REM is Back (Yay), Boom Boom Room, Bebe Buell, and More

Michael Stipe and REM are back. Stipe turned up last night at the Boom Boom Room (or whatever it’s called this week), Andre Balazs’s fiercely hip nightclub in the sky on the 18th floor of the Standard Hotel in the meatpacking district. (This place looks like those nightclubs in movies from the ‘30 and ’40s ‘ amazing.) Stipe sported a big mustache, of all things. He told me that REM starts recording a new album next month, which is always good news, in New Orleans. Here’s a clip of the group’s last single, the catchy pop hit, “Supernatural Superserious.”

…Also at the Boom Boom Room, Harvey Weinstein, Chace Crawford, Russell Simmons, Calvin Klein, Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Sykes, Rob Wiesenthal, David Lauren, Nancy Moonves (the ex Mrs. Les Moonves), and a ton of fashion folk from Gucci and elsewhere… If you can figure out how to get into this place, it’s the hotspot of the moment ‘ and gorgeous, with magnificent views of the city. Cha cha, as they say. And everyone’s dressed really nicely, too!…Oh yes, I did overhear Chace Crawford say to a friend, “I’d like to get a drink but I don’t know where to start!” The place was a madhouse of fun, very packed…

…Bebe Buell plays the new Village Underground tonight at 7:30 pm in the East Village. Her album, “Sugar,” is available on ITunes and Amazon…It’s also legendary photographer Bob Gruen’s birthday later tonight, with his annual celebration. Happy Birthday, Bob!…

…CAA’s Bryan Lourd hosted a party for Woody Harrelson and a bunch of A listers last night at his West Village house. Bryan’s ex wife, Carrie Fisher, is selling out her one woman show, “Wishful Drinking,” on Broadway every night….

…Famed theater costume designer William Ivey Long (winner of five Tony Awards, kids) tells me he’s lost 4o pounds just by going to the gym and working with a trainer. Is it that easy? Anderson Cooper is using a guy named T.J. Thelonious Johnson, to stay in shape. Hmmmm…Maybe it’s time to see what this work out thing is all about…

A who’s-who of New York society joined hosts Alexander and Brenda Von Schweickhardt at their penthouse for a private launch of Oceana New York, a nonprofit international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. In attendance were one of my old friends, actress Patti D’Arbanville, plus Nile Rodgers and Nancy Hunt, “Law & Order” star Linus Roache, Foreigner’s Mick Jones, the great composer Philip Glass, society titans Sue Cohn Rockefeller, Denise Rich, Bettina Zilkha, as well as Fernanda Kellogg, president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and CEO of Macy’s, Terry Lundgren. Welcoming guests were Hollywood escapee Keith Addis, Oceana Board chairman, and Jim Simon, executive vice-president of Oceana…

Yes, we always hear about Gwen Stefani, leader of the group No Doubt. But that group’s Tom Dumont wrote all the music for a great new documentary called’ “The Providence Effect,” after his father-in-law, Rollin Binzer, introduced him to the project. This film about the Providence St. Mel school, is’ a hit with teachers ‘ America’s unsung heroes. It recently debuted at a private screening with documentary filmmaker Rollin Binzer, business tycoon Tom Hurvis, actor Joey Dedio, Providence St. Mel founder Paul J. Adams III, and Major Gregory L. Canty, an alumnus of Providence St. Mel and a Senior Army White House Social Aide under President Obama ‘‘all of whom are part of the film’s cast and crew.