Editor Chat: James Reginato

From the high-rises of Doha to the Paris home of David Sedaris, it’s been a busy spring for Jim Reginato, W‘s Features Director and connected man-about-town.

Have you been to any good parties lately? Last week I went to a party thrown by Jonathan Burnham celebrating my friend Bob Morris’ new book, Assisted Loving: True Tales of Double Dating with my Dad, which is Bob’s hilarious tale of trying to help his recently widowed 80-year-old dad find a girlfriend. It wasn’t like the typical impersonal book party. It was at Jonathan’s house, and there was a surprise performance: Jonathan sat down at the piano and accompanied Bob, who sang a song inspired by the book.

What’s on your agenda for the week? Wednesday I’m looking forward to hearing David Sedaris–I interviewed him for the June issue–read from his new book at Barnes & Noble on Union Square. But the highlight will surely be the next night when I’m going to see Eartha Kitt at Cafe Carlyle. Anybody who hasn’t seen Miss Kitt live needs to go.

Where have you traveled recently? I just got back from Doha, the capital of Qatar, for a story I’m doing there. Though I spent three days in Doha, it’s hard to describe, since virtually the entire city is a construction zone. On every corner a 60-story building is going up. Meanwhile you can still visit camel markets and falcon breeders.

Are you reading anything great right now? I just finished Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy, by Sarah Bradford. I love historical biographies and this offers an amazing glimpse inside the ultra-decadent Vatican of the late 15th-century.

Portrait by Mario Sorrenti.