Recently, Orchard Street was abuzz with excitement as Pete Davidson was spotted in a seemingly heated altercation. However, the commotion wasn’t what it appeared to be; cameras were rolling, capturing a scene for an upcoming film.
Davidson, along with fellow actor Callum Turner, was filming for their new romantic comedy, “One Night Only.” Davidson, known for his comedic chops on “Saturday Night Live,” makes a cameo appearance in the film as an undercover cop, lending a hand to Turner’s character to diffuse a staged street brawl.
Turner then moved north where his movie crew took over several shops, including a Ray’s Pizza on Columbus Ave. and 82nd St., which was rechristened Claremont Pizza for the film. Turner’s character owns the pizzeria.
Turner, the charismatic English actor who happens to be engaged to pop sensation Dua Lipa, had quite an impact on the local crowd. His scenes included delivering pizza and purchasing flowers from Q Florist, charming onlookers with his onscreen gentlemanly antics.
The film’s intriguing premise unfolds in a dystopian future where premarital sex is restricted to just one night each year—an extraordinary concept for romantic leads like Davidson and Turner to navigate.
Directed by Will Gluck, known for “Anyone but You,” the film also features Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro. “One Night Only” is currently slated for release in theaters next August, promising to deliver a unique blend of romance and humor.
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“Daily Show” comedian Aasif Mandvi enjoys poking fun at famous people — even the ones he likes.
Honoring director Ken Burns last Sunday at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Mandvi joked, “Ken Burns’ style is so recognizable that the video software iMovie added a Ken Burns Effect. You click a button and it pans across a sepia photo while someone reads a letter from Robert E. Lee’s wife.”
Burns chuckled even after Mandvi added, “The Civil War documentary he did was longer than the actual Civil War.”
The crowd, including Christine Baranski, Mariska Hargitay and Questlove, roared.
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Rachel Lithgow was married for 17 years to actor Ian Lithgow, who recently appeared in “Godfather of Harlem” starring Forest Whitaker. They have two children.
Now they’ve split and she’s written a book, “My Year of Really Bad Dates,” which offers an unflinching look at the chaos of modern relationships.
A launch party will be held Monday at Blue Door Books in Cedarhurst, Long Island, following a successful event in Los Angeles last week hosted by “Full House” star Jodie Sweetin, who narrates the audiobook.
Rachel writes in the memoir that her marriage was doomed because her father-in-law, “Conclave” star John Lithgow, didn’t like her.
“I felt caught between trying to please and prove myself to my in-laws, who most certainly and in no uncertain terms disapproved of me and our marriage, and to stand with my husband, whom I loved so much it hurt,” she says. “It got progressively worse over time, and it added layers of trauma to an existing layer cake of trauma. It became quite a large cake by the time I got divorced.”
Seven years later, the former spouses are still friends, and Rachel says Ian supports her book.
“I’m really proud of where we came from and where both Ian and I are today, both separately and together as co-parents of two spectacular, almost grown, people,” she said.
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Artificial intelligence is dooming the ghostwriting profession.
Joshua Lisec, who has ghostwritten over 100 books since 2011, told me, “Jobs are drying up. AI can generate an entire book in minutes, good, cheap and fast. Literary professionals will be replaced.”
Lisec realized in 2018 that he couldn’t remain a ghost: “I lost some deals because I refused to sign a confidentiality agreement.”
Today, Lisec is credited as co-author of Dr. Robert Lufkin’s bestseller, “Lies I Taught in Medical School,” and will also be listed on heart surgeon Dr. Philip Ovadia’s upcoming book, “Stay Off My Kitchen Table.”
And he’s not alone, he said: “Ghostwriters are increasingly asking for — and receiving — credit for the books they write.”
In recent years, ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer has been widely credited for Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” Former pro rugby player Johnny Sexton brought his ghostwriter onstage when his autobiography won an award last year. And the American Society of Journalists and Authors has launched the first-ever award for ghostwriters and paid collaborators.
“Ghostwriting has traditionally been seen as a shameful secret,” Lisec said. No longer.
Lisec is writing five books where he’ll be acknowledged as a ghost, and another three books as co-author.
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It’s hard enough launching one restaurant, but Michael Della Femina is opening two eateries in Manhattan next month.
“I’m an idiot,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Get it out all at once. It’s like having twins.”
The son of legendary ad man Jerry Della Femina is opening Lily Pond on West 10th St., and Croft Alley SoHo on Sixth Ave. at the corner of Prince, in the former home of Greek eatery Lola Taverna.
Croft Alley SoHo is an offspring of beloved Croft Alley Beverly Hills, where Della Femina has four partners. But Lily Pond is more of a family affair.
“I wasn’t planning on opening two places at once, but when I saw the West 10th St. spot, I could feel the magic and history in the walls and on the street — and couldn’t turn away,” he said.
Della Femina is accustomed to a bicoastal lifestyle, and has kept his apartment on Charles St.
“I love Beverly Hills, and I love the Village. I’ve been bicoastal forever.”
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Newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the youngest man in modern history chosen to lead New York City, garnered the votes of 84% of women under the age of 30.
“Women by nature are more emotional creatures. His message resonated with young women,” said Skye Ostreicher, the founder of In the Room Media, a storytelling agency connecting policymakers, businesses and the public.
Ostreicher — who recently attended the SOMOS political conference in Puerto Rico, as did the mayor-elect — said she’s hoping Mamdani will participate in Style Across the Aisle, the bipartisan fashion show featuring elected officials on the runway.
“I’m willing to give him a chance,” she said. “The consensus is he is willing to come to the table.”
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Hilary and Wilbur Ross held a party for Fox News anchorman Bret Baier and his new book, “To Rescue the American Spirit,” a biography of Theodore Roosevelt.
Guests at the couple’s apartment included journalists Charlie Rose and Chuck Scarborough, Jets owner Woody Johnson, celeb photographer Harry Benson, billionaire businessman Ken Langone, plastic surgeon Dr. Sherrell Aston and galleriest Isabelle Bscher.
Wilbur Ross, the secretary of commerce during Trump’s first term, told guests about his new company iRocket, which recently completed a successful launch of its reusable rocket in the Mojave Desert.
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Bronx-born, Harlem-raised actor Malik Yoba starred in “New York Undercover” in the 1990s, but he’ll be in plain sight on Tuesday at 125th St. and Broadway.
Yoba is serving as one of the grand marshals of the Harlem Holiday Lights parade, along with Rev. Michael A. Walrond Jr., the senior pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church.
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Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Michael Jordan, Demi Moore and Hailey Bieber have all been seen wearing accessories from Tiffany & Co. The brand has been big going back to Abraham Lincoln.
A silver-gilt ewer from Tiffany, presented to the 16th president, is featured in M.S. Rau’s exhibition “Treasures of Tiffany: Icons of American Design,” which just opened at the firm’s New Orleans gallery.
Other highlights include a Paloma Picasso-designed bracelet owned by Mary Tyler Moore, a stained-glass mermaid window made for the estate of Hawaiian sugar magnate James Bicknell Castle, and a 201-carat aquamarine necklace valued at $1.25 million.
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Out & About: Tony Danza joined Victor Neufeld’s band for a tune at Manny’s Bistro on Columbus Ave … “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul surprised Park Rose executive chef Carsten Johannsen when he got behind the bar at the reimagined Hotel Park Ave NYC. The entire dining room gave him a round of applause … Daniel Craig, director Rian Johnson and J.J. Abrams spoke onstage following a special showing of “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” at the SVA Theatre … Jennifer Lawrence, Sissy Spacek and Robert Pattinson attended a screening of their new movie, “Die My Love,” at the Robin Williams Center … Guitarist Lenny Kaye joined Patti Smith at Town Hall for the release of her new memoir, “Bread of Angels.”
