Joe Armstrong

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.... [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.... [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.... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Barbara Walters, Frank Langella & Kathie Lee Gifford - Posted May 13, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It was a tasty mix of media mavens, social types and the random celebrity (Frank Langella was in the house!) on the menu at Michael's today: The dining room was so packed, they were shoehorning tables in everywhere. I was glad I got there early so I was able... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Barbara Walters, Frank Langella & Kathie Lee Gifford - Posted May 13, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It was a tasty mix of media mavens, social types and the random celebrity (Frank Langella was in the house!) on the menu at Michael's today: The dining room was so packed, they were shoehorning tables in everywhere. I was glad I got there early so I was able... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Happy Birthday, Cathie Black! - Posted April 29, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE We missed Evander Holyfield by a day, but there was plenty of action to keep our attention in Michael's jam-packed dining room today. Between the surprise birthday party for Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black on Table One, a smattering of fashionistas, and the bumper crop of beauty industry bigwigs... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Dishing With The Usual Suspects - Posted March 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The regulars were out in force today at Michael's as media mavens, moguls and social types were deep in conversation around the jam-packed dining room. Everyone, it seems, had plenty to talk about, including the terrible news of Natasha Richardson's skiing accident. "I can't believe it," one diner told... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Dishing With The Usual Suspects - Posted March 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The regulars were out in force today at Michael's as media mavens, moguls and social types were deep in conversation around the jam-packed dining room. Everyone, it seems, had plenty to talk about, including the terrible news of Natasha Richardson's skiing accident. "I can't believe it," one diner told... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Dishing With The Usual Suspects - Posted March 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The regulars were out in force today at Michael's as media mavens, moguls and social types were deep in conversation around the jam-packed dining room. Everyone, it seems, had plenty to talk about, including the terrible news of Natasha Richardson's skiing accident. "I can't believe it," one diner told... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Liz Smith, Frank Langella & A Bevy of Social Swans - Posted March 11, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The streets may be eerily empty these days (at least you can always get a cab), but you can pretty much count on a full house on Wednesdays at Michael's. Today the dining room was buzzing as media mavens and a fair share of fashionistas made the scene. Before... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Liz Smith, Frank Langella & A Bevy of Social Swans - Posted March 11, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE The streets may be eerily empty these days (at least you can always get a cab), but you can pretty much count on a full house on Wednesdays at Michael's. Today the dining room was buzzing as media mavens and a fair share of fashionistas made the scene. Before... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: A Heaping Helping of The Usual Suspects - Posted March 4, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It's a lo-cal edition of 'Lunch' today. After all, you can't expect to indulge in a diet rich in celebs and boldface names every week. We've spoiled you, I know. (By the way, if you're looking to chat with some big-time media mavens and news makers, don't miss the... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: A Heaping Helping of The Usual Suspects - Posted March 4, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE It's a lo-cal edition of 'Lunch' today. After all, you can't expect to indulge in a diet rich in celebs and boldface names every week. We've spoiled you, I know. (By the way, if you're looking to chat with some big-time media mavens and news makers, don't miss the... [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: Special Fashion Week Edition - Posted February 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE These days, you just never know who you're going to meet on Wednesdays at Michael's. If we'd come yesterday, we would have been able to chat with Willem Dafoe. Oh well. This being New York Fashion Week, I was thrilled when Donna Karan came in. I was happy to... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Special Fashion Week Edition - Posted February 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE These days, you just never know who you're going to meet on Wednesdays at Michael's. If we'd come yesterday, we would have been able to chat with Willem Dafoe. Oh well. This being New York Fashion Week, I was thrilled when Donna Karan came in. I was happy to... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Special Fashion Week Edition - Posted February 18, 2009
— DIANE CLEHANE These days, you just never know who you're going to meet on Wednesdays at Michael's. If we'd come yesterday, we would have been able to chat with Willem Dafoe. Oh well. This being New York Fashion Week, I was thrilled when Donna Karan came in. I was happy to... [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 was inspiring. His speech was terrific." Jack had a good laugh about Barack Obama's heartfelt thanks... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Tom Brokaw Holds Court; Jane Friedman Works The Room - Posted December 17, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE 'Tis the season to be lunching, and the usual A-list suspects were out in force today with plenty of glad-handing and air kissing all around. Maybe it's because this is (mercifully) the last full week of work for the year or perhaps it's just because everyone is tired of... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch: Joy Behar, Star Jones & Another Sarah Palin Doppelganger - Posted October 8, 2008
— DIANE CLEHANE What recession? The joint was jumping at Michael's today. Media mavens, television types and fashionistas were still trying to digest the week's head spinning events but, in true New York style, weren't letting a worldwide tanking economy get in the way of a good time. There was plenty of... [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 low key with a smattering of regulars dotting a somewhat unfamiliar landscape consisting of business types and the occasional captain of industry who might... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Al & Meredith Talk Skateboarding - Posted May 30, 2007
On the menu today: a tasty stew of media moguls and television titans with a dash of talking heads to spice things up. After making the rounds and checking in with some of our favorite regulars, we were thrilled to chat with our good pals Today's Meredith Vieira and Al... [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 the... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Teddy, Liz & The Gang - Posted February 21, 2007
The dining room at Michael's was buzzing today with moguls and media mavens who did more than the usual amount of table-hopping between bites — standing-room only in the bustling lounge as the regulars and requisite movers and shakers were out in force. (Liz! Lesley! The "Mayor"!) Even the bar was... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Ex-CBS News Prez Says Give Katie A Chance - Posted January 31, 2007
As much as we've come to enjoy our perch at the bar with its bird's eye view, we were thrilled when one of our favorite television titans, Andrew Heyward, invited us to join him and his guests for lunch. Today's lunchtime chronicler, Diane Clehane, chatted with the always affable and extremely... [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, Richard, Steve and Atoosa — dined at four separate tables, while the Michael... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Gay Talese, John Huey and The Guys - Posted January 17, 2007
The scene at 55th and Fifth resembled something of a men's club today where the power suits -- and ties -- ruled. Media machers including Time Inc.'s editor-in-chief John Huey, ad man Jerry Della Femina and the sartorially splendid Gay Talese (who got our attention when he removed his coat and... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Gay Talese, John Huey and The Guys - Posted January 17, 2007
The scene at 55th and Fifth resembled something of a men's club today where the power suits -- and ties -- ruled. Media machers including Time Inc.'s editor-in-chief John Huey, ad man Jerry Della Femina and the sartorially splendid Gay Talese (who got our attention when he removed his coat and... [FishBowlNY]