Michael's
Times Columnist William Kristol is 'Not Such a Fan of the Mainstream Media'; Says of Sarah Palin 'I Barely Know Her'
very nice about my columns"
Earlier today, William Kristol was sitting alone by the entrance of Michael's checking his Blackberry. Mr. Kristol was there at the behest of the Independent Film Channel to participate in a panel discussion moderated by Arianna Huffington (and featuring Pete Hamill, Chrisopher Buckley, and Mr. Kristol) to help promote The IFC Media Project, a show which aims to take viewers "behind the news," hosted by former MTV Newsman Gideon Yago.
The room was quickly filling up with eager young journalists, spiral notepads blank and at the ready, digital recorders checked once, twice, and stomachs empty and open. (The invitation called for noon-2:30 p. read more »
Stung by Bruni Slam, Regulars Defend Midtown Media Hangout Michael's
Last week, Times food critic Frank Bruni panned perennial Midtown media hangout Michael’s: “California cuisine?” he sneered. “More like gloppy, affected pub grub.” Though Mr. Bruni did acknowledge that “food is no longer the point of Michael’s," it shouldn't be resting on its laurels as a go-to power lunch and breakfast spot: “Michael’s presents itself as a serious restaurant and charges like a serious restaurant…It should perform at the level of a serious restaurant. These days, it usually doesn’t.”
All this displeasure is fine for Mr. Bruni, whose myriad dining options will soon flush the taste of “arid ricotta cannelloni” and “repellently chalky hamachi” from his palatte, but what about the legion boldfaced name regulars of the cultish restaurant? How did it play with those who, for professional or personal reasons (the lines blur with this crowd), simply can’t stay away?
