Sets and the City

With the start of the season's final Grand Slam event just days away, New York is in full U.S. Open mode. Before stopping by "The Late Show With David Letterman," Andy Roddick joined Nicolas Kiefer, Fernando Gonzalez, David Ferrer and a strangely thin-looking Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- plus the ever-ubiquitous Bethenny Frankel -- at the W Hotel for the 10th Annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis, a celebrity-player cooking lesson to benefit the Food Bank for New York City. I'm not sure what any of the players whipped up, but based on the name of the event I'm guessing they all now know what balls taste like.

Defending champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams were looking fit at the 2009 U.S. Open Draw Presentation at the New York Times Center in Midtown.

Meanwhile, after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and receiving an Anti-Defamation League Americanism award, Venus Williams was on hand for the maiden voyage of the Zero Ferry, a free water taxi service from Manhattan to Queens running all next week for visitors to the U.S. Open. The complimentary service is provided by her sponsor, POWERADE ZERO, who will also be handing out bottles of Powerade Zero to thirsty fans taking the ferry to the tournament.

Venus and Serena -- along with Bud Collins -- also made a promotional appearance in Bryant Park for DIRECTV.

John McEnroe unveiled his new prostate cancer awareness billboard outside Madison Square Garden.

And Maria Sharapova attended the launch of Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan Colthe lection at the Cole Haan at Rockefeller Center. (HUH?)

Taking It to the Streets

Andy Roddick paid David Letterman a visit on "The Late Show" last night. Let's hope the resurgent American has a better practice partner out in Queens -- the U.S. Open starts on Monday!

This One's for Ellie

 

A kind reader sent me this rare clip of Annie Golden performing "Be My Baby" in the off-Broadway production of the Ellie Greenwich musical "Leader of the Pack," which moved to Broadway in 1985. Ellie Greenwich also appeared in the show, which I hear was a wonderful showcase for all her hit songs. (That's Ula Hedwig, one of Bette Midler's original Harlettes, on the right singing backup!)

Morning Wood: Brett Novek

INTERNATIONAL JOCK delivers its hottest model yet in 25-year old Brett Novek, the Florida native best known as a contestant on VH1’s reality show “America’s Most Smartest Model.” He has also appeared on the packaging and in live appearances for Papi underwear and has done commercials for Taco Bell and Colgate, amongst others. More photos from the shoot over HERE.

East of Eden

Dinner at Lucien with Scooter and Mikey. Steak frites are to die for. Had the pleasure of meeting THE Lucien (Bahaj), who was seated next to us with Heidi Kelso, television producer/talent exec, and Michel Auder (above) -- the French video artist who is Gabby Hoffman's stepfather and the former Mr. Viva and Mr. Cindy Sherman -- who dazzled us with stories of his days in the Factory scene.

South of Houston

In Scooter LaForge's studio making T-shirts. 

 UPDATE: The finished product, below.