INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

Interview with Ilil Arbel, Author of Miss Glamora Tudor!

 By Shoshanna Rosenstein

Photo: Front cover of the book "Miss Glamora Tudor!" by Ilil Arbel.

SR: How did you become interested in Angela Thirkell?                                                               Ilil: A few years ago I was introduced to the books of Angela Thirkell by a friend. As you know, she wrote over thirty books about the descendents of the characters who populated Anthony Trollope’s Barsetshire novels. I was hooked, read all her books, and decided I simply had to join the Angela Thirkell Society. It’s really a wonderful literary society, and I am proud to belong to it. Anyone interested in Angela Thirkell or Trollope should consider joining. Their website is www.angelathirkell.org  and incidentally, joining the Society is the only way you can get Miss Glamora Tudor! since it is not available anywhere else.                SR: And how did you decide to write Miss Glamora Tudor?                                                             Ilil: The New York chapter of the Society holds delightful “teas” every few months, and as a new member, I was invited to attend my first one. By sheer coincidence, this was the time a review of my previous book, The Lemon Tree, appeared in our local paper, Town & Village. The treasurer of the society, Ms. Kathleen Fish, who happens to live nearby and reads this very nice newspaper, saw my name in it, decided it must be me, and surprised me with a copy. Kathy told me that over the years, members have tried to write stories in the style of Angela Thirkell. She gave me the collected stories, and suggested I write one. I argued for a long time, since I was worried about the language issue, but finally I decided to try. Let me tell you, this book would have never been written if it were not for Kathy Fish. She is the most supportive individual one can imagine, and she pretty much told me to sit down and get to work – which was great!                                                                                                                                                    SR: But why Glamora Tudor?                                                                                                             Ilil: While still arguing that I can’t do it, an idea came to me out of the blue. As you know, since you have read many of Thirkell’s books, Glamora Tudor never appears on stage. Her new films are described, sometimes in hilarious detail, her new co-stars, always changing, are mentioned. But you never meet Glamora herself. So, I decided to change all that and write a short story about her meeting with the horrible Mrs. Rivers, a character I always adored in the books. Kathy loved the story, and she decided that the time has come for a full-length sequel. As you may know, Thirkell’s last book was completed after her death by a friend, C.A. Lejeune, but Miss Glamora Tudor! is the first sequel.                                                         SR: Not exactly a sequel, since it takes place in 1954.                                                                       Ilil: This is true. I wanted that particular time for many reasons, such as the clothes, the atmosphere, Glorious Technicolor, and more. I realized that the timing would coincide with another book, Enter Sir Robert, but if I could use characters that did not appear in that book, no overlapping could occur. After all, life goes on in Barsetshire even when a character is not on stage, right?                                                                                                                                SR: What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book?                         Ilil: The greatest challenge was maintaining Angela Thirkell’s “voice.” She had a very distinctive style, and I had to read every sentence, and think about every word, before I was satisfied that I was true to the source. The language was part of it. Not just because it was British, but because Thirkell moves from the speech of the upper classes to the lower classes with ease. It was natural to her, since she was brought up in this environment, but I had to be very careful. And in addition, I had some Americans in the book, so I had a third language to attend to.                                                                                                                                             SR: Sounds like very hard work.                                                                                                       Ilil: As a matter of fact, this was the most enjoyable writing project I have ever done. The characters were running around in my head all day long, doing insane things, I was smiling to myself like a lunatic as I was walking in the street, and I took a notebook with me everywhere and wrote in the most bizarre places whenever an idea came to me. As for the language, I had a lot of help from Louanne Wheeler, a distinguished editor who is also a member of the Society. She volunteered to read and edit, and I sent her instalments. I can’t tell you how helpful that was. Then, toward the end, the book was sent to five readers, who also volunteered their services and did a meticulous reading to find all remaining issues. They were Carol Stone, Susan Scanlon, and Sunny Gwaltney from the U.S, and two English members of the Society, Penny Aldred and Jane LeCluse. I am very grateful to them.                 

SR:  How was it to work with a literary society rather than a commercial publisher?              Ilil: It was fantastic. The help I got from the Angela Thirkell Society was invaluable. All the issues or obstacles were resolved by Barbara Houlton, whose official title is Secretary of the Society, but she is also the publisher. And she is a fabulous publisher. I have dealt with publishers for years, and let me tell you, some of the big houses could take lessons from Barbara when it comes to efficiency, author support, and knowledge of all sides of the trade. And then, the lovely cover was also done by a volunteer, Deb Conn. She is well known for her lovely water colors, and she created this perfect Barsetshire scene for the book.           SR: Were you worried that the “purists” would object to a sequel to their idol?                   Ilil: Oh, yes, I was very worried. I was afraid there will be some strong objection to anyone tempering with the originals. Also, I did not only use the Angela Thirkell characters. While old favorites such as Jessica Dean, Aubrey Clover, Miss Merriman, Mrs. Rivers, and Mrs. Norton, appear, I have created brand new characters. So that was a risk. But guess what, the response to Miss Glamora Tudor! has been extremely encouraging, and many readers have actually asked me to write another Barsetshire novel. I suspect they simply want to return to Barsetshire and enjoy the new foray into their favourite place.                                                   SR: So will you write another book?                                                                                                Ilil: Yes, as a matter of fact I have already started. It will be a continuation of this book, taking the characters further on and tying all the loose ends.                                                          SR: I am happy to hear that! Thanks again and good luck with all of your future books.

 Ms. Arbel is also the author of The Lemon Tree, Maimonides: A Spiritual Biography and other books and articles.

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1-Unknown Amazing Facts About New York. Find out!   

2-NEW YORK BEST 12 NIGHTLIFE SPOTS.

3-BEST HOTELS IN NEW YORK.

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ENTERTAINMENT, STARS AND CELEBRITIES:

1-Actor Matt Damon weds in New York...

2-Lennon's day in New York...

3-Sopranos creator honored by New Jersey governor...

4-Marjorie Maye: She Made It Big Time In the Recording Industry...

5-TEN MOST WATCHED AMERICAN TV SHOW HOSTS. Not difficult to guess. And as predicted, according to a poll by the International News Agency,  the 10 most watched  American TV show hosts are in no particular order...

6-The Bendheim Performing Arts Center Performances and Events Calendar...

7-Jeffrey Friedberg and the Bossy Frog Band...

8-Carol Channing & Friends - Starring Linda Fields, Diana Templeton and Richard Skipper as Carol Channing...

9-The Three Phantoms in Concert... Duck Soup Magic Show!  FILMS THAT GOT AWAY...

10-Judy Dench: A bonafide Grande Dame.  With nearly 50 years experience as an actress, Dame Judi Dench has given an astonishing range of performances. As well as her Oscars and knighthood, she was the first person to win two Olivier awards and her marriage to Michael Williams was one of the most successful in showbusiness. Moreover she has brought grace, warmth and frequently a fascinating coldness to an extraordinary mixture of roles....Read the full article

11- Robert Osborne: Entertainment Man of the Year.

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SOCIALITES AND HIGH SOCIETY

1-Most talked about in New York Manhattan high society in pictures...They are la crème de la crème of New York society. People love to be seen in their company, for they are famous, wealthy, sophisticated, chic, powerful, well-connected, fun...and mon cher ami, they throw the best parties in town. Sometimes, they are in print because of their contributions to charitable organizations, appearances they made at major social functions, controversy they steered up, in brief, they were written up in the paper for meaningful and justified reasons...

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FASHION

1-NEW YORK FASHION BIG EVENT. Couture Fashion Week New York culminated with the presentation of the 2005 International Fashion Designer of the Year award to Jamil Khansa of Lebanon. Mr. Khansa presented his latest collection of breathtaking couture designs done in opulent fabrics with lavish embellishments, each piece more dazzling than the last.

2-JAMIL Khansa is presented with the International Fashion Designer of the Year Award by Couture Fashion Week founder and producer Andres Aquino...

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GOSSIPS: WHAT PEOPLE   ARE DOING AND SAYING

1-Yoko Ono apologizes for McCartney dig. Yoko Ono has apologized to Paul McCartney for insinuating that his songs are trite. Accepting an award on behalf of John Lennon last month, Ono said Lennon had sometimes felt insecure about his songs, asking "why they always cover Paul's songs and never mine." "I said, 'You're a good songwriter, it's not June with spoon that you write."'...

2-New York Gossips: Her wedding dress costs $40.000. When Melania Knauss walks down the aisle to marry real estate mogul Donald Trump, she'll be wearing a sumptuous gown by Christian Dior. Knauss chose the gown during the haute couture shows in Paris with help from Vogue editors Sally Singer and Andre Leon Talley. She models the voluminous strapless gown -- which took 550 hours of labour just to do the embroidery...

3-New Yorker authors knew FBI agents, mobsters and real life adventures. Among new thrillers are those that feature an assistant district attorney, a mobster and an undercover FBI agent, and the head of Britain's Security Service - not as characters, but as their authors. Linda Fairstein, Bill Bonanno and Joe Pistone, and Stella Rimington - all of whom have since left their respective professions -- have written books that are among the latest hardcover novels of mystery and suspense, which also include works by John Grisham, Lilian Jackson Braun, Ed McBain and W.E.B. Griffin...Full story

2-Mariah Carey: New York insiders are talking about Carey. Mariah Carey has fuelled rumours she is engaged to mystery boyfriend Maek Sudack...

4- John Lennon: In Memoriam and in photos...

5-New York TV and Radio women of excellence: Last Thursday night, in New York,  at the Museum of Television & Radio, a reception was held to  release the names of the 2005 honorees who will be on the roster “She Made It: Women Creating Television and Radio,” celebrating the accomplishments and recognizing the achievements of women in television and radio industries. The 2005 Honorees are...

6-New York Angel Ball: In New York, this week, Denise Rich  threw the best charitable party in town. She amassed the Who's Who in entertainment to celebrate the 4th annual biennial gala of The Angel Ball 2005 at the Marriott Marquis. The Grammy-nominated songwriter  raised  $3.3 million for the Foundation’s Cancer Research. It was a ritzy event, a perfect social setting to recognize four honorees for their philanthropic and charitable contributions...

7-Paulette Attie on the Friars Club. She writes about Frank Sinatra, the famous and infamous and her own experience at the legendary club...

8-Tyra Bank: Tyra's Final Spin on the Runway... 

9-Newton-John: 'The Pain is There':I NA New York Office learned that Australian singer Olivia Newton-John wept as she told of coming to terms with the mysterious disappearance of her longtime boyfriend Patrick McDermott. In an interview aired Monday on Australian television's Nine network, Newton-John said her singing is helping her cope with the grief of losing McDermott, who failed to return from a June 30 overnight fishing trip off the California coast...

10-Adapting Nazi era opera calls for light touch. From New York to LA and London...

11-Madonna: "I'd love to direct". Madonna has revealed that the shooting of the latest documentary about her has made her want to follow film director husband Guy Ritchie behind the camera. I would love to direct," she said. "I felt very inspired by making this movie and I learned a lot about film-making. "I would like to do it on my own next time," continued the singer, whose film I'm Going to Tell You a Secret will be shown on Channel 4 on 1 December...

12-Kate Moss is subject of four paintings by Stella Vine at London exhibit: York grapevine is whispering that Kate Moss is the subject of four paintings by Stella Vine now on show at a London exhibit, including one based on a tabloid photo that allegedly shows her preparing a line of cocaine. A portrait titled Must Be the Season of the Witch is based on a photo of the 31-year-old supermodel that was published in a London tabloid in September...

13-Shania talks about everything but perfume. For a girl who had to cook for herself at the age of five and sang with aspirations of one day being a backup singer for Stevie Wonder, being awarded the Order of Canada was not even part of Shania Twain's wildest dreams. "Yeah, (the honor) is overwhelming and I don't even believe it," Twain said, in New York, letting out a loud guffaw Thursday towards the end of a daylong media blitz in Toronto. "So, I'm pretty excited."...

14-Isabelle Huppert takes New York by storm. The 52-year-old French film star has just made her New York stage debut in a play written by the late British playwright, Sarah Kane. 4.48 Psychosis is a harrowing meditation on mental illness and suicide - a virtual monologue delivered in French with minimal supertitles. "When desperation visits," the character says, "I shall hang myself to the sound of my lover's breathing." But audiences here in the United States adored her stark rendition. "It's not the Folies-Bergere," Huppert had observed. But perhaps what these theatregoers loved was the sheer proximity to her. New York, it seems, is in the grip of all things Huppert at the moment. As well as her theatrical debut, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is running a major retrospective of her films; she has made more than 70 in three decades...

15-New York Grapevine: Uma Thurman on being suddenly single. INA informers learned from big time gossips queens in New York,  that Uma Thurman sweeps into the room making sounds like a duck. Then after she's done with the quacks, she makes like the Roadrunner with a series of beeps. "I'll just do this intermittently whenever we lose energy," she tells reporters impishly as she settles her lanky figure behind a table. Actually, she's delivering more than enough energy on her own. She's also communicating her intelligence and wit...

16-Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Willis, Jessica Lange and Robin Williams are among the stars who will have films on display at January's Sundance Film Festival. It was announced today in New York that, Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Willis, Jessica Lange and Robin Williams are among the stars who will have films on display at January's Sundance Film Festival, which announced entries Wednesday for its lineup of premiering films...

17-Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie Start Up Simple Life. International News Agency New York Bureau learned that former best friends Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie begin filming the fourth season of The Simple Life on Tuesday. They don't have a network for their show and they're not speaking to each other, but that's not stopping Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie from filming another season of ...

18-Peter Sarsgaard lives with one Gyllenhaal to prepare for Gulf War drama. Peter Sarsgaard got a new roommate to prepare for his role as a marine in the Gulf War drama Jarhead. The 34-year-old actor plays Jake Gyllenhaal's sniper partner in the film adaptation of Anthony Swofford's memoir, so he decided to spend as much time as possible with him in real life, he told The New York Times Magazine in Sunday's issue. "I figured if I couldn't be around my girlfriend, I would settle for her brother," said Sarsgaard, who's dating Maggie Gyllenhaal. Sarsgaard and Jake Gyllenhaal lived together for about five months during filming, mostly in a hotel in Mexico...

19-Elton John to Wed...Rock star Elton John says he and partner David Furnish plan a small private ceremony to seal their civil partnership under new legislation offering gays many of the legal protections available to married heterosexuals. "It'll be a very small family affair and then in the evening there'll be a soirée somewhere, which we have yet to work out," John was quoted as saying in an interview with Attitude magazine released Thursday...

20-TRUMP, MELANIA KNAUSS AND CHRISTIAN DIOR. Christian Dior. Knauss chose the gown during the haute couture shows in Paris with help from Vogue editors Sally Singer and Andre Leon Talley. She models the voluminous strapless gown -- which took 550 hours of labour just to do the embroidery...Full story

21-Former X-Files star, Gillian Anderson marries doc filmmaker.  Former X-Files star Gillian Anderson has married longtime boyfriend Julian Ozanne. The couple exchanged vows Dec. 29 at a friend's beach house on Lamu's Shella island, off Kenya's Indian Ocean coast, People magazine said Tuesday. The ceremony, which included hymns sung by a Kenyan choir in Swahili, was attended by immediate family and a handful of close friends...Full story

22-Paris Latsis has only kind words for his ex-fiancée, Paris Hilton. The engagement has been called off, but Paris Latsis has only kind words for his ex-fiancée, Paris Hilton. The 22-year-old Greek shipping heir called Hilton "the most incredible woman I have ever met in my life," in a brief statement released Monday through Hilton publicist Elliott Mintz. "I respect her decision and appreciate the very kind and generous manner in which she is handling her very difficult decision," Latsis said... Full story

23-Martha Stewart. Homemaking mogul Martha Stewart, who already has two TV U.S. shows, is working on a third. Stewart's company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, purchased a house in Norwalk last month that will be featured in a new home-improvement television show next year. The series, which has no name yet, is about a group of women who learn trades and help renovate the 125-year-old house. The 13-part series focuses on six women...Full story

24-"I'm illiterate and I faked my way through scripted portions of the televised U.S. talent show, which I won in 2004."  Fantasia reveals in memoir. American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino reveals in her memoirs that she is functionally illiterate and had to fake her way through some scripted portions of the televised U.S. talent show, which she won in 2004. ..Full story

25-New California law targets paparazzi. Official and public figures in New York are seeking similar laws. YA RIGHT!...Full story

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THEATER

1-Mark Schultz Award winning New York Playwright...

2-Judy Dench: A bona fide Grande Dame.  With nearly 50 years experience as an actress, Dame Judi Dench has given an astonishing range of performances. As well as her Oscars and knighthood, she was the first person to win two Olivier awards and her marriage to Michael Williams was one of the most successful in showbusiness. Moreover she has brought grace, warmth and frequently a fascinating coldness to an extraordinary mixture of roles...

3-ADI BLOTMAN: Israeli-Born Actress Makes Transition from Army Troops to Comedy Troupes. Blotman: “It’s very clear that, even as a child, I enjoyed the spotlight.” During basic training in the Israeli Army, actress Adi Blotman never dreamed she would make it in the competitive world of New York City comedy.  Now, her time spent on stage with the National Comedy Theatre has taught her to expect the unexpected, and she loves it...

4-The Jewish Theater of New York Presents Kabbalah.

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ARTS

1-Memory Imprints: A Sculptural Installation by Tova Beck Friedman. Inspired by ancient architecture and archaeological sites in the land of Israel, Tova Beck-Friedman sculpts the raw desert formations of her birthplace and incorporates the human figure into her work...Full article

2-Mining the Collection: Recent Acquisitions. An exhibition of selected works acquired since Yeshiva University Museum relocated to Chelsea in 1999. Given the Museum’s interdisciplinary nature, its collections are eclectic and wide- ranging, spanning 2000 years of Jewish aesthetic achievement. An ossuary from the Roman Period (1st century BCE.. Full article

3-The Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association. The KTPAA is a performance group that endeavors to preserve, cultivate, and disseminate Korean cultural arts in the United States. Its members consist of professional artists from the New York area Korean-American community who are dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding and appreciation of Korean artistic heritage and history... Full article

4-Joan Snyder: A Painting Survey, 1969-2005. August 12, 2005 - October 23, 2005. The exhibition has been organized by the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, Massachusetts, to which it will travel in November, 2005. The Jewish Museum presents Joan Snyder: A Painting Survey, 1969-2005, an exhibition that features a selection of thirty-one major works representing more than three decades of the artist’s career. Joan Snyder is an avowed feminist and belongs to the first generation of women artists to identify themselves as such. Along with Elizabeth Murray...Full article

5-The Work of Renate Aller. Her photos of the clouds, the tempest of nature and forms of humans, the shapeless sound of elegant heels of fancy women dressed in red and running  with eroticism, class and "un je ne sais quoi" in the streets of New York, ascertain her lyrico-laisse faire-professionalism and mastery of the camera...Full article

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MUSIC:

1-RECORDING ARTIST OF THE MONTH. Tina Shafer: A trilogy of vocal virtuosity, intelligent musical compositions and heart-felt human warmth...

2-Marjorie Maye: She Made It Big Time In the Recording Industry...

3-NEW YORK'S JAZZ: SHERYL BAILEY'S "BULL'S EYES" IS SOLID GOLD.  A TRIUMPH!...Full article

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

THE BEST OF THE WEEK:

1-Kiki Smith, a world-class artist.

2-Rubin Museum of Art.

3-Patricia Barber at Joe's Club.

4-The best cigar and tobacco shop in New York City.

 5-The Yank Newsmakers: Laura Savini, Susan Barth, Ilil Arbel, Gail Swanson, Barbara Lowin in concert.

 6-New York TV and Radio women of excellence: Last Thursday night, in New York,  at the Museum of Television & Radio, a reception was held to  release the names of the 2005 honorees who will be on the roster “She Made It: Women Creating Television and Radio,” celebrating the accomplishments and recognizing the achievements of women in television and radio industries. The 2005 Honorees are...

7-New York Angel Ball: In New York, this week, Denise Rich  threw the best charitable party in town. She amassed the Who's Who in entertainment to celebrate the 4th annual biennial gala of The Angel Ball 2005 at the Marriott Marquis. The Grammy-nominated songwriter  raised  $3.3 million for the Foundation’s Cancer Research. It was a ritzy event, a perfect social setting to recognize four honorees for their philanthropic and charitable contributions...

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EVENTS

1-John Lennon's Day in New York: In Memoriam and in photos...

2-New York TV and Radio women of excellence: Last Thursday night, in New York,  at the Museum of Television & Radio, a reception was held to  release the names of the 2005 honorees who will be on the roster “She Made It: Women Creating Television and Radio,” celebrating the accomplishments and recognizing the achievements of women in television and radio industries. The 2005 Honorees are...

3-New York Angel Ball: In New York, this week, Denise Rich  threw the best charitable party in town. She amassed the Who's Who in entertainment to celebrate the 4th annual biennial gala of The Angel Ball 2005 at the Marriott Marquis. The Grammy-nominated songwriter  raised  $3.3 million for the Foundation’s Cancer Research. It was a ritzy event, a perfect social setting to recognize four honorees for their philanthropic and charitable contributions...

4-Fall, 2005 EL/Civics Awards Ceremony & Concert "Program": Since 1996, this magnificent program has, each year, been providing hundreds of (often frail and disabled) elderly refugees with English language and Citizenship instruction (not at central classroom settings they must travel to, but rather) at the senior centers they attend, in the senior citizen housing developments where the reside and at other accessible community-based sites. Hundreds of immigrant seniors of all ethnic backgrounds in several Brooklyn communities have become citizens through the organization's efforts...

5-DO IT YOURSELF JUDAISM: EXTREME JEWISH MAKEOVER: Panel Discussion To Explore the Ever Changing Faces of Judaism in Everyday Life. The American Jewish Historical Society presents a panel discussion, Do It Yourself Judaism, Extreme Jewish Makeover on Tuesday, December 15, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16^th Street, New York City. Ever since Sinai, Jews have been creating Jewish life on their own terms.  Whether it be the codification of the Talmud or the creation of Reform Jewry, Jewish communities have always imagined versions of Judaism that suited their contemporary needs, wants and worldviews....

6-FILM AT THE VILLAGE TEMPLE: “WALK ON WATER”. WALK ON WATER, an enthralling, award-winning film by internationally acclaimed director Eytan Fox, explores the motives, strengths, and, ultimately, the humanity of an Israeli assassin sent to rectify a wrong committed five decades earlier. The protagonist, Eyal, is a top assassin in the Israeli secret service. He has killed terrorists before, but this time he is sent to eliminate an aging former Nazi war criminal...

7-JCC Teen Schedule Jan/Feb...Full article

8-NCFJE Chanukah Telethon...

NEW YORK NEWS FLASH

1-Conan O'Brien popularity is increasing...Full article

2-YAFFA RESTAURANT: BEST MIDDLE/NEAR EASTERN FOOD IN TRIBECA, MANHATTAN. A funky, friendly and cozy restaurant owned and managed by Yaffa Seror Faro, quite an unusual woman, a.k.a. The Gypsy Queen of Tribeca. If you are fond of authentic Middle/Near Eastern delights and specialties, then head right away toward Yaffa restaurant. And if you enjoy reading Kafka, Proust, Francoise Sagan, Lord Byron, Omar Khayam and Jean-Paul Sartre, dash into that restaurant and ask for Yafa, the proprietor and the existentialist story-teller. The food is superb and Yaffa herself is better. The menu is one of Yafa Faro’s controversial and most colorful delightful madness and creations, for every single dish on the list is named after a motion pictures star, a Hollywood legend and all those dashy-washy characters you can or would squeeze between...Full article

3-MISS AMERICA: HOW YOUNG, HOW RICH, AND HOW OLD IS MISS AMERICA, TODAY!? "I remember definitely dressing up," said Hanson, 62, who now lives in Pratt, Kan. "I'd have a towel sash pinned to my shoulder and there was my crown, probably made from a colander or a strainer." ...Full article

4-The "New" Desmond Tutu on Broadway: Moving from the pulpit to the stage, Desmond Tutu is reappearing off-Broadway in a drama blasting the U.S. government's handling of Guantanamo Bay detainees. The retired South African prelate and Nobel laureate appeared Saturday night at a tiny theatre in Lower Manhattan, playing a judge in Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom. The play portrays the plight of British detainees at the U.S. naval base in Cuba...Full article

5-JCC Teen Schedule Jan/Feb...Full article

6-Yaffa, Yafa, whatever,  is making waves in New York City. She calls herself the "Girl from Sinai". She wants you to remember what she told everybody: "I am Jewish, but not Israeli. I am from Sinai." But, the neighbors and residents in Tribeca call her something else. Something like "The Gypsy Queen of Tribeca." This woman is unquestionably one of the most fascinating women in New York City. She owns and manage her own restaurant, which of course is named after her  "YAFFA RESTAURANT". And at that restaurant-cafe trottoir--bar everything goes; politics, buzzes, gossips, breaking news, adventures and unbelievable stories you hear from the patrons. Count 7 of Yaffa's clients and 8 of them are foreigners...Full article

7-PARIS HILTON TO THROW BIG PARTY IN NEW YORK: Paris Hilton is ready to throw a lavish party for all the peers who are jealous of her. She did not decide yet how and where to do it. Hilton said: " And this is a great occasion to celebrate my victory..." Lord! What victory? ...Full article

8-NEW YORK'S JAZZ: SHERYL BAILEY'S "BULL'S EYES" IS SOLID GOLD.  A TRIUMPH!...Full article

9-Before the Bris:  How to Protect Your Infant Against Herpes Virus Infection Caused by metzitzah b’peh...Full article

COMMUNITY

1-STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BLOOMBERG ON APPELLATE DIVISION'S RULING IN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CASE ...Full article

2-New Terminal Will Create 3,700 Jobs and Preserve Historic TWA Flight Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Governor George E. Pataki joined JetBlue Airways Chief Executive Officer David Neeleman and President Dave Barger today to mark the start of construction of the airline's new 26-gate passenger terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 5.  The new terminal will allow JetBlue to double their number of flights daily and add 2,500 jobs to its current New York City workforce of about 5,000, and it will create an additional 1,200 construction jobs...Full article

3-MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND HEIDI KLUM ANNOUNCE MEASURES TO SUPPORT CITY'S GARMENT AND FASHION SECTOR. City Makes $244,000 Grant For The Training and Education of Apparel Workers. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Heidi Klum, host and executive producer of Bravo's Emmy-nominated series Project Runway, announced today that dresses designed during the current second season of the Weinstein Company and Miramax Television co-production...