A TV appearance, a department store event and a highly publicized restaurant opening: as the city's most conspicuous reporter, Willie Brown definitely makes his way around town. According to Friday tradition around here, here are the highlights from Willie's week, as told by Willie himself:
Willie may have been a little stern with the President in front of Chris Matthews yesterday (the show is called Hardball, after all), but last Sunday Willie was calling Obama's Jobs speech "a grand slam home run". The President's language, he says, "was straight from the bus, riding with Joe Six-Pack and the maids from The Help."
Willie himself, on the other hand, is dangerously close to losing his cred with Joe Six-Pack, and the rest of his weekly musings were dedicated to the usual opulent moments of post-mayoral life. At the Symphony Gala, Willie noticed the Stanlee Gotti decorations and food by McCalls, which he seems to think was very stimulating for the economy. He also thinks the dresses at the gala "were worth every nickel of their overpriced cost." Oh well, no one ever said he was an economist.
But as a reporter, Willie is slipping on his disclosures as well: He mentions Tommy Toy's (yet again), pointing out that "Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was there the other night with a party of 20." Of course he was, Willie. Because it was your party.
Regarding public financing for the current mayoral campaign: Willie seems OK with it, but he thinks the taxpayers should get back any surplus that the candidates do not spend. Unless of course, that campaign money was spent purchasing a Tuxedo from Willie pal Wilkes Bashford. In which case, it was a necessary expenditure.
Speaking of fancy clothes, Willie spoke at a Fashion Night Out Event at the Union Square Macy's. Sadly, we didn't spot any overlap with Real Housewife Sonja Morgan.
Finally in his review of Park Tavern, Willie seems impressed with what owner Anna Weinberg has done with the old Moose's/Washington Square Grill. He was not, however, impressed that the menu said "poulet" instead of "chicken", but that quickly faded when he saw the presentation. So enamored with this bird, Willie dedicated three paragraphs to the way it stood on the plate headless, "like the Statue of Liberty without the crown." (OK, but does it have a torch, we wonder?) The only problem with it is that you just ordered a whole chicken. And everyone in the restaurant is looking at you. And now you have to eat it.
