Sunday, January 4, 2009
Death, dancing, and the awakening of stardom

One would think the upside of a new Depression would be a return to 1930s Art Deco glamour. But the Rainbow Room, which opened in 1934, is closing its famed New York restaurant.

The Cipriani family, the restaurateurs famed for starting Harry's Bar in Venice and who have run the Rainbow Grill since 1998, is shuttering the Rockefeller Center highrise establishment's doors, citing tough times and a dispute with the Rainbow Room's landlord. (The bar and ballroom are staying open.) That's the official reason; family scion Giuseppe Cipriani's overseas trip, conveniently timed to dodge an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo into how his restaurants kept their liquor license, isn't mentioned. It's a shame: If there's a time New York City needed a civic institution like the Rainbow Room, it's surely now - as much as it was called for 74 years ago.

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The Daily Mail reports that little Lourdes Leon has enrolled in the Manhattan's Professional Children's School.

We saw that one coming!

The school counts Macaulay Culkin, Scarlett Johansson and Sarah Jessica Parker as alums.

A snitch reveals to the paper that the girl is desperate to become an actress and, "She is determined to prove herself and plans to throw herself into studying the technique."

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Nicolette Sheridan and David Spade sipping martinis and having dinner together at Tao in Las Vegas on Saturday night, sources tell us. How does he do it?

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A day after the death of his son, Jett, John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston remain in shock, a friend of the family tells PEOPLE.

"He never dreamed of this - their relationship was so close," says family attorney Mike Ossi, who is in the Bahamas with the actor. "He always said 'I'm happy as long as my kids are happy.' He is heartbroken ... To bury your son is the worst thing you can ever do."

According to Ossi, 16-year-old Jett was discovered by a nanny on Friday morning around 10 a.m. After the nanny called 911, John Travolta tried in vain to resuscitate his son.

"He didn't want anything to happen to that boy, and he kept on trying to revive him," said Ossi. "He did mouth-to-mouth until they had to physically remove John to take Jett to the hospital."

The teen, who is the only son of Travolta, 54, and Preston, 46, has a history of having seizures. Police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey told the Associated Press that Jett hit his head in a bathtub Friday morning and was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital.

Tragic to say the least.

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Hot Topic has just released Twilight Perfume, a lavender and freesia scented fragrance. The scent comes in a red, apple-shaped bottle -- just like the red apple that appears on the cover of the book by Stephenie Meyer.

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  • Written by: Christy
    • | 9:49 AM | 2 comment(s)!