The Landwehr Report

June 13, 2006

I must compliment Le Cirque's proprietor Sirio Maccioni, on his artistry, that he did not find it difficult to prepare classic hors d'oeuvres on opening night May 18th, 2006 for over 1500 very high-profile loyalists, many of them A-listers. In one fell- swoop he gave them an advance peek into his elegant new $18 million rendezvous now on East 58th Street.

Everything went precisely as planned, except the imposed curfew, which was abandoned. In short, it's Sirio's third epic opus and his way of welcoming back the old crowd, who came to inspect the smaller, more exclusive Le Cirque which, incidentally, officially opens to the public following Memorial Day weekend.

Perhaps Manhattan's most eye-catching, neoteric restaurant, Le Cirque occupies a space in the new Bloomberg Building found at 151 East 58 Street. A handsome circus motif abounds amidst Le Circue's sole main dining arena. Here everyone can clearly see and be seen. Adam D. Tihany's exciting decor is fiercely lush modernism. Suspended from the towering ceiling overhead is a characteristic albeit scintillating fabric circus tent. Chairs and banquettes are executed in plush leather, backed by blue and gold striped velour. Walls are imposingly embroidered in burnished ebony and the dining room in general, is drenched in soft mellow radiance The inviting bar, lounge and Cafe have their very own entrance on East 58th Street.

Among the long laundry list of attending movers and shakers, the high-and-mighty, columnists and actors, celebrities and just good old rich folk. Assembled were such glitteri as Cindy Adams and her expected contingent of devotee's, bright eyed Joan Rivers, Rex Reed, Bill Cosby, Cardinal Egan, Woody Allen and wife, Martha Stewart, Mr. & Mrs. Walter Cronkite, Sue Simmons, Tony Bennott , Billy Joel, Montel Williams, Liz Smith, ex-mayor Ed Koch, Chuck Scarborough, Daniel Boulud , Bill Boggs, Drew Nierporent , Neil and Leba Sedaka , Marty Richards, Denise Rich and Armand Assante , Liz Smith and countless other rich and famous faces.