Carmen Electra isn’t threatened by rival Playboy model and ex-Hugh Hefner squeeze Kendra Wilkinson encroaching on her turf.

“I mean, my pole has done so well,” Ms. Electra said.

Earlier this week, the 36-year-old former Baywatch star, ex-Pussycat Dolls dancer and January 2009 cover model learned that the younger bunny, Ms. Wilkinson, co-star of the E! network series The Girls Next Door, was creating her own line of celebrity-endorsed stripper poles—a market that, up to this point, Ms. Electra has dominated.

“You know, every time something comes out after the next it’s always improved and a little bit better,” Ms. Electra told the Daily Transom. “So, maybe she’ll come over to my house and set her pole up and give me a little dance.”

Still, that doesn’t mean Ms. Electra won’t up the ante: “I’m actually having a meeting … to come up with some new products, so maybe I will take her on.”

Dressed in heels and a shiny, black-and-white Rozae Nichols–designed dress, Ms. Electra was working the red carpet on Thursday, April 2, outside the Glaceau pop-up shop at 626 Broadway in Soho. A number of pro atheletes, including former New York Knicks standout John Starks, D'Brickshaw Ferguson of the New York Jets and Ahmad Bradshaw of the New York Giants, were also on hand to celebrate the beverage maker’s launch of a new low-calorie sports drink, Vitaminwater10.

“I’m not one to necessarily count calories,” Ms. Electra said. “For me it’s more about drinking the water, getting the vitamins. Plain water is a little bland to me, so I like having a little flavored water.”

The Daily Transom found the new drinks rather bland, but Ms. Electra disagreed: “Oh, really? I like it! I like it!”

Ms. Electra said the sluggish worldwide economic situation had not negatively impacted her own product line. “For some reason it really hasn’t affected the pole industry,” she said. “I think at the end of the day people want to be entertained, so in that way, we’re very, very, very lucky.”

Yesterday's condo conversion launch party for 99 Gold Street--a six-story building which was a former toy factory (during Brooklyn's grittier days)--was packed from the start.

Swarming brokers chatted about the "Vinegar Hill" locale, while still referring to the surrounding neighborhood as good old DUMBO. And there was a lot of talk of the new "Gold Coast," which partly refers to a precious sunset that clouds kept from materializing on cue.

Views aside, the buzz surrounding the kickoff party centered on Knick demigod John Starks, who was expected to be "leading pick-up games, teaching bystanders and signing commemorative "gold" basketballs," at least according to the press release. That's all because 99 Gold has a unique amenity: its own basketball court.

When The Real Estate caught up with Mr. Starks early on, the former Knick guard was gazing out the window in unit 4M--which will set you back about $735,000. He asked aloud where Ratner's basketball stadium would be. Perhaps some day, John.

Near Mr. Starks stood Josh Gunsberger, a commercial real estate agent. He liked what he saw: "Es perfecto por Emily," he noted, staring out at the bright yellow Sun. Gold coast, indeed!

- Max Abelson