Cityfile: New York's Most Notable and Influential

Happy Birthday | Mariah Carey turns 39 today. Quentin Tarantino is turning 46. Fergie is 34. Dance Theatre of Harlem founder Arthur Mitchell turns 75. British actor Michael York is 67. Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walt Mossberg is 62. Nancy Peretsman, investment banker to Oprah and Martha, is 55. And Talisa Soto, former model and current wife of actor Benjamin Bratt, turns 42 today. Weekend birthdays follow below.More

Is it possible to turn on the news and not hear about another ship that's been hijacked by a bunch of Somali pirates looking to collect some extortion money? Piracy at sea hasn't generated this much public attention since the 16th century! Naturally, we don't condone these violent, criminal acts, nor do we recommend taking up a career as a pirate, even if you were just canned by a media company or investment bank and you're wondering how you're going to pay your rent next month. But if you've already made up your mind and you're planning to take the LIRR out to the Hamptons, rent a Zodiac, and take over the boat of a local billionaire—or you're just planning to pay a friendly visit and drop off your resume in person—we've put together a colorful chart of yachts owned by a bunch of notable New Yorkers, just so you make sure you're climbing aboard the right ship. Just don't blame us if you're subjected to a treatise on the economy by Steve Forbes, a lecture on Scientology by Greta Van Susteren, or a tongue-lashing by Judge Judy. The larger chart is here.

Thought you were having a busy summer? Try catching up with Georgette Mosbacher. The Republican operative, co-chair of the RNC finance committtee, and three-time divorcée took off to Egypt in June at the request of Mrs. Hosni Mubarak. In July, she headed with pal Barbara Walters to Syria (which is not a "third world country," she'd like you to know), where she dined with President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma. Then it was off to Venice "to join Allison and Leonard Stern aboard their yacht the Lady Allison for a nine-day cruise of the Dalmatian Coast." Barbara and Georgie disembarked in Dubrovnik and headed home. But Georgette was back on the road two days later, heading to Brussels to meet up with General Bantz John Craddock, the Supreme Allied Commander, at NATO headquarters. Then? She headed to Kabul. Seriously.More