100% Poop-Free

Saatchi has teamed up with a couple of TriBeCa neighborhood associations to block the construction of a Department of Sanitation mega-facility on the Lower West Side. Let’s be honest – this is mostly about ultra-rich people not wanting the faint smell of poop wafting through their neighborhood and devaluing their fancy apartments. As a fellow LWS resident and celebrity hound, Saatchi agreed to help them with their cause. And, by the looks of their Web site (www.savehudsonsquare.org) they definitely need our help. While the money and time could perhaps be better spent helping veterans or immigrants or puppies, you can’t blame these people for wanting a poop-free neighborhood. That odor is better left for Brooklyn.

Saatchi put together promotional materials, advised them on their brand and strategy, and hosted a fundraiser. As a highly valued Saatchi employee, I was given the premier job at the fundraiser -- coat check. So, perhaps coat check is not the most glamorous of assignments, but I have to argue that it is one of the most opportunistic. Not only did I get a perfect view of the door, but I got to make conversation with movie stars and check out their over-priced coats. (Wow, I’m super creepy.)

The party was billed as having Lou Reed, Paul Bettany, Michael Stipe, James Gandolfini, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Connelly, Talia Balsam, Casey Afflect, and Rain Pheonix in attendance. I snuck a peek at the VIP list and even saw Justin Timerblake’s name.

But, Justin must have been busy making another SNL music video because I only saw this guy (in his full motorcycle gear)...



And her (gorgeous)...



With him...



Oh, and this guy!



The party was a success – great turnout, lots of donations, only one crazy environmentalist outburst, and no misplaced coats.