Paparazzi have to jump through all sorts of hoops to cover New York's nightly soirees, but the United Nations has upped the ante for obtaining press credentials to Wednesday night's Madonna-Gucci bash by telling journalists they need a "valid passport from a member state of the United Nations" just to work the red carpet.
“A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF” is the first event of its kind to take place on the North Lawn of the Turtle Bay landmark, which is technically international territory. The bash coincides with the opening of Gucci's new Fifth Avenue flagship store.
The party will include performances by Madonna, Alicia Keys, Timbaland and Rhianna, as well as a special presentation by Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs. Expected guests include Drew Barrymore, Adrien Brody, Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault, Sting and Trudie Styler, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Arpad Busson, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Téa Leoni and Lucy Liu.
We're betting that even though Madonna moved to England, she won't have to cough up ID at the door.
-- Robert Kahn