Around Town – Catching Up with the City’s A-Listers and Influencers

By Joe Alexander

Charlize Theron gets tough in Mad Max: "I'm 50/50 on glamour stuff. I'd rather put on a pair of jeans and get on my Harley and act like a guy." Her co-star, Tom Hardy, says, "I learned Latin at the age of nine and certain expectations were made of me to go to Oxbridge, and I failed to meet the mark. Who I am and what I should have been are two very different things."

Pitch Perfect 2 made more money in one weekend than the original did in its entire box office run. Starlet Anna Kendrick says, "The really humbling moment is when you get home from the Golden Globes or the Oscars, and you sit on your bed, which is the same crappy IKEA bed you've had since you were 18, you put on an old episode of Family Guy, and you have a frozen meal, trying not to get macaroni and cheese on your thousand-dollar gown." Co-star Rebel Wilson confesses, "My family keeps me pretty grounded. Like if I try anything diva, they're like, 'Oh shut up. Go and do the dishwasher.'" Golden-voiced Brittany Snow admits to her fashion faux pas, "I've worn my share of leopard pink boots to premieres or belts the size of cars. I thought my pink leopard boots were so cool."

The Women's Committee of the Central Park Conservancy hosted the 33rd annual Frederick Law Olmstead Hat Luncheon and raised $3.5 million to preserve and protect our park. Karen LeFrak hosted a table that included Lynda "Wonder Woman" Carter, Jamee Gregory, Blaine Trump, Audrey Gruss, Hilary Ross, Denise Calicchio, and Peter Lyden. centralparknyc.org

The Einstein College of Medicine will honor Peter S. Duncan at the 53rd Annual Golf & Tennis Tournament and Dinner at the Sleep Hollow Country Club at the end of June. einstein.yu.edu

Celebrity fans of Stage 48 include Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker. Nightlife gurus Pedro Zamora and Richie Cardona opened Cantina Rooftop atop the venue. This year-round modern Mexican restaurant atop Stage 48 is overseen by critically-acclaimed Chef Gonzalo Colin. Tequila King Jay Silverman creates their signature cocktails. cantinarooftop.com

Lindsay Lohan's mother Dina and sister Ali Lohan were spotted at the opening of Philippe on Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton. This Chinese restaurant, which also has a NYC location, is a favorite of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. phillippechow.com

Sofia Vergara sizzles in Hot Pursuit: "Los Angeles is crazy. The women all look the same now. That thing with the cheeks. Who do they think they're fooling? It doesn't make them look young. You end up looking like a freak." Her co-star Reese Witherspoon says, "There are a lot of wonderful scripts my agents can't believe I pass on, but I do because I can't hear the voice. Unless I hear the voice, I can't do it."

LJ Cross designer Lisa Jackson, whose flagship store is on Madison & 77th, opened up a pop-up boutique in JANGEORGe in East Hampton. ljcrossny.com

George Clooney stars in Disney's new fantasy epic, Tomorrowland: "I doubt anybody gets taken seriously for very long. I'll be on some reality show in about six years going, 'Hey, I had a great year in 2011.'" Hollywood newcomer Raffey Cassidy talks about working with Clooney, a notorious prankster. "He'd pretend to slow-motion punch me. We'd fake kick and fake punch each other."

Sheila Rosenblum, owner of Lady Sheila Stable Two, one of the country's only all-female thoroughbred racing syndicates, celebrated her birthday at The Mark Hotel. Guests included Diane Davis, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Ramona Singer, Jane Schindler, Dorinda Medley, Dottie Herman, Debra Wasser, and Coleen Rein. ladysheilastabletwo.com

Altaneve Prosecco's David Noto served VIP bubbles to world-renowned jockey Victor Espinosa, who's won the Kentucky Derby three times, at The OUT Hotel. altaneve.com

Aviva Drescher goes between cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Mark's offices in SoHo and Southampton for the chemical peels that keep her complexion flawless. kennethmarkmd.com

Julie Karlitz was inspired by her daughters Joelle and Jenna to launch "strap-its," a line of tank tops and bralettes that pair with 25 detachable bra straps. strap-its.com

Kim Kardashian and pal Jonathan Cheban were seen lunching at Greek hotspot Nerai on East 54th Street. nerainyc.com

Anderson Cooper bonded with his cousin, pop diva Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, at the SKIP Ruby Slipper Awards. costinmusic.com

Harriette Rose Katz's elite society of event professionals, The Chosen Few, just welcomed four new members: Anthony Taccetta Event Design, Natural Expressions NY, Generation Events, and Pat Glenn Productions' P&G Floral. The organization's mission is to promote excellence, cultivate artistry, and maintain the highest standards of professionalism. hrkchosenfew.com

Heartthrob Bradley Cooper goes tropical in Aloha: "I had size 12 feet when I was 10, so I thought I was going to be 6' 8". My goal was to be able to dunk a basket. I wound up being 6' 1" with size 14 feet. I got the raw end of the deal." The fiery Emma Stone plays his love interest: "I won't make a bucket list because I'm so afraid that I'll die and then people will find my bucket list and be like, 'Oh, she didn't get to do that.'" Rachel McAdams stars as Cooper's scorned ex-lover: "As strange as movie making is, doing love scenes for the first time with someone you've never even said hello to does work in terms of having a fresh quality to a relationship."

The Southampton Hospital celebrated the opening of the dedicated entrance to The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center. Julie said, "I am thrilled about the new entrance, as it means visitors no longer need to walk though the hospital to be treated." The organization will hold its summer gala on June 20th in the Hamptons. ellensrun.org

Ex-wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who steps to the plate to save the city in San Andreas, remembers his original fan base: "I was amazed at the number of people who thought I only worked on the days and nights they saw me on television."

Fox News' Megyn Kelly, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Shepard Smith helped their fellow talking head attorney Arthur Aidala, of Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, welcome the Honorable Barry Kamins to his firm as their new partner.

Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Uma Thurman, and Valentino all owe the strong and sexy parts of their bodies to fitness expert Louis Coraggio. His popular NYC and Hamptons-based trampoLEAN classes offer low impact workouts that blend adaptable jump-based exercises, elastics, and lightweights with athletic movements. trampolean.nyc

Best Summer Reads: Jeanette Bronee's pocket-sized guide Eat to Feel Full and Nourish Yourself For Good, jeanettebronee.pathforlife.com and Leesa Rowland'S inspirational Discovering the IT Factor Within You. leesarowland.us

Photo credit: Patrick McMullan