Celebrity Settings

Russell Simmons Plays Rabbi at Jezebel; Megan Hilty Sprays Champagne at Bagatelle

Photo: Grayson Dantzi

This week, “rabbi” Russell Simmons wore many hats — blessing new haute Kosher restaurant Jezebel, stepping out at Jimmy with new squeeze (and Miss Universe) Leila Lopes, and avoiding his ex at the same party. All this and more in our weekly roundup of celebrity dining.

Bagatelle: Megan Hilty hosted the Smash season two kick-off dinner (not boozy brunch, unfortunately) at the meatpacking spot Tuesday. Katharine McPhee and other Smashees were in attendance, but future guest star Jennifer Hudson was a no-show. Hilty and her party didn’t seem to mind, as the night’s festivities included sabering bottles of expensive Champagne into the streets. [NYDN]

Catch: Lionel Richie, 63, got down at the meatpacking spot as he celebrated recognition for his album Tuskegee as the best-selling country album of 2012 so far. After dinner, he moved the party up to Catch Roof. [NYDN]

Indochine: Queen Latifah sang some karaoke — Journey and Bonnie Tyler, to be exact — after her appearance on David Letterman on Tuesday. Among the party celebrating a friend’s birthday was Law & Order’s Jeremy Sisto. [Page Six/NYP]

Jezebel: Russell Simmons helped dedicate new upscale Kosher joint Jezebel by saying the blessing while the mezuzah was affixed. He was joined by a real rabbi, of course, and Jezebel’s owners. [Grub Street]

Jimmy: Russell Simmons and his Miss Universe date Leila Lopes attended a bash for Trishna and managed to avoid his ex Melissa George and her new beau. [Page Six/NYP]

Lilium: Anne Hathaway and fiancé Adam Shulman shared some fries and congratulated LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy on his new concert documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits after attending a party for the film at Village East Theater that included Aziz Ansari and Greta Gerwig. [Page Six/NYP]

Russell Simmons Plays Rabbi at Jezebel; Megan Hilty Sprays Champagne at