Liz Smith: "My Most Memorable Special Occasion"

Syndicated columnist Liz Smith has been called the "Grande Dame of Dish." In a time of mean-spirited mud-slinging and tabloid terror she remains a class act, known for her integrity, sparkling wit, and sense of fair play.

Born in Texas and a graduate of its university, Smith arrived in New York in 1949 with $50 to her name and no ticket home. In time, she came to know the most powerful and the most popular, the top celebrities and power brokers in New York. By covering their celebrations, successes, scandals, and setbacks, she became the highest-paid print journalist in the world.

Smith initially jumped into the world of publishing with gusto, succeeding in a number of positions, including that of entertainment editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Her career really burst forth in the 1970s, however, when she started writing a column in the New York Daily News and several years later, began appearing on NBC-TV's "Live at Five."

Today, Liz Smith is featured in the New York Post and is syndicated to millions of readers in more than 70 newspapers and on the Internet, as well. She is also the author of two books, her bestselling autobiography, Natural Blonde (Hyperion Press, 2000) and a food memoir, Dishing (Simon & Schuster, 2005).

When asked about her most memorable special occasion, she answered without hesitation.

"My 80th birthday party, in 2003. It was absolutely fabulous. It was in the old Le Cirque restaurant that was on Madison and 50th. I think about 600 people came to it, and it was fantastic.

"The party wasn't a surprise," she notes. "I knew there was going to be a party, and that I had to get all dressed up. But I didn't know any of the details. I didn't even know who was invited because I refused to have anything to do with it. I didn't want to be blamed!" she says with a laugh.

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