining room was jam pa... [SocialTimes.com]

Glenn Close and Damages Cast Celebrate Season Four - Posted June 29, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Before dashing off to their summer cottages in the Hamptons for the long holiday weekend, the media mavens and moguls were at their regular perches at Michael's today for a bit of last minute networking. It was SRO at the bar and the dining room was jam pa... [FishbowlNY]

Barbara Walters, Vernon Jordan and NBC's David Corvo Serves Up TV Dish - Posted May 25, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE It's been hard enough to keep track of the steady stream of A-listers that pour into Michael's on any given Wednesday, but this afternoon really kept me hopping. While the usual roster of boldface names traded air kisses and table hopped in the front room, the garden room was... [FishbowlLA]

Tom Brokaw, Trudie Styler, Joan Rivers & Happy Birthday, Jon Meacham! - Posted May 18, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE If you were wondering why the streets of midtown seemed a bit quiet today it was because everyone -- well, almost everyone -- was at Michael's today. I could barely keep up as the A-listers filed in one after another (Tom Brokaw... [AllTwitter]

Separate Tables for Jann Wenner and Neal Boulton - Posted March 16, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE We were grateful that several faithful Lunch readers emailed to let us know Bill Clinton was at Michael's yesterday. Thanks guys! I guess Mr. Clinton didn't get the memo stipulating that all A-list... [FishbowlNY]

Blake Lively, Charlie Rose And An Ex-Caped Crusader - Posted March 2, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE I just love it when the random celebrity turns up at Michael's for lunch. It's always entertaining to watch the usual suspects try to simultaneously network and star gaze. Today's out-of-left-field appearances represented both new and old Hollywood (just like this year's Oscars but... [FishbowlLA]

Blake Lively, Charlie Rose And An Ex-Caped Crusader - Posted March 2, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE I just love it when the random celebrity turns up at Michael's for lunch. It's always entertaining to watch the usual suspects try to simultaneously network and star gaze. Today's out-of-left-field appearances represented both new and old Hollywood (just like this year's Oscars but... [FishbowlNY]

It's An A-Lister Buffet! Cate Blanchett, Debra Messing, Star Jones and The Morning Joe Team - Posted February 16, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE It's a sure sign that spring is actually on its way when the A-list comes out of hibernation and flocks to Michael's once again. The appearance of Cate Blanchett and ... [FishbowlNY]

Joel Klein, Diana Taylor and the December Diehards - Posted December 1, 2010
-- DIANE CLEHANE It was good to be back on the Michael's beat after a two week absence (Word to the wise: Get that flu shot!). I'm happy to report the monsoon-like rains didn't keep those dining room diehards away, although the mood was a bit more subdued than usual. The place... [FishbowlNY]

Mogul Mania with Jack Welch & David Geffen - Posted September 29, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It was SRO at Michael's today with moguls Jack Welch and David Geffen holding court at their respective tables while the celebrity du ... [FishbowlNY]

David Carey, Linda Wells & The Power Lunch Diehards - Posted August 11, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE A little birdie told us we missed Wyclef Jean by a day. Then, on Monday night, we hear the joint was jumping at Miramax's party for The Tillman Story with ... [FishbowlNY]

Cindi Leive, Larry Hackett & David Zinczenko: Editors Unleashed! - Posted August 4, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It must be all that good news about ad pages for the September issues being way up from last year that brought out the media mavens today at Michael's. The place was packed with editors and journos all doing their best to boost Gotham's perilous economy. The expense account... [FishbowlNY]

An Incognito Laurie Dhue & The Summer Swells - Posted July 28, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Even presidential gridlock couldn't keep the diehards away from Michael's today. While President Obama dished with the gals on The View across town, the usual mix of media mavens, moguls and socialites pecked at... [FishbowlNY]

Peggy Siegal, Pamela Fiori & the Winner of Lunch with Laurel - Posted June 30, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE While the regulars in the dining room at Michael's chatted about their plans for the upcoming holiday weekend, it seemed only fitting that my lunch today was with Laurie Haspel Aronson, president of Haspel, the q... [FishbowlNY]

Does Sopranos Creator David Chase Ever Smile? - Posted June 16, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE We missed Michael Douglas by a day. Oh well, there was enough going on with the usual suspects in the Michael's dining room that we barely had time to eat. After making the rounds to check in with the regulars, I saw t... [FishbowlNY]

John Sykes, Jared Kushner & Moguls on the Make - Posted May 5, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Sometimes it's the random celebrity sighting like recent visitors Michael Douglas and ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Tom Brokaw, Charlie Rose, and John Sykes Stop By - Posted April 7, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE The mood may have been a little low-key today at Michael's, but we spotted plenty of power players dining and dishing about their next big moves. I was intrigued to see former MTV colleagues John Sykes (now Playlist's CEO) ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Glenn Close Talks Fatal Attraction - Posted March 10, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE I love when the stars align just right on a Wednesday at Michael's, and I get to chat with a star I've always admired. I hit the jackpot today when I spotted Glenn Close in the dining room. Just l... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: 'Heroine' Julie Menin Takes On Washington: "Move the 9/11 Trial!" - Posted February 3, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE When I met Julie Menin a few weeks ago in the Michael's dining room and made a date for lunch, I was expecting to chat about her fabulous new show, Give and Take, which airs on Sunday nig... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: 'Bag Lady' & Madoff Victim Alexandra Penney: 'Writing Well is the Best Revenge!' - Posted January 27, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Things must be looking up in the journalism biz, because Michael's dining room was jam packed with media folks of every stripe. While CEOs and spinmeisters held court from their usual perches, writers and editors were shoehorned in all over the place. I was glad I got there earl... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Kathie Lee Gifford and Friends Grab a Bite Before Broadway - Posted January 13, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It's nice to see there are still plenty of writers who can afford to eat at swanky restaurants these days. Today, the dining room at Michael's was brimming with scribes of every stripe and their fabulous friends. I was heartened to hear from a handful of fellow scribes that... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: TV Titans, Ivana Trump, & Devo! - Posted November 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE You never know who you're going to meet on any given Wednesday at Michael's. I've chatted with former presidents, Oscar winners, and tabloid targets who have made the usually unflappable crowd turn and stare, but it's those unexpected, below the radar moments that are often the... [FishbowlNY]

It's Spin City for Moguls & Machers at Michael's - Posted September 30, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The flacks were certainly out in full force today at Michael's. It seemed anyone who was (or represents) anyone was out and about with something to spin. Well, at least it's a sign that life goes on in Manhattan no matter how bleak New York magazine says ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Town & Country's Pamela Fiori & The Getaway Gang - Posted August 12, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It seemed only fitting that our lunch today was with Pamela Fiori, whose new book from Assouline, In The Spirit of Capri, celebrates the ultimate getaway spot. While the regulars in the ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: The Usual Suspects Today -- But Sarah Palin Was Here Last Night! - Posted August 5, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Michael's was packed with plenty of familiar faces this afternoon. Seems the gang was out in force before disappearing for the true dog days of August. The real side show in the dining room took place last night, when none other than ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Hoda Kotb & Bravo's Housewives Hold Court - Posted June 17, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It was SRO at Michael's today, and although the place was filled to the brim with movers and shakers of every stripe, all eyes were on table one: Today's Hoda Kotb presided over a raucous l... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Kerry Kennedy, Monica Crowley & Barbara Walters - Posted May 20, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Maybe it was the gorgeous pre-Memorial Day weather, but the mood in the dining room at Michael's today was noticeably upbeat. The usual suspects were out in force, and it seems everyone has caught a whiff of the optimism in the air. A welcome change, to say the least. I... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Barbara Walters, Barry Diller & Dana Perino - Posted April 15, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE I'm glad I got to Michael's early today because by 12:30 they were literally lining up outside the front door to get in the joint. Even the Garden Room (Siberia to the uninitiated) was SRO. The groups of wannabe diners at the bar and in the lounge were enviously... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Bill Bradley, Norman Pearlstine & The Media Mavens - Posted March 25, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It's a lo-cal edition of lunch today. We're chalking it up to near Spring-like weather (I don't know about you, but I'm burning my winter coat when we finally have two days over 60) and plenty of recent rumblings about companies tightening the reins on expense accounts. What's a... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Dishing on the Oscars & Obama - Posted February 25, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE As I've been reporting for weeks, it was SRO at Michael's today as the movers and shakers, undeterred by the unsettling economic news, were out in full force plotting their next big move -- or looking for a safe place to land. On the menu today: plenty of talk... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Tina Brown & Barbara Walters Break Bread; Jonathan Wald Works The Room - Posted February 4, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It's a little disconcerting these days when no matter where you go in the city, the streets seem quieter than usual, and there are 10 cabs lined up outside Grand Central any time we need one. But we've observed an interesting phenomenon: The worse the economic news, the busier... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Special Post-Inauguration Edition - Posted January 21, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The mood was festive at Michael's today, with plenty of Obama buttons on display and lots of talk about the president's stirring inaugural address. Jack Kliger told me, "I thought the whole thing ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Musical Chairs With Sir Paul McCartney - Posted January 14, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE So you think you've got problems? Paul McCartney (that's Sir Paul to you) arrived at Michael's today shortly before noon to scope out a table for a quiet lunch with ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Why So Glum, Anna Wintour & Ralph Lauren? - Posted December 10, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE It was standing room only at Michael's today with a head-spinning assortment of movers and mavens doing some serious table-hopping between bites. We were brightened to see there was a dash of celebrating between all the intense conversations that were going on all around. It's t... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Carl Bernstein: Bush 'Straight Talk' Book Would Sell - Posted December 3, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE Reports of the death of the power lunch are, by the looks of things at Michael's today, most definitely premature. It will be a sure sign of the apocalypse when the regulars at 55th & Fifth stop showing up to cook up their next big move over burgers and... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: The Special Post-Election Edition - Posted November 5, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE The Michael's crowd was in full party mode today as television titans, media mavens and talking heads mingled gleefully with politicos who were celebrating Barack Obama's historic victory. "Fina... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Katie Couric & The Fashion Flock - Posted August 13, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE You'd think all the fabulous fashionistas would have fled Gotham by now (they've got to rest up for Fashion Week which is just around the corner). Nothing doing: The style mavens and social swans that populate the front row of those shows you can never get into were out... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Charlie Rose, Joe Scarborough, and the Summer Die-Hards - Posted August 6, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE With the dog days of summer upon us, the usual suspects at Michael's are soldiering on over their Cobb salads until it's time to take off those last few weeks of the month to the Hamptons, Nantucket or some other sun-filled spot ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Hillary—Obama Smackdown! - Posted May 28, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE Bill Clinton isn't the only one who is getting a little testy about the endlessly long and increasingly tabloid-y battle for the democratic nomination. At today's lunch, politics were on the menu... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Anna Wintour & Coming Soon — The Rolling Stones! - Posted March 26, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE We're guessing that spring break with the kiddies kept more than a few bold face names we've become accustomed to seeing away from 55th and Fifth today. Luckily, some of our favorite regulars were on hand — along with the first ever (at least since I've been at my... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: The British Are Coming — Tomorrow! - Posted March 19, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE We're still exhausted from hob nobbing with last week's overflow of A-listers, so we were almost glad things were a bit more subdued at 55th & Fifth today. It gave us a cha... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch At Michael's: Paging George Clooney! Fern Mallis is Saving You a Seat at Fashion Week! - Posted January 23, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE What recession? The dining room at 55th & Fifth was buzzing with the usual assemblage of bold face names, social swans and television types that tucked into their Cobb salads with gusto while digesting some of the week's harrowing headlines. Hollywood figured heavily into many... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch At Michael's: Judy Collins Stops By - Posted December 12, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE Last week we developed some serious whiplash craning around to keep up with the A-listers that table hopped at lunch. Today's crowd was much more... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch At Michael's: Lance Armstrong — For Governor? - Posted November 28, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE Remember a few weeks back when I promised Lunch readers a full report on the off chance we had our own encounter Lance Armstrong... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Presidential Politics & Brian Grazer - Posted September 12, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE The media mavens, captains of industry and money men were out in full force today where a heaping helping of presidential politics were on the menu. Mayor Joe Armstrong, fresh off his latest trip to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp hosted ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Peggy Siegal: 'I Want It Now' - Posted June 20, 2007
Perhaps it was the schizophrenic weather that kept most of the familiar faces and celebrity diners away. It was a pretty subdued crowd at 55th & Fifth today. No big stars of stage, screen and nary an editor in sight. (Okay, Kathie Lee Gifford was there.... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Kate White & Her Lethal Blondes - Posted May 23, 2007
After the last few relatively uneventful Wednesdays, we were thrilled to see the dining buzzing with excitement when we arrived this afternoon. Our favorite Cosmo gal Kate White was celebrating the publication of her latest book, Lethally Blond... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Tina Brown's Bathroom Promise - Posted May 16, 2007
We were expecting a celeb sighting or two since it's Upfront time — the week the networks trot out their overpaid and underfed stars to shill for their supper — but alas, there were no signs of McDreamy or Matthew Fox anywhere. (Thankfully, we d... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Ralph Lauren Is Into Leather - Posted May 2, 2007
Fashion designers are a strange bunch. These arbiters of style often appear in some head-scratching ensembles that, if they were mere mortals, would land them squarely in "What were they thinking?" territory. We're always on the lookout for the sartorially splendid during o... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: 'We're Off To Prison' - Posted April 18, 2007
For the boldface names and media mavens who flock to 55th & Fifth on a regular basis, the dining room is like a high school cafeteria without the adolescent angst. The richest and coolest kids in the class spend lots of time table hopping and there's plenty of gossip on... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Tina Brown, Downright Subdued - Posted March 14, 2007
On the menu at today's lunch: a tasty stew of pop culture icons, publishing legends and power brokers — with a side of TV's young-ish guns. There must have been big things afoot. Instead of the usual glad-handing and table-hopping, most diners were deep in conversatio... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: All Hail Tina Brown! - Posted March 8, 2007
When a little birdie told us to switch our weekly reservation from Wednesday to Thursday so as not to miss the confab of publishing powerhouses that were expected today, we did so in a heartbeat. We're happy to report today's crowd didn't disappoint. Where else could you ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Is Dave Zinczenko Ready For Prime Time? - Posted February 28, 2007
Magazine moguls kept things interesting today at 55th and Fifth. Without the usual intriguing mix of celebrities (who were, undoubtedly still recovering from Oscar overload) to observe, we spent the afternoon wondering what the editors and behind-the-scenes execs were plo... [FishbowlNY]