Aretha Franklin Schooled Me in Dining Like a Diva
Around 1991, I learned diva behavior firsthand from the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin. There my dad and I were, dining at Manhattan's fabled Le Cirque at the old Mayfair Regent Hotel on East 65th Street—the same hotel where, five years earlier, I had come out to my mother over high tea. It was midsummer, and the temperature outside was a scorching ninety-something. The air conditioning provided much-needed relief, but only for a short time. To the delight of all the other diners, Aretha Franklin arrived on the scene. People tried not to stare, but even in a city where celebrity sightings are commonplace, this was impressive. Next, to everyone's dismay, she quickly made it clear that she needed to protect her instrument and demanded that the management turn off the AC. They complied. My fellow diners, including investment bankers, socialites, and masters of the universe, schvitzed while Aretha exuded attitude. The place transformed into a sauna. While I would have lov...
