Bette Midler

This week, Newsweek.com's Karen Springen interviews blogger-turned-author Stephanie Klein about her new memoir, Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp. It's an intensely personal interview. At one point, Ms. Klein, whose previous book was called Straight Up and Dirty, is asked, "When you were a kid, your legs' chafing together caused red itchy bumps that your mom called 'chub rub,' and boys at school called you 'Moose.' Was the name-calling the worst part about being overweight?"

Yeah, that was the hardest part, was all the cruelty. It wasn't just name-calling. We'd play spin the bottle, and if the bottle landed on me, the guy would ask for a do-over. There you are trying so hard to fit in as an adolescent. Back then they didn't have stores where they had fashionable plus-size clothes. I'd have to wear clothes that were not cool and hip.

Asked how she feels about herself now, Ms. Klein says, "I could stand to lose 10 or 15 pounds, but honestly, I'm happy the way I am. I feel comfortable with it. I'd rather have that extra 10, 15 pounds on me than live a lifestyle of trying to sustain this unattainable weight."  read more »

In the latest clip in what we like to call the "Candid Katie" series on YouTube, Ms. Couric gets down with Bette Midler at a ‘60s-themed benefit on the Lower East Side.  read more »

On Wednesday, April 25, at around 9:30 p.m., scraggily-haired screenwriter Bruce Vilanch—best known for his uncanny ability to write mildly entertaining material for presenters at the Academy Awards—arrived at the Bellavitae restaurant in the West Village. He had just finished performing as part of the ensemble cast of Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell at the Minetta Lane Theatre.  read more »

You know the drill: The Prospect Park Audubon Center offers the kids some  “interactive exhibits” (let’s hope that doesn’t include that baboon family) with music, crafts and general whoop-de-do.  read more »

GO, SHORTY, IT'S YOUR EARTH DAY: You know the drill: The Prospect Park Audubon Center offers the kids some “interactive exhibits” (let’s hope that doesn’t include that baboon family) with music, crafts and general  read more »

Is there a better way to buy a marina restaurant than on eBay? Not only is it right near Bette Midler’s boat house, but La Marina Restaurant and Club is also the "#1 seller of Presidente Beer outside of the Dominican Republic."

The Real Estate consciously decided not to fact-check that statement before publishing, but we can't imagine it not being true. Anyway, there are only 21 days left to bid.  read more »

-Michael Calderone

"Everything old is new again," sings Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz , stopping the show nightly on  read more »

The hideously ungroovy clouds of war, terrorism and potential nuclear Armageddon are casting a pall  read more »

Mission ImpossibleRefusing to accept the theory that everybody's tired of space movies, Brian De Pal  read more »

Rewriting Jackie SusannIt's too early to predict the worst movie of the year 2000, but it's safe to  read more »

Live Music Returns to City Ballet The two-week New York City Ballet orchestra strike ended Tuesday a  read more »

Nutcracker ticketholders are undoubtedly relieved that the New York City Ballet reached a settlement  read more »

The Hour Is NyeAn Ultra Brite smile broke through the dark mass of Rolling Stone owner Jann Wenner's  read more »