NY Heard & Scene: from High Line to Edible Schoolyard

The Wall Street Journal—June 23, 2010

Over at the Waldorf Astoria, at Hospital for Special Surgery's 27th Annual Tribute Dinner, Alan "Ace" Greenberg, the former Bear Stearns chairman, was talking about "The Rise and Fall of Bear Stearns," which he just published with Simon & Schuster.

"I really came to this dinner to promote my book," Mr. Greenberg explained. "I brought 500 copies with me so I can sell them. They're outside. Twenty-six dollars. Do you want one?"

He had several admirers.

"It's a fun read, a lot of laughs," said Dr. Leon Root, one of the hospital's longtime orthopedic surgeons.

"It's fabulous," said Dr. Root's wife, Paula.

"My friends have to say that," Mr. Greenberg said. "Billy's read it," he added, pointing at Citigroup honorary chairman William R. Salomon across the table. Mr. Salomon, the party's chairman, pointed at with Mr. Greenberg with his two index fingers.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Greenberg asked Peter Rosow, a personal acquaintance and another hospital donor, what he thought of the book. "I'm not into it enough that it's terrible yet," Mr. Rosow said.

Read the full story at wsj.com.