So much to tell you, I actually can’t wait to hear what I have to say:
Chuck Schumer — of whom you may have heard — chairs Monday’s inauguration. Allotted three minutes, he’s its first speaker. And let nobody burble it’s why maybe he chucked chucking anti-Israel Chuck Hagel under the bus.
Sen. Schumer’s the planner for Statuary Hall’s inaugural lunch. Eaters like the Obamas, Bidens, the Cabinet, the Supremes. Only 220 coveted seats. How many requests has he had for tickets? He laughed: “Much more than 220 phone calls.”
Schumer the Caterer’s menu comes not from the shores of Gitchy Goomy by the shining big sea water. This New Yorker’s gone heavy on his home state.
New York wines. A dry Riesling from our Finger Lakes. Merlot from Long Island’s Bedell winery, whose owner is New Line Cinema guy Michael Lynne. Cheese from Cooperstown. Maple syrup from Dutchess County. Honey from Rochester (sounds like breakfast). About the honey, Chuck told me: “We planned on taking that from Brooklyn, but the hurricane destroyed Red Hook’s bees and hives.”
Plus Columbia County’s apple cobbler, New York-made Greek-style yogurt and, he said, “The chef trained at Poughkeepsie’s Culinary Institute.”
I’m going to forgive Chuck Schumer for OKing Chuck Hagel.
ROBIN Roberts returning sooner rather than later was first reported — not by “GMA,” ABC, p.r. or TV but by CA. Pay attention, kiddies. Mother was first — as usual — with the good news . . . So where do VVVIP’s go? Tuesday 8:30 p.m., besides veal and pasta Nello’s on Madison Avenue had Maria Bartiromo, who hosts the Plaza’s Feb. 14 Bowery Mission fund-raiser . . . Street odds pick Christine Quinn or Bill Thompson for City Hall.
THE Weather Channel’s recent report: “Clear and warmer. With a 70 percent chance that we’re wrong.”
DAVID Bowie. Nobody bigger. Nobody greater. Albums: 9 platinum, 11 gold, 8 silver. He just released the song “Where Are We Now?” Health issues slowed productivity in 2003, so come spring we’re to get “The Next Day,” his first album output in a decade. Usual producer, Tony Visconti. As usual, no interviews.
Iffy possibility is a delay in its March 11 release date. Finishing touches on all the tracks are creating turmoil. Pros, musicians, specialists, friends got summoned to listen and maybe redo. A) Possibly he personally feels insecure. B) Possibly it’s that 10 years delivers a new fan base. Who knows? Known is that Bowie is not totally ecstatic with the result.
Like a Broadway out-of-town tryout, it maybe needs a show doctor.
CNN B.S. is that one of their stalwarts might be out and the recurring 411 is Ann Curry, despite an NBC contract, might get in . . . Channing Tatum’s abs become fab via weekly rock-climbing exercises at something called Paradiso CrossFit in Venice . . . Mayor maybe John Catsimatidis: “For the record, my doctor says I’m good to go. The only concern is a wife’s for her husband.”
ANGELINA. Who wore an ex-hubby’s blood in a vial? Who between husbands bought sex toys? Now, about a future husband: “I’m still a bad girl, but it all belongs to Brad.”. . . Another wholesome message. Jack Nicholson: “People call me a womanizer. I don’t care.”. . . Jack Black: “I was 220 and dropped 30 pounds. If I lost 20 more, I still couldn’t compete in the stud department.”. . . And Steven Tyler blew off Erin Brady after six years: “I’d like to schtup every girl I see, but I don’t want another marriage or to hurt anyone like Erin again.”
Wait. One More. Daniel Radcliffe, who’s been dating Rosie Coker: “I’m no easy person to love. I’m a mess around the house.”
THE OUT NYC hosts tonight’s AIDS benefit at KTCHN . . . March 2 JFI Jets, which owns F. Sinatra’s G2, sponsoring a tennis tournament . . . Baaad whispers about a maybe mayoral candidate. I’ve promised I wouldn’t say anything. However, I haven’t promised I don’t know anything . . . David Crosby on Britney Spears: “As deep as a bird bath.” Sheryl Crow: “She sells sex not music.” And Dionne Warwick: “She’s a role model for strippers.”
‘MAFIA Prince: Inside America’s Most Violent Crime Family and the Bloody Fall of La Cosa Nostra” is now out. Author Philip Leonetti, youngest underboss and ruthless killer who participated in 10 killings, did a big-time stretch in the can, and now, after 15 years silence, lives in a witness-protection environment. For some reason, he itches to tell about Sammy “The Bull” Gravano’s Arizona federal prison betrayal of John Gotti. And why he wanted to kill his own uncle “Little Nicky” Scarfo. Sweet little book for Feb. 14.
VALENTINE’S Day you can be legally married during off-Broadway’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Song” in the theater of St. Luke’s church. Singer Shea will call licensed couples onto the musical’s yellow brick road set as “Over the Rainbow” is performed.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.