De Blasio did cocktails honoring Dinkins. I dropped in for free hors d’oeuvres and a hi to Gracie Mansion’s newest resident. Drop-ins pass sidewalk cops, staffers with clipboards, bag check. Then a reception room, holding room, then a chorus of guards.

Long ago, Mrs. Fiorello LaGuardia told me: “Our carpets were threadbare. No rug in the entrance. We borrowed one. The kitchen needed fumigating. To hide dining room cracks, we hung paintings. With no budget for Queen Wilhelmina’s lunch, borough presidents’ wives cooked food and carted it in.”

John Lindsay’s wife Mary told me: “Worst for us were the roaches.”

So, listen, how’s the Mansion now?

Chirlane: “We haven’t totally moved in. When school ends, we’ll complete the move. Life should be easier then, because all’s in one location, our kids will have friends over and there’s room to move around.”

Hizzoner: “No doubt the place needs to be fixed. Bloomberg didn’t live in it. I don’t think Donna lived in it long enough with Giuliani. It needs repair.”

Bill sipped from a mug. “Herbal tea. I’m getting a cold.” His left hand held his wife’s hand.

Chirlane: “So much happening, we don’t get enough rest. At least I’m not.”

Hizzoner: “June’s a tough month. Everything comes to a head. State legislature, city budget, which is what government goes through every year. And there’s family concerns. School ends. There’s 12 different sets of tests, SATs, regents, readying for the next round of education. Our son, a debater, is heading to a three-week boot camp where they debate New York City, elections, everything.”

And the daughter’s summer plans? Chirlane: “We’re still working that out.”

As for relaxation, himself: “We saw ‘A Raisin in the Sun.’ ” Herself: “No time for friends or personal evenings, which we’d like and we hope happens later.”

Mrs. de Blasio: “But we always make time for family dinners.” Her menu for one of them? “I did spaghetti, plus takeout salad.”

The First Lady wants to get involved with NYC’s fashion scene. The City’s First Gentleman wants to do more Broadway.

Said the Mayor: “Nice to welcome rowdy Democrats back to sharing this place.” Then, to me: “Considering you didn’t make notes, I don’t expect perfect memory.”

Cricket legend eyes US

World’s A-1 famous cricket player, Sir Richard Hadlee, in NYC as ambassador of Feb. 14’s Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by his native New Zealand and Australia, said:

“The sport’s in 96 affiliated countries. Not big in America, because you have baseball, football, basketball. Our matches can go five days and are physically very exhausting. Requires stretching, repetition, there’s lots of injuries. I’ve punctured a rib, had an Achilles operation, right knee replaced, my body’s suffered.”

OK. So what did the Queen say when awarding your MBE? “I can’t remember. But I won’t forget that they called me Sir Richard on the field.

“But the sport won’t be huge here until the game gets some major profile on TV.”

OK.

Bits & pieces

Minnie Driver in Lifetime’s new film “Return to Zero”: “ ‘Life ends after 40’ is s - - - - y s - - t that we mustn’t believe” . . . ­COLIN Firth’s custom Brit suits — as a dapper spy in “Kingsman: The Secret Service” — becoming a clothing line of 60 pieces . . . AFTER seven years, singer ­Leona Lewis left Simon Cowell’s label and signed with Island Records.

COMMENTS: Another paper’s excellent writer, Pete Donohue, borrowed the quote: “Only in New York” . . . Excellent reviewers on Central Park’s reopened Tavern on the Toilet. Steve Cuozzo panned it; New York mag’s Adam Platt: “Falls flat.”

Ohhh, so burdensome always being right.

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.