Jim Abernathy

Joe Kernen Settles a Bet, Plus the Return of Michael Wolff - Posted March 6, 2013
Threats of yet another winter storm (We're begging for mercy!) didn't keep the faithful from Michael's today. In fact, the dining room was even more crowded than usual as some of the city's biggest hot shots cooled their heels at the bar and in the lounge as they waited to be... [FishbowlNY]

Tory Burch's Ex Dines With Ron Perelman; Kelly Bensimon Goes Back to School - Posted February 20, 2013
As much as we'd like to, we can't deliver dish from Oscar winners (Shirley MacLaine) and supermodels (Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha and Karolina Kurkova) every week. After a head-spinning cycle of chats with A-listers, the celebrity quotient at Michael's was of the l... [Fishbowl NY]

Tory Burch's Ex Dines With Ron Perelman; Kelly Bensimon Goes Back to School - Posted February 20, 2013
As much as we'd like to, we can't deliver dish from Oscar winners (Shirley MacLaine) and supermodels (Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha and Karolina Kurkova) every week. After a head-spinning cycle of chats with A-listers, the celebrity quotient at Michael's was of the l... [FishbowlNY]

Power Lunching with Eliot Spitzer, Star Jones and Joanna Coles - Posted December 19, 2012
It's the last Wednesday power lunch of the year (or the last one ever if you believe those wacky Mayans), and the usual suspects at Michael's came bearing gifts to be traded over Cobb salads today. Some regulars (Linda Fairstein) were hosting ye... [Fishbowl NY]

Power Lunching with Eliot Spitzer, Star Jones and Joanna Coles - Posted December 19, 2012
It's the last Wednesday power lunch of the year (or the last one ever if you believe those wacky Mayans), and the usual suspects at Michael's came bearing gifts to be traded over Cobb salads today. Some regulars (Linda Fairstein) were hosting ye... [FishbowlNY]

Donald Trump, Star Jones, Wendy Williams, Plus Dish on the New Dark Shadows Movie - Posted April 4, 2012
Who knew there was a pre-Easter rush? Michael's dining room was jam packed today with moguls (Donald Trump!), fashion mavens (Rachel Roy, ... [FishbowlLA]

Donald Trump, Star Jones, Wendy Williams, Plus Dish on the New Dark Shadows Movie - Posted April 4, 2012
Who knew there was a pre-Easter rush? Michael's dining room was jam packed today with moguls (Donald Trump!), fashion mavens (Rachel Roy, ... [Fishbowl NY]

Donald Trump, Star Jones, Wendy Williams, Plus Dish on the New Dark Shadows Movie - Posted April 4, 2012
Who knew there was a pre-Easter rush? Michael's dining room was jam packed today with moguls (Donald Trump!), fashion mavens (Rachel Roy, ... [FishbowlNY]

Henry Kravis, John Huey & Kim Kardashian's BFF - Posted December 7, 2011
The usual suspects were (mostly) present and accounted for at Michael's today. The people watching parade included the money men (Henry Kravis), entertainment moguls (Richard... [FishbowlLA]

Henry Kravis, John Huey & Kim Kardashian's BFF - Posted December 7, 2011
The usual suspects were (mostly) present and accounted for at Michael's today. The people watching parade included the money men (Henry Kravis), entertainment moguls (Richard... [Fishbowl NY]

Henry Kravis, John Huey & Kim Kardashian's BFF - Posted December 7, 2011
The usual suspects were (mostly) present and accounted for at Michael's today. The people watching parade included the money men (Henry Kravis), entertainment moguls (Richard... [FishbowlNY]

Cathie Black Resurfaces, Jann Wenner at Table One, and Dish from The Millionaire Matchmaker - Posted September 21, 2011
Despite the worst case of Gotham gridlock in months (Thanks, Mr. President), there were plenty of media heavy hitters (Jann Wenner, John Huey), high-profile editor... [Fishbowl NY]

Cathie Black Resurfaces, Jann Wenner at Table One, and Dish from The Millionaire Matchmaker - Posted September 21, 2011
Despite the worst case of Gotham gridlock in months (Thanks, Mr. President), there were plenty of media heavy hitters (Jann Wenner, John Huey), high-profile editor... [FishbowlNY]

Alexis Glick Dishes with Michelle Paterson, NY Republican Chair Talks Turner Victory - Posted September 14, 2011
It was SRO at Michael's today. The dining room was a tasty mix of media mavens with a heaping helping of politicos and a dash of flash with a very tall L.A. Laker. (We don't follow basketball, but several guys in the room made sure we knew it was Matt Barnes... [FishbowlLA]

Eliot Spitzer on Working for CNN: 'I'm having a barrel of fun!' - Posted April 27, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Although it might not seem like it given the sheer numbers of journalists reporting from England this week, there are plenty of media folk and fashion mavens who aren't headed out of town to cover that little get-together at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The dining room at Michael's was... [SocialTimes.com]

Eliot Spitzer on Working for CNN: 'I'm having a barrel of fun!' - Posted April 27, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Although it might not seem like it given the sheer numbers of journalists reporting from England this week, there are plenty of media folk and fashion mavens who aren't headed out of town to cover that little get-together at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The dining room at Michael's was... [Fishbowl NY]

Eliot Spitzer on Working for CNN: 'I'm having a barrel of fun!' - Posted April 27, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE Although it might not seem like it given the sheer numbers of journalists reporting from England this week, there are plenty of media folk and fashion mavens who aren't headed out of town to cover that little get-together at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The dining room at Michael's was... [FishbowlNY]

Charlie Rose, Bonnie Fuller And The Ex-Mr. Star Jones - Posted March 9, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE We're a bit spoiled by the back-to-back A-list sightings of the last two weeks (Cate Blanchett! Blake Lively!), ... [Fishbowl NY]

Charlie Rose, Bonnie Fuller And The Ex-Mr. Star Jones - Posted March 9, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE We're a bit spoiled by the back-to-back A-list sightings of the last two weeks (Cate Blanchett! Blake Lively!), ... [FishbowlNY]

David Hockney, Lawrence O'Donnell And The Scandal-Scarred Manhattanite - Posted January 19, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE When I arrived at Michael's today and found myself engulfed in a sea of suits, I chalked up the relatively quiet dining room to the usual January doldrums. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the reason things seemed a bit quieter than usual was that there were more than... [Fishbowl NY]

David Hockney, Lawrence O'Donnell And The Scandal-Scarred Manhattanite - Posted January 19, 2011
-- DIANE CLEHANE When I arrived at Michael's today and found myself engulfed in a sea of suits, I chalked up the relatively quiet dining room to the usual January doldrums. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the reason things seemed a bit quieter than usual was that there were more than... [FishbowlNY]

Lara Spencer, John Sykes & Dr. Ruth Ring in the Holidays - Posted December 8, 2010
-- DIANE CLEHANE I don't know whether it was the wintry weather or the holiday decor, but the usual suspects were in a festive mood at Michael's today. There were air kisses all around the dining room as the movers and shakers mingled while waiting for their lunch dates to arrive. ... [Fishbowl NY]

Lara Spencer, John Sykes & Dr. Ruth Ring in the Holidays - Posted December 8, 2010
-- DIANE CLEHANE I don't know whether it was the wintry weather or the holiday decor, but the usual suspects were in a festive mood at Michael's today. There were air kisses all around the dining room as the movers and shakers mingled while waiting for their lunch dates to arrive. ... [FishbowlNY]

Richard Belzer, Deborah Norville & the Real Ari Gold! - Posted July 21, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE The dog days have arrived. Just ask Richard Belzer, who showed up in the Michael's dining room today with his pooch tucked under his arm. (No word on what Fido ordered.) The rest of the crowd barely noticed as the usual... [Fishbowl NY]

Richard Belzer, Deborah Norville & the Real Ari Gold! - Posted July 21, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE The dog days have arrived. Just ask Richard Belzer, who showed up in the Michael's dining room today with his pooch tucked under his arm. (No word on what Fido ordered.) The rest of the crowd barely noticed as the usual... [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... [Fishbowl NY]

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]

Jimmy Buffett, Dr. Ruth and the Usual Suspects - Posted June 9, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Those corporate bean counters that put a crimp in expense accounts all over town must be loosening up a bit, because it was SRO today at Michael's. A slew of magazine folks (See, print isn't dead after all!), media mavens and the requisite flock of social swans were packed... [Fishbowl NY]

Jimmy Buffett, Dr. Ruth and the Usual Suspects - Posted June 9, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Those corporate bean counters that put a crimp in expense accounts all over town must be loosening up a bit, because it was SRO today at Michael's. A slew of magazine folks (See, print isn't dead after all!), media mavens and the requisite flock of social swans were packed... [FishbowlNY]

Liz Lange & Cindi Leive Take a Bite out of the Home Shopping Market - Posted June 2, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Evidently, you're nobody these days unless you're hawking something on one of those hypnotic home shopping networks. Come on, confess: Who hasn't bought something that just happened to catch their eye while flipping through the channels looking for Bravo's wacky Housewives? I chatted with no les... [Fishbowl NY]

Liz Lange & Cindi Leive Take a Bite out of the Home Shopping Market - Posted June 2, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE Evidently, you're nobody these days unless you're hawking something on one of those hypnotic home shopping networks. Come on, confess: Who hasn't bought something that just happened to catch their eye while flipping through the channels looking for Bravo's wacky Housewives? I chatted with no les... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: James Cameron's Oscar Campaign Comes to Michael's - Posted February 17, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It was Hollywood on the Hudson at Michael's today as Peggy Siegal hosted one of her legendary lunches right smack in the middle of the dining room. Today's guest of honor was ... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch: James Cameron's Oscar Campaign Comes to Michael's - Posted February 17, 2010
— DIANE CLEHANE It was Hollywood on the Hudson at Michael's today as Peggy Siegal hosted one of her legendary lunches right smack in the middle of the dining room. Today's guest of honor was ... [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... [Fishbowl NY]

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: 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 ... [Fishbowl NY]

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: Power Blondes Rule! Katie Couric, Tina Brown and Barbara Walters Hold Court - Posted July 22, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Today at Michael's, they were dishing like it was 2007. As if the head-spinning assortment of media alpha gals (Katie! Tina! Barbara!) wasn't enough to keep us busy, the dining room, bar and lounge was jam-packed with mavens and moguls of all stripes who barely made time to peck... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch: Power Blondes Rule! Katie Couric, Tina Brown and Barbara Walters Hold Court - Posted July 22, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE Today at Michael's, they were dishing like it was 2007. As if the head-spinning assortment of media alpha gals (Katie! Tina! Barbara!) wasn't enough to keep us busy, the dining room, bar and lounge was jam-packed with mavens and moguls of all stripes who barely made time to peck... [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... [Fishbowl NY]

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: 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... [Fishbowl NY]

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: Barry Diller, Jeff Zucker & The Magazine Mob - Posted November 19, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE What recession? The usual power quotient found on any given Wednesday at Michael's went into overdrive today as the gals at the front desk had so many media moguls, magazine mavens and talking heads lining up to dine and dish today, they had to shoehorn in extra tables all... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch: Barry Diller, Jeff Zucker & The Magazine Mob - Posted November 19, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE What recession? The usual power quotient found on any given Wednesday at Michael's went into overdrive today as the gals at the front desk had so many media moguls, magazine mavens and talking heads lining up to dine and dish today, they had to shoehorn in extra tables all... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Jane Fonda & Jerry Seinfeld -- That's Entertainment! - Posted October 29, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE It's always those random celebrity sightings at Michael's that make my weekly Wednesday visits much more fun. Today certainly didn't disappoint. When a little birdie told me Jerry Seinfeld woul... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch: Jane Fonda & Jerry Seinfeld -- That's Entertainment! - Posted October 29, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE It's always those random celebrity sightings at Michael's that make my weekly Wednesday visits much more fun. Today certainly didn't disappoint. When a little birdie told me Jerry Seinfeld woul... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch: Where the Magic Happens - Posted July 30, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE I thought I'd seen just about everything from my regular perch at Michael's during my weekly visits, but today topped all. They were serving up sides of card tricks with the Cobb salads today and the gang was just eating it up. When I arrived, illusionist ... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch: Where the Magic Happens - Posted July 30, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE I thought I'd seen just about everything from my regular perch at Michael's during my weekly visits, but today topped all. They were serving up sides of card tricks with the Cobb salads today and the gang was just eating it up. When I arrived, illusionist ... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch At Michael's: Barry Diller, Bob Iger & The Literary Lioness Club - Posted September 19, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE For those who like their cobb salads served up with a side order of adrenaline, 55th & Fifth was the place to be today. Media moguls and literary lionesses convened their cliques for some lively conversation that kept the dining room buzzing. Esther Newberg an... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch At Michael's: Barry Diller, Bob Iger & The Literary Lioness Club - Posted September 19, 2007
— DIANE CLEHANE For those who like their cobb salads served up with a side order of adrenaline, 55th & Fifth was the place to be today. Media moguls and literary lionesses convened their cliques for some lively conversation that kept the dining room buzzing. Esther Newberg an... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch At Michael's: A 'Roomful of Bitches' - Posted August 22, 2007
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Sure, the media world shuts down in late August — and our Lunch At Michael's column takes a breather to regroup — but we wouldn't let those of you chained to your desks down. This week and next we're running favorite columns from the past... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch At Michael's: A 'Roomful of Bitches' - Posted August 22, 2007
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Sure, the media world shuts down in late August — and our Lunch At Michael's column takes a breather to regroup — but we wouldn't let those of you chained to your desks down. This week and next we're running favorite columns from the past... [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 ... [Fishbowl NY]

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: Valentine's Hangover - Posted February 15, 2007
It's the calm after the storm. The biggest — and only — snow storm of the season couldn't keep the movers and shakers away yesterday. On Valentine's Day the bustling dining room was host to a "low-key" birthday celebration hosted by Sherry Westin... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch at Michael's: Valentine's Hangover - Posted February 15, 2007
It's the calm after the storm. The biggest — and only — snow storm of the season couldn't keep the movers and shakers away yesterday. On Valentine's Day the bustling dining room was host to a "low-key" birthday celebration hosted by Sherry Westin... [FishbowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Joan Rivers Keeps An Eye On The Door - Posted January 24, 2007
It was a typically atypical lunch crowd today at Michael's — Tom Brokaw here, Joan Rivers there, Cobb salads everywhere — making the Diet Cokes and Pellegrinos go down like fine wine. A quartet of Rubensteins — Howard, Richar... [Fishbowl NY]

Lunch at Michael's: Joan Rivers Keeps An Eye On The Door - Posted January 24, 2007
It was a typically atypical lunch crowd today at Michael's — Tom Brokaw here, Joan Rivers there, Cobb salads everywhere — making the Diet Cokes and Pellegrinos go down like fine wine. A quartet of Rubensteins — Howard, Richar... [FishbowlNY]