Chapter 38
Sunday, February 13, 1983 It was all snow outside and it was beautiful, not too cold. Went to church.
Nelson Lyon called and we gossiped. And he said that Paul Morrissey had talked to Bob Colacello this summer on some Greek island where they were freeloading off Thomas Ammann and Bob told Paul that he was thinking of quitting because I still didn't know how to spell his name. Well listen, I always thought it was stupid for him to change how he spelled his name, and then not really really change it-to just drop the "i" from "Colaciello." I mean if Bob expected me to spell it, he should have made it a really change it-to just drop the "i" from "Colaciello." I mean if Bob expected me to spell it, he should have made it a really simple simple name-something that I name-something that I could could spell. spell.
Tuesday, February 15, 1983 Woke up with the same old unhappiness and crud. Oh, but Lucy is making me happy this morning. I Love Lucy Love Lucy. She's so funny. She's at the Brown Derby with Ethel and Fred, and she stared at William Holden so he's staring at her while she eats spaghetti and Ethel has to cut off the strands. Oh it's good. She's disguised and her fake nose catches on fire! It's the funniest one.
Called Catherine about the lunch we were having for her that afternoon at the office. She invited about thirty people.
Was picked up by Benjamin and went to Doc c.o.x's and saw Rosemary who's back. She says she stays up listening to Mahler and reading icon books and she goes to work at 4:00 in the morning and finishes at 10:00.
Left there and went to Sotheby's but they tried to make me check my bags, and I told them no, and then they wouldn't let me in so I walked out, I told them they were losing my business for good. I mean, it's my "purse." Ladies don't have to check their purses, so why should I?
Forgot to say that Diana Ross sent me a big bowl of candy kisses and she's so sweet, I have to send her something. It looked like she could have wrapped this up herself.
Oh, and Crazy Matty had been up at 860 and left the worst letter, it was crazy like Hinckley or something.
And Bob Colacello was invited to our lunch for Catherine but he turned it down by saying, "I have to go go to a meeting with my agent." to a meeting with my agent."
Wednesday, February 16, 1983 Another lunch at the office for Catherine. She said she became great friends with Bob Dylan in England. I guess she's doing a lot of entertaining, showing her houses. She's wild, Catherine. She learned a lot from Tom Sullivan.
Watched Dynasty Dynasty. Joan Collins is so good. And they took the bandages off the fairy son's face, and it's so funny, it's like the men are now doing all the old Bette Davis and Joan Crawford things-like when you "remove the bandages."
Thursday, February 17, 1983 It was a beautiful spring day, almost. I had a lunch date with Lady Sharon and Jill Fuller at "21," it was Jill's birthday and I brought her a Dollar Sign. I was surprised to look at her hand and not see a wedding ring, and she said that it was over already-he was just some kid she'd met in a discotheque. He called her an old bag or something and she threw him out.
I told them the real story of Bob's quitting after I wouldn't give him the Hammer & Sickle painting. And when I later got back to the office and told Fred that I'd made a mistake and told it, he got mad and he said that now it'll be in the papers. Which I guess is true. And Jill and Sharon said that people were going to drop Bob. And actually, Jill and Sharon are the kind of people who would would drop Bob. And Sharon said, "Bob's a friend of mine, but he drop Bob. And Sharon said, "Bob's a friend of mine, but he is is moody and it's hard to take." moody and it's hard to take."
But you know, it's true, all those people are really going to drop Bob if he doesn't have a column someplace. They just want to be in a column-that's what they have him over for!
Oh, and that Iranian lady, you know, Bob's friend, Mercedes Kellogg, Sharon was telling me what a fat thing Mercedes was and that Sharon helped her and got her to lose forty pounds and now she's dyed her hair blonde and is a big hostess, and she doesn't even call Sharon.
Sat.u.r.day, February 26, 1983 The night of the Roy Cohn party. Cab to Studio ($5). Ethel Merman sang "Happy Birthday." And Ivana Trump was there and she came over and when she saw me she was embarra.s.sed and she said, "Oh, whatever happened to those pictures?" and I had this speech in my mind of telling her off, and I was undecided whether to let her have it or not, and she was trying to get away and she did.
Poor Earl Wilson must have had a stroke. He was there and he can hardly walk, he just sort of scratches his feet along the ground, so I guess that's why he's not doing his column so much anymore.
Monday, February 28, 1983 Benjamin picked me up and we tried to feed the big gingerbread house that little Berkeley Reinhold had given me for Christmas to the pigeons in the park. But they didn't like gingerbread and they didn't like candy. And I tried to get rid of some fruitcake, too, and they didn't like that, either, so I feel like just letting them starve. I mean, what do they want? want? They do like nuts though, so maybe I'll bring them some peanuts sometime. Okay, so then we went downtown ($6). They do like nuts though, so maybe I'll bring them some peanuts sometime. Okay, so then we went downtown ($6).
Then met Lidija, worked out, then joined the lunch that was going on for Tom Armstrong, Sandy Brant, David Whitney, and Philip Johnson. They were there to try to talk me into giving the Whitney all my old movies and they'd restore them and catalogue them and show them, but I don't know. Vincent says I have to because these people are friends. But I think maybe we should work ourselves on somehow trying to make them commercial. I told these people that when you describe these movies they always sound better than they actually are, and that if people really saw things like Sleep Sleep and and Eat Eat they'd think they were boring. I also told them that I wouldn't be an easy sell, that Tom Armstrong would have to entertain me at the Knickerbocker Club. Which is what was supposed to be happening, anyway, but Vincent just wanted to get this lunch out of the way fast. So they said sure, and we'll do that, so I guess they think that I'll do it, but I don't know if I actually will or not. I'm deciding. they'd think they were boring. I also told them that I wouldn't be an easy sell, that Tom Armstrong would have to entertain me at the Knickerbocker Club. Which is what was supposed to be happening, anyway, but Vincent just wanted to get this lunch out of the way fast. So they said sure, and we'll do that, so I guess they think that I'll do it, but I don't know if I actually will or not. I'm deciding.
Then I was meeting Paige Powell after that at the Berks.h.i.+re Hotel, the one where the Rolling Stones stayed, because there was a menswear convention there, and she thought it would be a good place to leave Interviews Interviews and try to sell ads. I like Paige (cab $4). It was incredible there- every jacket was the same, every sweater was the same. Five floors of clothes and they were all the same. and try to sell ads. I like Paige (cab $4). It was incredible there- every jacket was the same, every sweater was the same. Five floors of clothes and they were all the same.
Cabbed to to meet Chris and Peter and Maura Moynihan. Then down to the Bottom Line to see Lou Reed (cab $8). And Lou's lyrics you can understand now (drinks $140.08) and the music was really loud. He did a lot of familiar songs but you didn't recognize them, they sounded different. Lou's in A.A. now, and he's also working out, getting definition, getting trim. Chris was trying to clean Maura's fingernails because they were dirty. And she had a spot on her dress that she said she just got but it looked old. I mean, she's Irish. meet Chris and Peter and Maura Moynihan. Then down to the Bottom Line to see Lou Reed (cab $8). And Lou's lyrics you can understand now (drinks $140.08) and the music was really loud. He did a lot of familiar songs but you didn't recognize them, they sounded different. Lou's in A.A. now, and he's also working out, getting definition, getting trim. Chris was trying to clean Maura's fingernails because they were dirty. And she had a spot on her dress that she said she just got but it looked old. I mean, she's Irish.
Wednesday, March 2, 1983 Victor told me he saw Jon at a gay club but I didn't say anything to Jon. And Chris keeps wanting to know if he can collect on the watch that I promised him if Jon would... and I told him no, not yet. [NOTE: Although Jon Gould continued to keep an apartment of his own, he was now living inAndy's house, in the fourth-floor guest room.} [NOTE: Although Jon Gould continued to keep an apartment of his own, he was now living inAndy's house, in the fourth-floor guest room.} And I was worn out from Victor telling me all the gossip about Halston, it made me nervous, about Halston throwing him out of the car and about Liza wearing a YSL. And this is the night I was going to the party for Liza's father at MOMA. And I was worn out from Victor telling me all the gossip about Halston, it made me nervous, about Halston throwing him out of the car and about Liza wearing a YSL. And this is the night I was going to the party for Liza's father at MOMA.
And it was strange, because as Victor was telling me about all these fights with Halston he was screaming at me for not being a close close friend to Halston, accusing me of remaining on the surface and taking the benefits without the responsibility. Which I do do because I just don't want to be that close to Halston because he can really turn on you.
Steve Rubell called while I was talking to Victor and he wanted to go to MOMA with us, and so I told him that Jane Holzer and I first were going to the Claus von Bulow party for Catherine.
Called Victor and he said he was going to MOMA as Mrs. Halston. The new secretary said that Halston wouldn't be providing transportation, so I guess the times are changing.
Thursday, March 3, 1983 How could Tennessee Williams choke on a bottlecap, do you think? How could that happen?
Friday, March 4, 1983 Mrs. Vreeland called for Fred and she was talking in a lower-than-usual voice. I think about her and think what it'll be like, thirty more years of life.
Monday, March 7, 1983 I went to Dr. Silver the pimple doctor (cab $7) and he said I should drink more water, and I will, but I'm not sure I like peeing a lot, because then I'd have to go home more because I don't like to use public bathrooms at all.
Tuesday, March 8, 1983 Jon called from California and said he'd make it on time for the Bette Midler show and he did. At the end she did a serious thing where she broke down and thanked the kids who'd slept in line to get tickets. Jann Wenner was behind me and he said, "What is Bob Colacello doing?" and then he tried to make it sound intriguing that he had lunch with him. I said, "Why don't you hire him?"
The show was over at 11:30 and I was home at 11:45. Didn't go go to the Club A party for Bette. to the Club A party for Bette.
Wednesday, March 9, 1983 Brigid had a fight with the whole office about stealing a grapefruit and then Paige screamed that someone had stolen her scarf.
At 3:30 I went to 35 West 31st Street to a big studio where I was being shot for a commercial for the city for the Brooklyn Bridge. And I guess they got me on the rebound from Woody Allen, because on my dialogue sheet all the lines said "WOODY." The lines were: "That's art," "Perhaps in red," and "A masterpiece."
Thursday, March 10, 1983 At the office the phone rang and they told me it was Henry Post's friend Todd and I got gooseb.u.mps. Somehow I knew what it was. And he told me Henry had died-he got another cyst in his head from the virus that he got from his cat. I may have forgotten to tell the Diary that I called him last week in the hospital and I woke him up, and I felt so bad. I asked him what I could get him and he said nothing, that there was nothing he wanted. He told me he was really weak and had to get off and he said that he didn't know if he was going to make it.
And I begin to wonder if Doc c.o.x is any good. I don't even know if they really check my blood right. Maybe Henry would have been better off with one of those boy-disease specialists.
And Lords of Discipline Lords of Discipline-Paramount's decided not to advertise it anymore because it won't take off. It's just doing okay, $9 million. But then what I don't understand at all is why on Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight they put down the Paramount movie they put down the Paramount movie Lords of Discipline Lords of Discipline when they could just not mention it, since when
Friday, March 11, 1983 Brigid's knitting away, making a replacement for the cashmere Halston scarf that I lost last spring that I loved so much. How is it possible to lose a nine-foot scarf? I still don't know. And Christopher was with me and he didn't see me lose it, either. Nine feet of red scarf and n.o.body noticed.
Sunday, March 13, 1983 Halston called to invite me over to dinner. He's getting so grand, he was saying things about "$3 billion" and "J.C. Penney" and I don't know what it means, except he let things slip about "selling out" and I guess he has has actually sold out and will be having his name on cheap stuff. I guess that's what it's all about and that's what he's worried about, he's not sure he's doing the right thing. actually sold out and will be having his name on cheap stuff. I guess that's what it's all about and that's what he's worried about, he's not sure he's doing the right thing.
I get so nervous with Halston because I don't want to say the wrong thing and get him mad, because he's our tenant in Montauk and I don't want to blow it. He wanted to gossip, but I just said things that I knew were out already.
Monday, March 14, 1983 I went to 47th Street to see Boris who hasn't had anything new in so long, he was crying poor. n.o.body's buying and n.o.body's selling for some strange reason. And no auctions, either.
Rupert called and said Ron Feldman wanted me to come right down to the gallery on Greene Street and sign prints. I said to tell him to f.u.c.k off, that I'd be down when I felt like it. And then Ron called himself and said that he would give me my check if I came down, and then I felt like it. He said he'd send someone for me, because I said I didn't want to go down alone, so Rupert came up in a cab for me-I'd thought he was going to send a limo. So I went down there and Ron took me into his office and said, "And now we're going to talk about sheets and pillowcases." I said, "No. We're not." I said, "Well sonny, I've turned down millions of dollars in deals for sheets and pillowcases and I'm not going to do it for you" you"
I left with Robert who works for Rupert (cab $5).
Tuesday, March 15, 1983 It was a beautiful day. Walked on the street and a little kid, she was six or seven, with another kid, yelled, "Look at the guy with the wig," and I was really embarra.s.sed, I blew my cool and it ruined my afternoon. So I was depressed.
Monday, March 21, 1983 Benjamin walked me over to the Knickerbocker Club where I was having lunch with Tom Armstrong and Sandy Brant who flew up from Florida just for the lunch, and David Whitney and Fred and Vincent. They're all still trying to get my movies for the Whitney Museum, but I haven't said yes yet. I don't want to, but Vincent and Fred are against me.
The Knickerbocker Club is really chic, really rich. I guess I made a mistake saying "c.o.c.k" in the big room because David Whitney almost died, but then he he said "f.u.c.k" about five times. We had drinks in the dining room and then went into our own little dining room. The food was great. We had champagne and that finished me off for the rest of the day. They toasted me, although I haven't given my answer yet (cab $6). said "f.u.c.k" about five times. We had drinks in the dining room and then went into our own little dining room. The food was great. We had champagne and that finished me off for the rest of the day. They toasted me, although I haven't given my answer yet (cab $6).
Interview was moving to the new building, and they were complaining because they had to move in the rain. Seeing was moving to the new building, and they were complaining because they had to move in the rain. Seeing Interview Interview move made me have to face the fact that I'll have to move out of 860 soon, too. But after they left, seeing all that clear empty s.p.a.ce, it was just so beautiful that now I don't want to leave. With all my stuff, I could probably fill up the whole new building. move made me have to face the fact that I'll have to move out of 860 soon, too. But after they left, seeing all that clear empty s.p.a.ce, it was just so beautiful that now I don't want to leave. With all my stuff, I could probably fill up the whole new building.
Wednesday, March 23,1983 It was great having this big empty place now. Like the loft I always wanted. Jennifer is answering the phones at the office because she's on Easter break, and she's mostly sitting on Robyn's lap. We got tickets for the opening of the New Art show at the Whitney, the Biennial. And the show is just like the sixties. And Keith Haring is so big, he flew from j.a.pan to New York for three days and then to Paris. These kids are selling everything-Jean Michel Basquiat's show sold out in Los Angeles.
Friday, March 25, 1983 Princess Pignatelli came down, her husband has 200 photographs of me that he wants me to sign. And I talked to him on the phone and I was talking to a wall. I said, "But they're your your photographs, why do you want me to sign them?" and he'd say, "But they're of you," and I'd say, "But they're your photographs." Two hundred prints. So we left it that way. photographs, why do you want me to sign them?" and he'd say, "But they're of you," and I'd say, "But they're your photographs." Two hundred prints. So we left it that way.
And Ina Ginsburg was there and her son Mark, and she wants the portraits redone and one thing she wants me to change is the color of her hair. And Mark took me aside and said, "It's because it reminds her of the concentration camp. She doesn't want to think of herself as that brown-haired person."
Decided to see The Outsiders The Outsiders which was just opening, and I loved it, it was like watching which was just opening, and I loved it, it was like watching Lonesome Cowboys Lonesome Cowboys. You can't believe it-young boys with dyed hair reading poetry in the sunset. The Sal Mineo type. And then they're in this old church hiding and the boy says, "All I really want you to do is read Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind out loud to me." And all the boys are so cute. And this schmaltzy music playing as if the boys are going to kiss. Things were all cut up so they didn't make sense. It was like seeing Bruce Weber photographs. Every boy was a raving beauty. out loud to me." And all the boys are so cute. And this schmaltzy music playing as if the boys are going to kiss. Things were all cut up so they didn't make sense. It was like seeing Bruce Weber photographs. Every boy was a raving beauty.
Sunday, March 27, 1983 I got a cab to the Whitney in the rain (cab $4, admission $5) to see the Biennial again. And it's sure different from when I used to go in the fifties-then it was small paintings and-now it's -well, it's an interesting show. There were two Frank Stellas, two Jasper Johnses, and then Keith Haring is the only one of the young artists in it that I know. When kids like Ronnie start to paint badly, everybody starts to copy it. It's strange. We were there for about two hours. I only had to sign a couple of autographs (cab $5). It was still raining.
Decided to stay in and watch The Thorn Birds The Thorn Birds. It was sick, all these people trying to make one priest.
Tuesday, March 29, 1983 I'm trying to figure out if these episodes of I Love Lucy I Love Lucy where they go to Europe were done before or after where they go to Europe were done before or after Auntie Mame Auntie Mame. They were about the same time, I think, but I wish I knew which was first.
Oh, the day before Julian Schnabel called and he was in the hospital where his wife just had a baby girl. And he was trying to sound excited. Because everybody really only wants a boy. He already has a girl (supplies $40).
And oh, I love my Enquirer Enquirer gift subscription that someone gave me for Christmas. Everything they say is true. But I have to hide them-I'm not allowed to have them in the house, Jon doesn't like me to read them. gift subscription that someone gave me for Christmas. Everything they say is true. But I have to hide them-I'm not allowed to have them in the house, Jon doesn't like me to read them.
Oh and I don't think I've said yet how odd it was to see Nelson Lyon's name in Time Time a couple of weeks ago. As if he were a real person! a couple of weeks ago. As if he were a real person! (laughs) (laughs) Do you know what I mean? When they talk so importantly about someone you know, it always looks so fake. Geraldine and I were talking about it. She said, "Nelson won't even talk to anybody now that he's been in Do you know what I mean? When they talk so importantly about someone you know, it always looks so fake. Geraldine and I were talking about it. She said, "Nelson won't even talk to anybody now that he's been in Time" Time" He's going to be a key witness in the Belus.h.i.+ death trial-he was with Belus.h.i.+ and De Niro the night Belus.h.i.+ O.D.'d. He's going to be a key witness in the Belus.h.i.+ death trial-he was with Belus.h.i.+ and De Niro the night Belus.h.i.+ O.D.'d.
Wednesday, March 30, 1983 Had a lunch for Susan Sarandon to interview her. She was so great. She's a liberal, from a big family, an ex-hippie, and she talked her head off till 4:00. She's like Viva, but she's intelligent.
Thursday, March 31, 1983 Christopher called from the airport, he was on his way to his photography opening in Was.h.i.+ngton at the Govinda Gallery. He was hoping for cherry blossoms but I don't think they're there yet.
People are on Easter vacation. Stopped at the new building and got Interviews Interviews to pa.s.s out. It was busy, worked at the office. to pa.s.s out. It was busy, worked at the office.
I arm-wrestled with Jay Shriver and he's really strong. We don't know what from. He doesn't work out. I could never beat him, I had to bite his fingers. And he can do one-hand pushups and I can't.
Friday, April 1,1983 I had to meet Miguel Bose (cab $6). He came to be photographed and to work on the video thing. His mother's a famous actress in Spain, and his father's a bullfighter.
He told me that his good friend was Joe MacDonald, so I guess maybe he was trying to tell me something. But when I told him that Joe had AIDS, I think I really told him him something because he looked nervous and scared. something because he looked nervous and scared.
I see that Veronica and Muhammad Ali have split up, and I bet it's because of the big spending habits she learned from her best friend Ronnie Levin because she went shopping all the time with him in Beverly Hills for antiques and Muhammad would get all the bills.
Tuesday, April 5, 1983 Benjamin picked me up and we went over to Columbus Circle to the Coliseum for the Art Expo to do an appearance with the mayor for the signing of the Brooklyn Bridge posters for the city. And it's such a different crowd of people at these things. The photographers they send are different, and the people from Time Time are different-it's just a whole other league. I guess we're just spoiled, more sophisticated, you don't realize these other ways. And everything's so organized, every last move. "Mayor walks in. Mayor sits down. Mayor presents award"-everything is planned out. Henry's not working for the city now, but he was there. Bess Myerson took his place, she's the new cultural affairs commissioner. are different-it's just a whole other league. I guess we're just spoiled, more sophisticated, you don't realize these other ways. And everything's so organized, every last move. "Mayor walks in. Mayor sits down. Mayor presents award"-everything is planned out. Henry's not working for the city now, but he was there. Bess Myerson took his place, she's the new cultural affairs commissioner.
I asked Jon if he wanted to see a screening and he said no, that he was going off to a cla.s.s. I don't know what kind of cla.s.s. He starts them and he drops them. Writing, maybe.
Thursday, April 7, 1983 Jed called. It's the first time in two years I've had a regular conversation with him. He said Keith Richards wants to buy Patti Hansen a ruby and wants to know where to get it appraised, but really, any place might switch a stone on you. The only one I was sure wouldn't is John Reinhold. Because it happened to him in San Antonio-somebody switched a stone in what he'd sold them and then said that he'd done it and so there wouldn't be trouble, he paid. Because you can never prove it. And even the reputable places I think do it. Where it really happens is at auctions. You take it over in a corner and look at it and you can switch it.
Benjamin picked me up and we went over to meet Paige Powell at Dino De Laurentiis's big store on Columbus (cab $3). I told the manager I knew Dino and he took us to the bas.e.m.e.nt and through the kitchen area which is a block long. I asked them what they do with the leftovers and they said they have poorhouses who come and take them. But I would think the employees take most of it. Do you think at the poorhouses they're eating pate de foie gras? pate de foie gras? And there was a lady cutting pasta as if it were a dress, really big. And there was a lady cutting pasta as if it were a dress, really big.
Then we went to Salou florist. Gave an Interview Interview to a cop. Went to Charivari across the street. I was dropped off by Benjamin and Jay ($5). to a cop. Went to Charivari across the street. I was dropped off by Benjamin and Jay ($5).
Met Chris, Peter, and a friend of theirs who raises money for Democratic candidates, he makes a thousand a week doing that. His last candidate lost. He said the wife of the guy would put on her diamonds and her designer dresses to go into the poor neighborhoods because she wanted him to lose-she didn't want to leave town and go to Was.h.i.+ngton. And she would say, "I know how it must hurt all you poor people to see us come down here in our rich clothes..." He said she was nuts. He told me that they have a machine that puts stamps on letters crooked because then you get a better response-more homey.
Monday, April 11,1983 Found out that Joe MacDonald died.
Cornelia was going with her boyfriend Roberto to the Xenon Oscar thing we were hosting together-he's the real estate developer that she goes with who's sweet, the one she went with seven empty suitcases to Milan with and came back with eight filled ones, he bought her everything.
At Xenon Cornelia's brother Alexander came by and so I sat with him and he's really dumb, I think. He's in the jewelry department at Sotheby's. I guess he got the job because they thought with his name he could bring in good estates. I asked him about what I was talking to Jed about the other day-how stones can get switched when people take them over in a corner to look at them, and he said that now they have a machine they put them under after you're done looking and before you take them to make sure they're the same stone.
I hated the awards, Meryl Streep was so cornball, and I couldn't stand Gandhi Gandhi getting everything. I wish I hadn't put my name as a host on this party, though-you just make enemies of people you forget to invite. I got away upstairs and sat with a kid from Germany I'd met. getting everything. I wish I hadn't put my name as a host on this party, though-you just make enemies of people you forget to invite. I got away upstairs and sat with a kid from Germany I'd met.
Tuesday, April 12, 1983 Everyone was calling because the Village Voice Village Voice ran a three-page putdown of my wig. It was a writeup of the Studio 54 party for our TV show. ran a three-page putdown of my wig. It was a writeup of the Studio 54 party for our TV show.
I was being picked up at 4:00 by Ron Feldman and his wife in a limo to go up to the Museum of Natural History for my Endangered Species opening. So they picked me up and she was wearing plastic jewelry, the kind I collected years ago.
Rupert is getting tanner and tanner every day. Instead of working, he's going to the tanning places.
There was a crowd in front of the museum when we got there and I thought it was for me, but they were filming a Disney movie. And then later when we were coming out, the movie people were chasing a big rat that had gotten into one of the actors' trailers.
Originally they were going to have my show in the lobby, but then they put it way back, so you had to go through the rooms of dinosaurs and finally get to this little room where I was. But it looked great, really beautiful. White-framed.
Thursday, April 14, 1983-New York-St. Martin And I started the Isabel Eberstadt novel and the names sounded phony so I only got ten pages into it and I stopped.
Easy ride, arrived (cab $10) in St. Martin at the Hotel La Samanna.
It's the most beautiful place ever. Blue and white. So Jon, Chris, Peter, and I had a house, Villa "M," and checked in and ordered pina coladas. I applied sun block and left it on the whole time. Dinner at the hotel was really grand overlooking the balcony. You feel like a tourist the first day, but then other people arrive after you and you feel like a veteran. Peter Martins the dancer was there, he said hi (dinner $214.45).
Friday, April 15, 1983-St. Martin The most beautiful day in the world. Photographed all day.
Sat.u.r.day, April 16, 1983-St. Martin It was a raving day. Blue sky and blue sea. Chris and Peter and Jon went snorkeling. I walked to a wrecked s.h.i.+p and took pictures.
I finished White Mischief White Mischief, it was about Kenya in the forties and the English colonial swingers who were the Peter Beards of their day, living there and being rich and wife-swapping. The woman wasn't beautiful, though-she was (laughs) (laughs) a blonde who wore lipstick in Africa. You know? a blonde who wore lipstick in Africa. You know?
After dinner we went to a gambling casino and started with $10 and Jon won some money and I made him stop, I told him it was better to leave with a few pennies in your pocket.
And I don't know, I don't know how I could be friends with Christopher. He's just like this aunt I had in Pittsburgh who I never wanted to see who was always touching everything and had too much energy. The wife of my uncle, my father's brother. She just drove me crazy. And Chris is like that, always touching everything. But he is there if you need him and he does organize things, which is so much work in itself.
You know, I was thinking lately about my nice aunt, my mother's sister, and something that happened to me at her house once-she always gave me pennies for candy and so I used to like to visit her, she was good to me, she lived in a house on the North Side. And one day I remember she had a lady over who had no teeth and the lady was eating a bowl of soup and she didn't finish it, and my aunt gave it to me and made me finish it, I guess because she had no money and didn't want to waste food...
Oh, and something funny about La Samanna! Outside were all these beautiful red flowers on the bushes and then we looked close and saw that they were taped on! taped on! They were real flowers, but taped on. They were real flowers, but taped on.
Sunday, April 17, 1983-St. Martin-New York There was a fight at the Villa M between Chris and Jon and then Jon screamed at Chris, "I could have your job!" meaning he could snap his fingers and turn me against Chris and it made everybody feel odd.
Had to pay a tax to get off the island (4 x $5 = $20). St. Martin was half French and half Dutch and the French half was cleaner.
Tuesday, April 19, 1983 Nona Summers called inviting me again to the dinner she was giving at Regine's that night. Maura met me there and she told me that Page Six had asked her if I was sick. And I was shocked. I said, "Well, tell them I'm not! You know I'm not! You can see see I'm not!" And I know they meant AIDS and it was too scary, and she said, "Oh they just meant flu." But I'm sure they didn't. And then Marsia Trinder was there and she's finally married to Lenny Holzer, and she said, "Oh don't get near me, I just had a baby." I said, "Marsia, you know, I mean..." I'm not!" And I know they meant AIDS and it was too scary, and she said, "Oh they just meant flu." But I'm sure they didn't. And then Marsia Trinder was there and she's finally married to Lenny Holzer, and she said, "Oh don't get near me, I just had a baby." I said, "Marsia, you know, I mean..."
Wednesday, April 20, 1983 After asking Alexander Guest the other week how they make sure stones don't get switched at the auction house, I pick up the Post Post and it's a big front-page thing: "500G Diamond Stolen in Auction Switcheroo." So I'm half expecting the police to come and question me about why I was pumping Alexander for information. And what happened was someone painted a regular diamond with clear pink nail polish and switched it for the expensive pink one. and it's a big front-page thing: "500G Diamond Stolen in Auction Switcheroo." So I'm half expecting the police to come and question me about why I was pumping Alexander for information. And what happened was someone painted a regular diamond with clear pink nail polish and switched it for the expensive pink one.
Oh, and I look so bad I need a facelift. Makeup doesn't do it, you still see the sunken cheeks and the neck-you can't hide the neck even with a turtleneck.
The Debbie Harry wrestling play Teaneck Tanzi Teaneck Tanzi was at 6:45. I invited John O'Connor from was at 6:45. I invited John O'Connor from Interview Interview and then Gael Love called up and said that he could not and then Gael Love called up and said that he could not go go anywhere with me because he had to go to the anywhere with me because he had to go to the Interview Interview party at Reginette's. She was really trying to push me around, she said, "And I want party at Reginette's. She was really trying to push me around, she said, "And I want you you there, too." I said, "Oh fine, Gael, sure." Gael is so pushy now, Bob must have really kept her down. there, too." I said, "Oh fine, Gael, sure." Gael is so pushy now, Bob must have really kept her down.
Monday, April 25, 1983 The new issue of Interview Interview with Chris Atkins on the cover really is a great issue. Steve Aronson's column is really good. We're paying him a lot but it's the best writing we've had yet. with Chris Atkins on the cover really is a great issue. Steve Aronson's column is really good. We're paying him a lot but it's the best writing we've had yet.
In the magazine section of the Sunday Times Times it was all the new young Italian painters and it looks like America is really out. I'm going to have a hard time now not getting put down. it was all the new young Italian painters and it looks like America is really out. I'm going to have a hard time now not getting put down.
Thursday, April 28, 1983 Cabbed to the Perry Ellis fas.h.i.+on show ($5.50) and right as we walked in we ran smack in to Bob Colacello. And he was very pleasant. So pleasant, and that was nice. He just got a job with Parade Parade, that Sunday supplement for newspapers.
Friday, April 29, 1983 Went to Si Newhouse's on 70th off Lexington, and everybody from the art past was there- Jasper and Roy and Leo-and it was so nutty, I couldn't take it, I got nervous and depressed and left before eating.
Sunday, May 1, 1983 Edies on the sides of the buses. The ads for the paperback. Poor Edie-when she went out she'd never even take a cab, it had to be a limo, and now they've got her on the bus. on the sides of the buses. The ads for the paperback. Poor Edie-when she went out she'd never even take a cab, it had to be a limo, and now they've got her on the bus.
Monday, May 2, 1983 Fred's going to California soon for when Mrs. Vreeland gets the Rodeo Drive award.
And I forgot to say that at the Newhouses' the other night before I got freaked out and left, Jasper and I talked and he was really nice, he said he had a house on St. Martin and when I said I'd just been there he said his house was right next to La Semana and that I could stay there anytime I wanted.