New York Diary

Gayfryd of the jury; a civil war in Ivana's camp; the deception of Arthur Liman; voyages to Italy

FScott Fitzgerald, were he still observing Manhattan's social swim, might be the only one to think that Gayfryd Steinberg is different from you and me. To the rest of us, she's a regular gal who still rides the subway. Sometimes she even fulfills her civic duty, as when she served time recently in Manhattan Criminal Court. Steinberg was one of 12 called upon to decide the fate of a young African-American male accused of robbery on the No. 6 I.R.T. Judge Martin Rettinger didn't recognize the socialite in his courtroom until his law clerk pointed her out; neither prosecutor Barbara Bachmann nor defense attorney Steven Bartley identified her at first. (Two who did finger Steinberg immediately; alternate juror Brian Murphy, a decorator at Parrish-Hadley, and court reporter Thomas Dudek.) Bartley asked all potential jurors if they rode the subway and if they had encounters with young African-Americans on a daily basis. Steinberg answered yes to both questions. Bartley says that she struck him as "a fair and impartial person," albeit one with better than average grooming and couture. The first day, she wore a skirt, but after that she showed up in pantsuits, carrying a brown alligator purse and a Canyon Ranch bag. "We honestly thought she was a defendant's juror," says Bartley, who was disappointed when the panel came in with a conviction. Sentencing was set for December 8. Bartley, who still insists his client was a victim of mistaken identity, plans to appeal.

Entrapping Arthur Liman

Since Ellen Liman had thrown a surprise birthday party when her husband, former Iran-contra prosecutor Arthur Liman, turned 55, keeping his 60th a secret was a challenge. Key to her plan was the New-York Historical Society, where the Limans' collection of Victorian board games is on display till January 3. Ellen told her husband that the exhibition's opening party would be on Friday, November 6, just one day after his birthday. So when financier Dick Jenrette told Arthur Liman, "I'm sorry I can't make it on Friday," Liman assumed he was talking about the opening. Author and radio personality Joan Hamburg, Liman's cousin, called on his actual birthday. "He was a little unnerved at the prospect of turning 60, when the president is 15 years younger," she reports. That night, they were meeting at a family party that Arthur had assumed would be for him. But—surprise!—it was for his sister-in-law. Friday evening an unsuspecting Liman walked into the Historical Society on Central Park West, only to be surrounded by his family and friends. The theme was "A Return to Childhood," with balloons and party hats and paper plates decorated with clowns. There was a Sabrett's hot-dog cart, a popcorn wagon, and a huge brownie for the birthday cake. Congressman Charles Schumer spoke, as did a very funny Ted Sorensen. But was Liman really surprised? "He was shocked," reports a proud Ellen. "I was the most shocked that he didn't know."

You Got to Have Friends

Here's a new one: friendship therapy. New Age spiritualist Marianne Williamson and producer Howard Rosenman saw an analyst to work out their friendship problems. Their fight, over how to run their AIDS charity, Project Angel Food, culminated in a bitter exchange in Williamson's Peugeot. Rosenman jumped out of the car and walked home, and the two stopped speaking for a year. Their rapprochement began this summer; a few sessions in the safety of psychologist Ron Gelb's office was all they needed for a return to friendship. "It sounds like a Hollywood thing," says Rosenman, "but I think it works."

Payment Still Due

Unpaid bills tend to snowball, but they're turning into a virtual avalanche for those associated with Ivana's divorce. First came word that the private investigative firm hired by Ivana had to go to court to get its money (she'd paid only $75,000 of the $308,000 bill). Now it seems that some who didn't go to court are still owed money. Michael Kennedy, who was ballyhooed as Ivana's pro bono lawyer, reportedly became embroiled in a dispute over money: Kennedy charged $1 million but has been paid only $600,000 to date, sources say. (Kennedy himself won't discuss the matter, but attorneys Robert Stephan Cohen and Ira Garr have handled Ivana's subsequent cases.) P.R. man John Scanlon, who guided Ivana through the blizzard of headlines, gave her a discount, charging $ 10,000 for his personal services and $30,000 for work done by his then firm, Daniel J. Edelman. So far, only Scanlon's $10,000 has been paid. Enmity has developed between Scanlon and Kennedy over the unpaid fee. Scanlon billed Kennedy directly because Kennedy hired him, according to one insider. Scanlon's take on Kennedy: "It's not a feud. I just don't talk to him, because I think he's behaved dishonorably."

And...

. . . More signs that high-end real estate is coming back: Leonard Stern has just sold the last of his four homes on Southampton's Meadow Lane. Stern built the complex (in a joint venture with local contractor Barbara Langman) as an investment in 1990. Initially offered at $6.25 to $11 million, the homes were reduced to $4.2 to $8.9 million. The largest one just went for around $8 million. "I found a rich man," says Stern with a laugh. The buyer, fellow billionaire David Koch, promises to toss "a rather memorable housewarming party."

. . . Enchanted April came six months late for a number of New Yorkers this year. Henry and Louise Grunwald rented a villa in Tuscany and invited Mark and Duane Hampton to visit. Meanwhile, Ken Auletta and Amanda "Binky" Urban drove a car from Rome to Venice, staying each night in a different inn. Felix and Elizabeth Rohatyn spent a few days in Venice after business called him to Italy. Bill and Pat Buckley luxuriated at the Villa San Michele, a monastery turned castle turned hotel near Florence, where the National Review Institute hosted a seminar with Margaret Thatcher, proving once again that Republicans are more excited by foreign policy than anything domestic.

DEBORAH MITCHELL