WHILE Liz Hurley is still trying to establish the paternity of her new son, the lad won't lack for uncles and such. Elton John and his lover, David Furnish, have taken Hurley and the baby under their wing, even to the extent of setting up an all-blue nursery in Elton's mansion just outside London. They say that when the christening ceremony comes around, Elton and David will be named as godparents. Neal Travis
Do we want her?:
Is Martha Stewart turning Republican? She usually gives to Democrats, but the doyenne of domesticity contributed $1,000 to U.S. Rep. Dan Burton's (R-Ind) campaign last month. Daily News.
Laura goes shopping:
POLICE CARS and haut security at the haut couture shop of Arnold Scaasi on East 52 Street. Laura Bush had stopped in last week to plan some new clothes she wants to take to Europe with her next month. She was fitted for some pretty pastel ice cream-colored suits. But she couldn't be fitted until Arnold waded through the security and got inside his own shop. He had to show ID first. Liz Smith
Chelsea Clinton and Ian Klaus dined Saturday night at Foreign Cinema in the Mission. They sure know their hot spots. This is the joint that screens flicks on the walls while you eat and drink. Here's the skinny:
DOWN-TO-EARTH CHELSEA called in person earlier Saturday to make a reservation in her own name. The Chelsea party, which consisted of two other young couples, came in at 9:30, avoiding the dinner rush. They were seated on the ground floor. Sociably, the six switched seats with each other throughout the evening.
Everyone dressed casually, but that's all relative -- stunning Chelsea wore black pants and a black off-the-shoulder top with conservative makeup. Her hair was up in a bun. Ian's look was described as "a pseudo-professor/intellectual thing," with a corduroy-type shirt left untucked. With his curls he "looks really adorable."
Chelsea and Ian looked "very smitten." "They were digging each other's action," said manager Lisa Giglio. But although there was some hand-holding, there was nothing inappropriate like the tongue-hockey sessions in Oxford restaurants. The comfortable couples engaged in conversation, keeping to themselves. Of the wait staff, they weren't demanding and were "absolutely polite" to all. Various other diners/cineastes recognized the transformed ex-first daughter.
One asked if she should send Chelsea a drink. "When she wins the Nobel Prize, maybe," said Giglio. "Otherwise, can you imagine how many times people send her drinks? Growing up with the Secret Service, probably the last thing she wants to do is accept a drink from a stranger. But people mean well." Indeed, everyone seems to like Chelsea. Glad she's happy. The group stayed for three courses over a couple of hours. ... Chelsea is said to be a vegetarian. ... "My Left Foot" was screening outside. They shoulda shown "America's Sweethearts." ... SF Examiner.
By the way, the Salvation Army came about 5 minutes ago and all the olive oil is gone. I guess they really wanted it! Thanks for the suggestion.