Downtown!

Hello folks.

As a lot of you already know I used to be a restaurant consultant, so I try to go to a lot of the city's top restaurants on the show. Being a consultant entailed finding spaces, developing the restaurant's decor, wine list, menu, and finding the influential, international power set and celeb client list. I threw a lot of opening parties, and flew all over the nation promoting different restaurants, hotels, and then luxury brands at different stages. I really enjoyed doing this and being the "straw that stirs the drink" as John F. Mariani said in 1991. There was nothing better. Actually -- better was when I was at Donald Trump's wedding to Marla Maples at The Plaza and he told Sirio Maccioni of Le Circ, the legendary restaurant in NYC, "Sonja is the glue!" Those were fun pre-marriage, jet setting times. Whhheeeee!

Nothing makes me happier than putting people or deals together and matchmaking -- taking the weight off peoples shoulders for a few moments. While at FIT (the Fashion Institute of Technology), I did some modeling on the side and was working at Tavern on the Green and Charivari with Marc Jacobs (modeled for him too!). Charivari was the hottest high fashion boutique chain in NYC. It was a great experience for the life I was meant to lead and learn. After FIT, I was the manager of a high fashion boutique, Arlequin, and won the Olgivy and Mather award for Top 10 Marketing Savvy Retailers. I then took off to Europe again to model after the market crashed in the late '80s. I got into the restaurant biz when I got back from Europe the second time around at the advice of Bice, in Milan. I was a great gig for me.

One of the restaurants I frequented then and now is Le Charlot. I was introduced to several good restaurants by my dear old friend Eric Clapton. Boy did we have a great time. I loved having the time to lunch with Countess LuAnn de Lesseps at Le Charlot in this episode's first scene. We are both extremely busy with our lives and business, so this was the perfect opportunity to be together at a place I call home and they graciously agreed to have us. No small feat with the restaurants I fancy! Four Seasons, Carravagio, Cipriani, and San Pietro. These restaurants have a powerful clientele that supports the rent. So thanks to them we get an inside peak.

Le Charlot has a cool hip European crowd but it is very family oriented with lots of kids on the weekends! I enjoyed discussing our co-hosted trip with LuAnn. She is not judgmental of me and knows how to be in the moment with me. I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is short. We get each other, and we both like to travel. If I were to be stuck in New York, I would be miserable. I love NYC but it's not enough. I look forward to spending more time with LuAnn and getting to know her even better. Her children are precious, humble, and gracious. She is a terrific mom and her boyfriend is fun to be with!

Why is Kelly worried about me in Morocco? I was by her side in St. John until she went to bed, and supported her then and continue to now. This is why I set up the toaster oven cooking lesson with her kids and mine -- to break the ice with Ramona. I know Kelly will take time to get to know me and trust me, even though I have friends of 20 years who have told her that I am tried and true. Cut me some slack, and I cut you a lot of slack. I try not to be judgmental. Please don't be so judgmental of Ramona.

Ramona and Jill's relationship has a life of its own. Why is LuAnn getting involved? Did Jill ask her to? Jill doesn't need any protection when it comes to Ramona. Whether they are dishing it or taking it, I have full confidence in these girls handling themselves after all these years of "give and take!" I feel LuAnn's making matters worse in this situation even though her heart is in it for Jill.

OK, how cute is Brian Marcus? He is an accomplished photographer who comes from a family of photographers. "Let's go upstairs and do the rest!" I'm laughing my arse off. Does anyone out there get my dry sense of humor? My double entendre? That I laugh at myself and kid you at the same time? I fancy myself as a comedian a la Babs meets Jean Harlow, if you will allow it. I idolize Carole Lambert. Pie in her face and yet she maintained her elegance. Fall off the horse and get back up and keep going!

How funny is stylist David Evangelista? Do you remember my longtime friend from the Rosie O'Donnell show? He fell up my stairs. Dying of laughter. Love him. Such a diva!! Grand Maaaarshalllll! He was there before my marriage and after my divorce to support me as a divine hairdresser, makeup artist, and confidante. I love my gay posse of dear friends who for decades know, love and support me as I am. God bless them!

BTW my toaster oven cookbook is also a lifestyle book. I need the cover shots and the inside headshot to express the ironic contradiction of Sonja Morgan, the film producer, award winning boutique manager, restaurant ambassador, philanthropist, who is still kitschy enough to cook in a toaster oven while being glamorous.

I do have a deal offer for my books. Where does Kelly get her info? From the wrong people! I couldn't decide which publisher to go with on this book and my many book ideas and screenplays. There are only so many hours in the day, and I have to pick and choose how I spend my time. I also have to keep my best times for my daughter after school and our weekends. NO book can take that away from us. But I do promise to share the recipes and will probably print the toaster over cook book sooooooon!

Now to the lady bits comment. Kelly really is a "boy who cried wolf" too many times now. How are we to believe a model who has done six to seven changes backstage during 15-minute runway shows and numerous photo shoots (including Playboy) has always worn panties? With those horrid panty lines? Unheard of! That she never saw another woman's "downtown"? Puhleess! If you believe that, then you believe she never had a one-night stand. I was a model, I was in a gown. It was a photo shoot with professionals. No one wears panties. My legs were neeeever open. Even with the suggestion of "criss-cross," why is she so judgmental and critical at times? I invited her as a friend. Constructive criticism is one thing, but this was quite another. I feel Kelly's pain, and I plan to get to the bottom of it if she still wants me as a friend. The pictures for the book came out very well. Thank you very much everyone, including Kelly.

Ramona again! Diva b---h? I love that!! Admitting to a pecking order. LOL What is a diva? Seriously acting like a diva and being one are two different things. This is NYC and if you watch the show and want to really know how it is, there is a pecking order. When someone introduces you to a clique, you do not throw them under the bus and call them crazy when they have always been exactly the way they are. Use them? Then toss them aside? I don't think this is karma that will work for you. When you start a new job, you do not diss the boss of 20 years because you will get fired. Not everyone gets a reservation in the hot restaurant. You must pay your dues. Like it or not there is a pecking order. Pull your own weight. Get it or get out of the game. Ask me and I will tell you the truth.

I loved seeing Jill and Cindy bonding in the back seat while Kelly and LuAnn were sharing. So nice. I love to see real relationships building.

I've been to Canyon Ranch. It is so wonderful. I go to the one in Arizona and the one in the Berkshires every once in a while. I went much more in the past when my budget allowed. My favorite now is the New Age in Neversink, NY. It's a down-to-earth yoga retreat that is a little more spiritual and low key, with juice fasting and colonics. Bethenny goes there too. If we ever get a minute, we will go together. It's a flash to the past, but it works, so I go every two months to remember what is important to me and to ground myself. I usually go with my beloved sister.

Ramona I agree, if you know something great, share it! That would be Dr Sharon Giese. Alex doesn't do anything cosmetically, but I think she should. She is young, but you have to prepare for the future even if you have good genes. I love the heat machine. Everyone should try it.

Anyhoooo, the older I get the more I understand confidence is sexier than a perfect body, a tiny heiny, a skinny model, or a woman who shuts up or puts up. Power to the confident woman who knows she's a true partner and there is a good man out there. Meowwwww!

Why is Kelly afraid of Ramona? I feel bad.

Kelly light-hearted? When they wrote these papers I almost fell off my seat. Kelly is heavy-hearted and takes things very seriously. I feel her pain. Why are her friends in denial? Kelly realizes she is not light-hearted. Don't brush it under the rug.

Ally Zarin is so lovely and you feel the love coming off her. I always enjoy being with her.

Alex, our Ambassador says, "As little in the middle as possible." Love it! That is my new motto!! Even as an ice breaker, I want to be as little in the middle as possible. I like to start and finish the fun.

So nice that Ramona brought pinot grigio and donated her time to Jill's charity. I didn't go because l am up to my neck in my own charity work and my business and just maintaining my home and taking care of my family. Ramona said, "Let's not discuss our situation now Jill". That was great. . .because it was about the charity. I loved Jill's stepdaughter, her self esteem, and what Ramona said about her courage. I was feeling the empowerment and the love.

Ramona brought the wine to donate to the event. Notice it was the only wine on the table. No red. No champagne. No cocktails, and apparently no servers because Ramona had to go get the wine, the glasses, serve and pick up the dirties. Luckily I didn't need Ramona to do this at my Masquerade Ball because, though were 50 people, we had plenty of servers (gorgeous servers, I might add) and delicious food and cocktails of every type you could want. But if I needed Ramona she would have pulled up her sleeves, not complained, and had a ball doing it.

Thank you for reading my blog and watching our show. I posted some toaster oven recipes and some floral arrangements on my website blog.

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