Mike Tyson

‘Taking on Tyson’, a TV programme on Animal Planet, is to show Mike Tyson challenging a number of experienced pigeon racers in New York.

Think this is a bit odd? Us too!

Apparently the former heavyweight boxer is actually a big fan of the sport, having reared the birds for most of his adult life.

He’s set to get some serious training from experts before he takes on the pro’s in the show, but apparently he should keep on his toes as the TV station say that the sport is “an intensely competitive and bizarrely fascinating world”.

It sounds like it could be a weirdly addictive programme and I’m sure curiosity will get the better of me, especially after Tyson gave us a glimpse of his wicked sense of humour in his cameo in The Hangover last year.

Look out for the show early next year.

Click here for more GOSSIP…

Matt Damon

Run Matt Run…

Those pesky paps are always hot on the heels of our favourite celebs.

Have a look at Matt Damon, he was enjoying dinner with wife Luciana Barroso and friends at Da Silvano in New York.

When leaving the restaurant he spotted the waiting paps and made a run for it, er Matt you can stop running – I think they caught you already.

Adryanna Dillon

This city is full of girls chasing Carrie Bradshaw’s fantasy life. And I thought it was all quite whimsy too, until I met a Russian of my own. Last week, one of Carrie’s dreamy, love escapades became my reality at a party I attended in the Meatpacking District.

On Tuesday, I went to dinner with my friend Liz at Fig & Olive (a restaurant visited by Whitney Port on an episode of “The City”.) The Meatpacking District is chock full of shopping – DVF, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Trina Turk, Missoni, Jeffrey, and on and on and on – and celeb-packed nightspots. (In fact, I walked for two blocks behind Batman actor Aaron Eckhart armed with a Whole Foods grocery bag and those adorable dimples.)

After my fun on Tuesday night, an invite to a private party in the area that Thursday gave me a perfect excuse to go back. I had just walked in to the party in a shimmering high-waisted purple pencil skirt, when a cute waiter with an accent asked me if I would like another glass of wine. “Of course,” I said. And as he handed me my glass, I asked him my own question. “Where are you from?” “Russia,” he answered.

Now this Russian wasn’t quite Carrie’s Russian. Far from Mikhail Baryshnikov, he was tall and didn’t seem overly righteous. He was working so we couldn’t chat too long, but throughout the night I did find out that he has lived in New York for three years, wants to study architecture and like Carrie’s Russian he’s an artist. Before I left, we exchanged numbers. I headed home assuming that I wouldn’t hear from him again.

Carrie & her own Russian

But to my surprise, on Friday, he invited me to a movie on a rooftop on the Lower East Side. It was a super cute first date, and I definitely wanted to see him again. Then a couple days later, he invited me to see an art exhibition at the members-only National Arts Club. The scene – chic, the art – lovely, and the champagne – duh! I even danced the Foxtrot with one of the many Mikhail Baryshnikov look-a-likes there.

I couldn’t believe that our second date was going this well. Then, the Russian told me that I looked like Anthony Hopkins. Read it again. No joke. ANTHONY HOPKINS?!

All I could think was Hannibal Lecter. His words dumbfounded me. Speechless, I couldn’t have walked faster to my door. He apologized, but in my mind there’s no way that remark can be lost in translation. Maybe I overreacted a bit, but I saw how Carrie’s romance with the Russian ended. Now I know basing my decision on Carrie’s contradicts my jab at all the SJP wannabes, but the longer I’m here, the more I realize that in this town where anything can happen – including being told you look like Anthony Hopkins – Pass me a glass of Chianti someone!

Gerard Butler

Yet another celebrity bad boy bites the dust. First Kiefer and now Gerard Butler has been charged with criminal battery. Gerard is accused of punching a paparazzo in the face as he was getting into his limo outside the Crown Bar in Los Angeles at 2am on October 7 2008. Butler had been celebrating the premiere of Guy Ritchie’s film ‘RocknRolla‘, in which he starred. Los Angeles City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan confirmed the charges related to an “altercation with a photographer”. Butler’s manager Alan Siegel said the actor asked his driver to stop the car after the photographer repeatedly sped through red lights and almost hit two pedestrians while pursuing them. When his chauffeur pulled over, Butler allegedly got out of the car and confronted the photographer. If he is found guilty, he could spend up to six months in jail and be forced to pay a $2,000 fine.

Madonna & Jesus

Can this really be happening? We can hardly believe it ourselves, but apparently Madonna is marrying her toyboy Jesus this weekend…well according to his father that is. Right well, now you’ve had a minute to compose yourself, let us tell you, the ceremony will come in the form of a Kabbalah blessing, so sadly they’ll be no big meringue dress. Luiz Heitor Pinto da Luz said: ‘He is very happy and this ceremony would just confirm that.’ Talking to Brazil’s Quem magazine, he went on to say: ‘My understanding is that this is just a consequence of what is happening. He is already living with her. I don’t know if there will be an actual wedding. From what I have read there could be a sort of ritual, but I don’t know Kabbalah… to know if it’s valid and legal.’ The two are already currently living together in New York, and he accompanied her to the Met Gala Ball.

Click here for more gossip.

Jessica Alba

Does this girl ever look bad? God it is frustrating, here is Jessica Alba on her way to a hair appointment in Melrose.

Looking laid back in an oversized vest and leggings, just check out that electric blue arm candy. We want it now.

We hear Jessica is all ready to swap her LA life with NY, although she looks pretty content here.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell who currently has homes in New York and London is now considering moving to Russia – she is said to be considering relocating to Moscow to spend more time with her billionaire boyfriend Vladislav Doronin. A source said: “Naomi and Vladislav are inseparable and she has been spending more and more time in Moscow.

“He is building a new place there and wants it to be their new home. Naomi is ready to settle down and is completely in love with him.” Naomi and Vladislav – who is nicknamed the ‘Donald Trump of Russia’ in his home country – began dating last year.

Last August, it was reported the businessman was so smitten with Naomi he splashed out on a $18.5 million penthouse apartment for her in Brazil. A source said at the time: “Naomi told Vladislav how much she loved Brazil and that she really wanted to settle down there. So he bought her the apartment, and said it was a gift for her. They will use it as their base when they are in Brazil together.”

Nothing silly about this supermodel, eh?!

Russell Crowe

Don’t you just love it when celebs try to go incognito? 

A low-key Russell Crowe walks around New York’s Upper West Side.

Earth to Russell, don’t you think the sweatshirt is a bit of a giveaway?

Still I have to say I wouldn’t have recognised him here,‏ mission accomplished Russell.

SATC girls at Soho House

It no longer wants to be a place where bankers flock to drink and flirt. Financiers were notified by the club that their membership would not be renewed as it was returning to its “artsy” roots. Soho House US operations director Mark Somen told the NY Post, “We recently celebrated our fifth anniversary and want to make sure we are staying true to our creative roots. We are not pinpointing specific industries, but want to make sure that our members are great creative types. In addition, members who are not respecting the House or our staff are not likely to have their memberships renewed. We are happy to have less members, and if the place is not so busy, that’s totally fine.”

Meanwhile, Somen is returning to his native Kenya to run a new hotel, Tribe. Laurent Fraticelli, formerly with Andre Balazs, is replacing him

Happy Birthday Barbie

This little lady is still fab at 50, despite managing to run for president, a few law suits here and there and a host of career changes, all without a wrinkle in sight. Today marks Barbie’s 50th birthday, Barbie Millicent Roberts was first introduced to the world in 1959 at the New York Toy Fair. This little lady has continued to delight children and adults alike across the globe with her unique sense of style.

Parties will be taking place across the world to mark the occasion, and the world’s first store dedicated to the doll has been opened in Shanghai.

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Take a Break

After all your hard saving and stringent cut backs it is time to reward yourself…how about taking a break? Have a look at our top holidaying tips.

BIG REWARD
So, now that you’ve figured out how to keep as much as $6300 in your purse or ‘murse’, look at what you can afford to do with the money. The truly sensible among you will put that money into a savings account or 401K. Just in case the tiny strand that’s holding the financial Sword of Damacles above your head should give way. But the point of those sacrifices was to allow you to ride out the misery of 2009, and come out of it smiling. Enrich your life with some memorable experiences, so you can weather the storm with a smile.

Spa Weekend
Think you can’t afford a luxury spa weekend? Think again. The Calistoga Ranch in Napa is definitely no Motel 6. If you hadn’t made a few sacrifices, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was out of your reach. Set in 157 acres of native Oak trees, in a private canyon in the Upper Napa Valley, The Calistoga Ranch is the ne plus ultra  of spa resorts. Natural, stone walls support hefty timber beams in a modern but warm and luxurious architectural composition that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces.

Calistoga Bathhouse Hot Tub

This is Napa after all, so it’s all about communing with nature, but there’s no roughing it here. The private restaurant makes the best possible use of Napa’s fine food and wine traditions, while the range of spa treatments on offer, (fancy a mud wrap, followed by a buttermilk bath?) might make you wonder “Do I deserve such riches?” Well, yes you do. Anyone who’s foregone caffeine for a year without bludgeoning a co-worker to death, has earned a luxury break like this. Your friends can warm their hands round another latte while you simmer in one of Calistoga’s bubbling outdoor spas. You’ll go back to work feeling refreshed and very fortunate. Call ahead and find out what packages they’re offering, and you could save up to twenty percent.
www.calistogaranch.com

La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla

Beach Break
Your commitment to virtue might not allow you to skip off to the Seychelles for two weeks, but we have plenty of great beach hotels here in Southern California. Cut out the hideous air travel, as well as the plane ticket, and treat yourself to a romantic getaway for two, or a rejuvenating rest for one, at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. This beautiful old hotel is a La Jolla landmark with its iconic mosaic tiled tower and pink stucco exterior, in the heart of La Jolla Village, and a stone’s throw from La Jolla Cove.  The charm continues inside with antique furnishings, and a wonderful restaurant, the Sky Room, perched on the 10th floor, with stunning ocean views. La Jolla itself is a charming village, with great dining and shopping, and those golden beaches are always at hand for daytime swims and sunset walks.

www.lavalencia.com

If you want some Big City treats with your beach break, there’s the sophistication of the Casa Del Mar, in Santa Monica. Truly a Grand Dame of a hotel, its seafront location is unrivalled. The sun setting behind the pier is best viewed from the hotel’s Verandah Lounge. Where you can enjoy a cocktail before a short walk to the bright lights of the city of Santa Monica. There are innumerable choices of restaurants and bars, great shopping, from 3rd St Promenade to Montana Avenue. Venice Beach is a mere hop away, with its eclectic shopping and entertainment. You could even rent a bike and cycle there along the boardwalk. After all that, you’ve earned a massage in the hotels newly renovated spa. All this for mowing your own lawn?
www.hotelcasadelmar.com

Big Apple Weekend
Nowhere in the US compares to New York for its mix of arts, culture, shopping and energy. The number of hotel