Cityfile: New York's Most Notable and Influential

Happy Birthday | CNN's Anderson Cooper turns 42 today. Tennis star Rafael Nadal is turning 23. Humorist/Apple pitchman John Hodgman is 38. Stanford law professor and Internet pioneer Lawrence Lessig is 48. Raul Castro, the president of Cuba, is turning 78. Actor Tony Curtis is turning 84. John Barlow, the Broadway publicist and partner of producer Scott Rudin, is 41. High Line advocate Josh David turns 46. Phish bassist Mike Gordon is 44. Melissa Mathison, the ET screenwriter and ex-wife of Harrison Ford, is 59. And former game show host and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind author Chuck Barris turns 80 today.

Rachel Maddow's Secret Formula | We always figured it took something really special for Rachel Maddow to be able to put up with Keith Olbermann every evening. Now we have the answer, courtesy of author/Mac pitchman John Hodgman: A bit of La Fée absinthe mixed with Red Bull, apparently. [Twitpic via BYOT]

• Mary Louise Parker was the center of attention at the Roundabout Theatre on Sunday for the opening night of her new Broadway show, Hedda Gabler. Parker and her co-stars, Michael Cerveris, Peter Stormare, and Paul Sparks, and the play's director Christopher Shinnas were joined at the play and after-party by Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Blythe Danner, Mamie Gummer, Amy Irving, Billy Stritch, and Tovah Feldshuh. [PMc, Wireimage, GoaG]

• Famed African-American fashion designer Arthur McGee was honored with a luncheon at the MET yesterday. Guests on hand to fete McGee included André Leon Talley, Hamish Bowles, Lynn Yaeger, Susan Fales-Hill, Thelma Golden, Deborah Roberts, Steven Kolb, Jeffrey Banks, Cicely Tyson, Stephen Burrows, and Amy Fine Collins. [PMc, DFR, GoaG]More

Spamasterpiece Theatre | Looking for a little diversion from the disturbing news about the bailout, economic meltdown, and upcoming elections? You can now watch Apple pitchman John Hodgman read his spam email aloud, if you're so inclined. [BBtv]