My Faves, Part VIII: A series in which I randomly mention things that I love when I happen to find great pics on internet.

Dr. Axel Munthe wrote a book called The Story of San Michele, which happens to have been one of my grandmother’s favorite books back in the day. Dr. Munthe completely lost his eyesight for a time, and then regained it after an operation. And he ended up living, I think at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. In any case, when I was visiting the Royal Libraries in Stockholm, they showed me a copy of The Story of San Michele signed by Munthe, in Swedish, “To the King.” His handwriting was pretty sketchy at that point, and it was apparently not so appropriate to call the King “Kungen.” It ought to have been His Royal Highness, so the Royal librarian thought it was amusing that he was so far gone. I later found a copy at a flea market and it sat on my shelf for some decades. And then maybe six years ago, I finally read it. And it is THE MOST extraordinary story. He was a Swedish psychiatrist and he moved to Paris and was very tall and handsome and all of the society ladies were hiring him to cure their “nerves.” And I think when he’d try to quit, they’d just increase what they were paying him, and he became fairly rich. He also ended up marrying a Brit woman with a title and a few sensational estates of her own in GB. And he built a great house for her in Sweden. And he bought this land in Capri. I’m sure those who visit Capri know this story far better than myself. But I believe the land he snatched up had previously been owned by Emperor Tiberius. And they consequently dug up a great number of beautiful ancient statues. And he built a beautiful villa trying to recreate what had once been there. And he also worked to save the birds that migrated to the island. He was friends with Henry James who encouraged him to write his extraordinary stories down. And you just can’t believe how great some are: The Tsar sent 9 rabid men to Paris who had been attacked by wolves. He worked with Pasteur. He also was very close with the King and Queen (Victoria) of Sweden, I think he ended up giving his villa to the state. And the Queen helped him buy up land for his bird sanctuary. It may still be a Swedish study center. I’ve actually never been, but can’t wait to go some day because Munthe lived the most extraordinary life. The book is a treasure. . . here, a few pics from the villa, and of Munthe himself.

Sighting: Not even sure if Church Lady ever shot in a real Church, but Seth Meyers was just spotted at Park Avenue Christian Church, “The Park,” where he is said to be shooting an SNL skit in the basement. Anderson Cooper is also thought to be stopping by, and Ben Affleck is allegedly hosting, so, he too, take a pew. Yes, SNL just got a bit closer to the man upstairs. . .

Ashlee Simpson at the American Ballet Theatre tonight. The PR peeps said she wouldn’t be talking to press, and then we were walking in at the same time and she came up and gave me a smooch on the cheek. What a doll. She looks amazing! And we both split before the dinner. She snuck off in a car. I walked off to grab Mexican food. I like her style. Her earring was sharp!

Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova were soooo great in Le Corsaire. And the last piece, Bizet Symphony in C choreography by Balanchine wowed everyone. Countless dancers onstage all at once in mind-blowing precision.
When we were walking out, someone noticed a gold watch and phone on the floor, and some socials called over an attendant. And I actually spotted a diamond on the ground on the stairs on the way out, but it would have caused a real stir to stop in the moving crowd, so I didn’t. But I’m going to start looking down more. The woman next to me was really tall and beautiful and blonde. And she crinkled candy wrapper before intermission.
And then she loudly asked to borrow my program and then flipped pages loudly during ballet. Was just so not cool, I’ve almost never seen anything like it. Thought it would have made a cute meet in one of those old movies. I would have cast Dudley Moore and Karolina Kurkova.

Lisa Falcone did a one woman standing ovation after Symphony in C. Ouch.
But she was right. . it was pretty crazy great.

Part two, my faves: Diamond Jim Brady, diamond-encrusted bike he gave Lillian Russell, and Russell. Wow, looks as if she truly deserved the bike, which she kept in a plush case when she wasn’t riding it. New York has always bred some rather extraordinary characters. . .