Braden Keil

Friday's New York Post takes an unsanitary swipe at Mario Batali's Spotted Pig, citing the eatery's failing health inspection score of 34 -- perhaps in retaliation for Mr. Batali's earlier dig on the Post's "hapless" food writer Braden Keil?

(The restaurant's score was actually 33, according to the Health Department's Web site, but who's counting? A score of 28 or higher is failing.)

How bad is it at Mr. Batali's purported "pigsty"? Bungalow 8 bad, Coney Island Buffet bad -- but still a far cry from KFC-Taco Bell bad, or worse.

As far as food-safety scofflaws go, Mr. Batali ranks rather low, in fact.

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Last week, The Observer reported that financier Roberto de Guardiola, and his interior designer wife, Joanne, are selling their East 64th Street townhouse for close to $30 million. They certainly move fast. Now, the couple has bought five apartments in the Sherry Netherland Hotel, according to Page Six.

Braden Keil provides an update on a previous story of the sale of a $90 million mansion in the Hamptons. The deal is still not done, but there are some hints that it could be in the works. Regardless, the buyer and seller are denying it.

Jason Binn has a new neighbor to spruce up the luxurious River Lofts. Supermodel Karolina Kurkova just dropped $2.3 million on a new apartment, according to New York magazine.

After his well-documented losses on the stock market, David Denby is trying to make some money in real estate, according to the New York Times.

On Sunday, The Daily News cover story declared a “War At Ground Zero.” In a candid interview, Mayor Bloomberg said that progress cannot be made at Ground Zero with Larry Silverstein hanging around. Today, The Times follows up.

And lastly, the L-Ification of Brooklyn. Next stop, Jefferson Street.  read more »

-Michael Calderone

The New York Times is using the word "assessment" to refer to its 1,662-word essay on its coverage o  read more »

Before you plan a night on the town with the help of those perky listings in Time Out New York , you  read more »