Sirio Maccioni, Susan Bennett and Tony Bennett (Photo - Dustin Wayne Harris/Patrick McMullan)

A restaurant opening in the chandeliered halls of The Pierre, flagship of Taj hotels, held much promise for some unrepentant gorging, but we were tragically left empty mouthed at Sirio’s grand unveiling on Wednesday evening, with not a crumb going spare.

“We have a lot of dear friends, and a lot of people who love us,” revealed handsome and ever-so-modest director of Le Cirque Mauro Maccioni, one quarter of the Italian-American epicurean dynasty.

Flanked by the new restaurant’s namesake, his father Sirio, and restaurateur brothers Mario and Marco, the quad were undeniably the toast of the food-less feast, palpably excited about the newest extension of their empire. With the patriarch first working in The Pierre’s La Foray some 50 years ago, there was much to celebrate, with celebrities and the nipped and tucked of New York popping in to offer their cheeks for much congratulatory air kissing.

Mayor Bloomberg generously graced the party with his presence for a fraction of a second before making a quick exit, apparently having to dash to the scene of a shooting in the Bronx. Fitting so many events into one evening can be such hard work. But at least his fleeting visit actually took place within the event’s scheduled timeframe, which is more than can be said for tardy Martha Stewart. America’s favorite foodie and home perfectionist eventually arrived to lend her support to Sirio, and reveal her excitement to The Observer about her upcoming Halloween celebrations.

“I’m looking forward to Bette Midler’s annual Hulaween, of course, and am dressing up as an organic sea.”

No, we’re not too sure either. In fact, we're not even sure she remembered to invite us!

Ms. Stewart was full of praise for the Maccioni family’s restaurant kingdom, particularly given some of her own culinary misadventures. “The worst food I’ve ever eaten was fried worms,” she revealed, although this unpleasant dish was served up to her in Mexico, and not prison, as we first thought.

Leading the parade of air kissers out of the door was Ivana Trump, who was hanging languidly on the arm of her perma-tanned boy toy throughout the evening.

“I know Sirio many years,” she drawled, having forced us into a secluded corner of the room to impart these words of wisdom.

The man of the hour, the elder Maccioni, clearly had quite the selection of groupies, although repeatedly forcing him out of his seat and into photos at times felt like a little bit too much. But the octogenarian remained reasonably upbeat throughout the evening, more so than we managed, although we might have fared better had we actually been given something to eat. Instead, we gobbled up all the people watching moments, which with the likes of Tony Bennett, Jean Shaffirof, Amy Fine Collins,  Somers Farkas, Sophie Theallet and Amy Sacco, left us pretty full anyhow.

Meanwhile, Chuck may soon have a new half-brother—Lily van Der Woodsen ("Kelly Rutherford") is pregnant! [Us Weekly]

Ivana Trump is divorcing Rossano Rubicondi, her 36-year-old husband of seven months. Apparently, the couple has been broken up for a while, but Ms. Trump kept quiet because she didn't want to spoil his chances of winning I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! [R&M]

Kate Moss was overheard at a party explaining that the recently noted scratches on her face were not, as she had claimed, injuries sustained in a Christmas ornament accident, but the result of a "scuffle" with boyfriend Jamie Hince involving her "chunky ring." [P6]

At his false imprisonment trial, Boy George admitted that, while he "absolutely" handcuffed a male prostitute to his bed, he "certainly wasn't going to kill him." [NYDN]

In her newest Myspace update, Lindsay Lohan assures the world that she and Samantha Ronson are not breaking up. [Us Weekly]

The five-story Upper East Side, more than century-old edifice, at 321 East 73rd Street, has served as a center for Czech and Slovak culture for decades, but had in recent years fallen into disrepair.

“It used to be one of the most popular places for Czechs and Slovaks in New York,” George Suchánek, owner of Astoria restuarant Zlatá Praha, told The Prague Post earlier this month. “I used to work there on and off. … There were wonderful, traditional events and plenty of famous people who visited.

The building now houses a 300-person ballroom, the Czech Consulate General, the Czech Center, the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association, a 70-seat theater and a library. Soon, the building will also house an upscale Czech restaurant.

The full release is below:

New-York, NY (October 30) ----The rededication of the newly reconstructed landmark Bohemian National Hall today marks the re-inauguration of an iconic New York building that was built in the late 19th Century as the home for Czech culture on the Upper East Side. Our Guest of Honor this evening, Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Guillermo Linares, will dedicate the Bohemian National Hall. Some 400 guests, including Jiri Cunek, Czech Deputy Prime Minister, Petr Kolar, Czech Ambassador to the United States of America, members of the Czech Senate and Parliament, and other VIPs and dignitaries willattend this hallmark event. The evening will be hosted by Tomas Hanak, famousCzech movie star, voted by popular acclaim as the most handsome man in the Czech Republic.

"The new Bohemian National Hall represents the hope for greater cooperation between our country and the United States," says Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek."It is an important occasion for the Czech-American alliance and further underlines the significance of trans-Atlantic cooperation."

"We are proud of the reopening of this dazzling New York City building. Most importantly, we welcome back the friendly voice of the Czech Republic.This is a community that has played a role far beyond its numbers in our city's history. We look forward to a bright future of great cultural performances and exhibitions in the Czech Center's beautiful new home," says Guillermo Linares, the Immigrant Affairs Commissioner in the New York City Mayor's Office..

"Our predecessors have worked for more than 100 years to spread the word across the United States about the great cultural traditions of the Czech Republic. For their work, efforts and devotion, I thank them and pay my respects to them," said Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. "Our beautiful country in the center of Europe deserves to have its proper place in the New York cultural landscape."

Milos Forman, at a recent Directors Guild Award reception emphasizing theimportance of cultural preservation, commented: "Because we did notsucceed in saving Dvorak's house (which is now part of Beth Israel Hospital), the BohemianNational Hall should represent Czech Culture."

"Bohemian National Hall is a symbol of the constructive efforts of our ancestors here in America and our humble attempts to remain connected to them," comments Petr Kolar, Czech Ambassador to the United States of America. "Let this building be more than just a home; let it be an exceptional place for all Czechs and their friends here in the United States."

Program

An evening-long celebration "by invitation only" today at 6:30 pm @321-325 East 73rd Street, between 1st and 2nd avenues, New York City will begin with the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Some of the Czech's biggest names will take part in today's and Saturday, November 1st events. They include singers Iva Bittova and Sona Cervena, dance choreographer Michal Caban and the best bandmusic compiled by Camael.

Guests will walk through a groundbreaking exhibition entitled "Check Places and Memory Traces. The Bohemian National Hall and other stories. "The exhibition offers a selection of compelling portraits of Czech immigrants, as well as photographs depicting the rise and fall of Manhattan's Bohemian neighborhood. From here, the tour continues to another exhibition "One of us" devoted to the Czech political prisoners of the 1950`s. The program also features a short film screening.

Other entertainment will include live band music and a cocktail reception. The festivities continue on Saturday, November 1st with a joyous extended celebration of Czech/American friendship. Guests will enjoy dancing, singing, eating, watching and learning.

The event on November 1st is free and open to public. For detailed information, please call 646-422-3399, or visit our website at www.czechcenter.com

Background

The newly renovated five-story building, which initially was called Narodnibudova (National building), has a multi-purpose ballroom that can hold 300 people, and includes more than 32,000 square feet of new space. The magnificent ballroom is suitable for ballroom dancing, weddings, corporate events, conferences, movie productions and photo shoots. The Bohemian National Hall houses the offices of the Czech Consulate General and the Czech Center, as well as the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association (BBLA). Other features include a 70-seat state-of-the-art theater, a library with a fine collection focusing on history, art and literature (in the Czech, Slovak and English languages). Additionally, an upscale, full service, restaurant/lounge featuring Czech cuisine, is soon to come.

Since 1895, the Bohemian National Hall was the main cultural reflection and gathering place of choice for Eastern European immigrants in New York. The building itself was oftendescribed as "a hidden gem of Manhattan"or " the Waldorf -Astoria of the Upper East Side." This important voice in theneighborhood has been largely silent for the last 40 years, due to lack ofmoney for maintaining the building and diminished popularity among the younggeneration as people lost touch with their traditions during the 1960s, a timeof tremendous social ferment in America. Since 2001, when the Czech governmenttook over ownership of the building, more than $45 million dollars has been investedin its refurbishment and renovation. It is now in glorious shape to serve the Czech Center'smission of re-introducing the greatness of Czech culture and artistry to New York audiences.

"Construction has ended, and now the Czech spirit will be brought back tolife"comments Marcel Sauer, a newly appointed director of the Czech CenterNew York."Our mission is to disseminate knowledge to New Yorkers who want toappreciate and understand different cultures, perspectives and worldissues."

The events have been created and sponsored by the Czech Center New Yorkin cooperation with the Czech Consulate General New York. It is supported in part by theCzech Government and BBLA.

According to Page Six Magazine, the two first met eight years ago, when Ms. Trump visited Anchorage to promote her perfume and jewelry lines. (Ivana Trump, big in Alaska!) Ms. Palin, the former beauty queen, turned out to be such a fan that she drove two hours from her hometown of Wasilla to meet Donald's ex.

"She stood in line to get the perfume and a signed copy of my book," Ms. Trump told Page Six. "So we chatted and bonded. We have a lot in common. She's down to earth; I'm down to earth. In business, I use the skills I picked up as a ski champion rather than shooting moose, but there's nothing wrong with that."

(Perhaps it was during that meeting that the two ladies traded tips on the perfect up-do.)

More recently, Ms. Trump offered to hold a fund-raiser for the vice presidential nominee. But due to a timing issue, it never got organized, and Ms. Palin wrote a polite e-mail thanking Ms. Trump for the offer.

Perhaps Ms. Palin knew all too well that Ms. Trump wouldn't quite be able to pull in a guest list comparable to Anna Wintour's numerous fund-raisers for Obama, attended by the likes of Andre Leon Talley, Calvin Klein and Sarah Jessica Parker. Judging from Ms. Trump's guest list when she married Italian stud Rossano Rubicondi (24 years her junior) in April, Ms. Palin might have found herself instead in the company of people like George Hamilton, Ricky and Kathy Hilton, and Brigitte Nielsen, former wife of Sylvester Stallone.

Gossip Girl's Penn Badgley said that Jessica Stroup and Shenae Grime of rival high school soap opera Beverly Hills 90210 should "eat a double cheeseburger or something" and praised his female co-stars for not being "bone-thin." [US Weekly] 

Reportedly, a first-class passenger on a flight with Ivana Trump offered to switch seats with the socialite after she was given a coach seat due a flight change. Her rep insists that this had nothing to do with her pouting or complaints about nearby children, but because the concerned stewardess, "asked someone to switch because Ivana always travels in first class." [P6]

Anti-Scientology protesters picketed Katie Holmes's Broadway debut last night. [US Weekly] 

Former drunk-dialer and recent crazy-emailer Pat O'Brien was fired from The Insider. [NYDN, first item] 

Jean-Georges Vongerichten will shell out $1.75 million to waiters at his restaurants who claimed that managers were stealing their tips. [Grub Street] 

Kelly Cutrone responded to The Observer's commenters' questioning of her age by scanning her driver's license. She is, in fact, 42-years-old as she had told Meredith Bryan. [The Cut]

Christie Brinkley went to New York Supreme Court yesterday to ask that her divorce from Peter Cook be made public. The documents reportedly contain details about Mr. Cook trolling porn and swinger websites for young women. [Access Hollywood]

Chuck Schumer will appear on Law and Order: Criminal Intent as himself on Sunday night. [NY Daily News]

Anne Hathaway celebrated her break-up with Rafaello Follieri by chopping her long hair to a chin-length bob. [NY Daily News]

Tim Gunn is nervous about going to L.A. to shoot Project Runway because he's not that good at driving on highways. [The Cut]

Gayle King, Oprah's best pal, recommended James Frey's Bright Shiny Morning as a summer read on Good Morning America the other day. [P6]

Ivana Trump's marriage to Rossano Rubicondi may already be coming to an end. [NY Daily News]

Barry Diller who's recently triumphed in court over Liberty Media chairman, John Malone, has a brand new discrimination lawsuit on his hands. [P6]

Salman Rushdie is so over Padma Lakshmi. [P6]

Elton John really likes the way Tom Ford smells. [P6]

Donald Trump Jr. threatened Ivana Trump's new husband, Rossano Rubicondi, with a .45 and a shovel, jokingly of course. [NY Daily News]

Now that he's acquitted of tax-evasion charges, Wesley Snipes is celebrating by spending thousands of dollars on "babes." [P6]

The Who's Roger Daltrey stays young by "shagging" a lot. [P6]

Jessica Stam and Michelle Trachtenberg eat bread! [NY Daily News]

MTV's The Hills is now officially New Yorker-worthy. [New Yorker]

Ashley "Kristen" Dupre used to man the reception desk at Corcoran Sunshine in Chelsea and often got reprimanded for dressing like, well, a prostitute and coming on to clients. [P6]

Summer in the Hamptons will not be the same this year as the popular Hampton Social concerts that have featured artists like Billy Joel, Prince and Dave Matthews are not happening. [P6]

Carla Bruni tries her hardest to fill the first lady role and impress the Queen. [The Cut]

Kimora Lee Simmons has officially filed for divorce from Russell Simmons. [Daily Intel]

What's more disturbing: Ivana Trump and her younger fiance, Rossano Rubicondi, fighting so much that cops have to be called to hand-cuff Rubicondi, or the fact that the happy couple lives on a street called Jungle Road.[P6]

Mayor Bloomberg asks for a senior discount at the movies. [P6]

Before Nancy Reagan publicly endorsed John McCain she was kinda mad at him for divorcing his first wife. [P6]

The New York Post is glad to announce that it's demotic as in popular, not demonic. [P6]

Bill and Hillary Clinton turn into schoolgirls in the presence of Mick Jagger. [NY Daily News]

Fashion Week might move to the Tenth Avenue rail yards. [NY Daily News]

Last night at the Sotheby’s headquarters on the Upper East Side, all the stops were pulled for a Monaco casino-themed party in honor of Princess Grace Kelly. The late monarch’s jewelry and gowns were on display on two floors in the York Avenue building, and in the 7^th floor auction hall—temporarily renamed for Steve Wynn, whose company donated to the event—people rolled dice, spun wheels and cheered giddily. (The chips were, of course, worthless.)

Near a baccarat table in a black dress, lots of jewels and a pink-gold watch like a spare tire, Ivana Trump put her hands in the air like she was playing the maracas. Her good fortune that night aside, Ms. Trump, 58, said she related to the tragedy of Ms. Grace’s untimely death. “She raised beautiful children, and unfortunately, what happened happened. It happened in my life two times actually—to my older fiancé, you know, he died in a car accident. I can relate to the trauma,” she told The Daily Transom. “She held on, and she’s in here with us.”

“I think she was an upstanding woman,” she continued. “She was beautiful, she was accomplished, she was smart, she was not dumb and I really appreciate it. She was American coming to Europe, and I am European, but they thought I was American coming to the Europe, so I can understand a little bit of the obstacles that she had!” Then, with a quick twirl, Ms. Trump was back at the table again and ready to roll.

Usher is searching for a $10 million downtown pad, according to New York magazine. Courtney Love’s Soho love nest is again on the market. And will Tom Ford ever have his “Wal-Mart on the Hill?”

Instead of looking at boring buildings this week, Christopher Gray writes about men dressed up like buildings, at the 1931 Beaux-Arts Ball. The event was billed as "modernistic, futuristic, cubistic, altruistic, mystic, architistic and feministic." The Real Estate definitely would had been there.

There’s further evidence this weekend that real estate brokers can do anything, according to the New York Times. Now, they’ll find you a condo, and a spouse to go with it.

-Michael Calderone