Via hamptons.guestofaguest.com:

Team Hampton spent last Friday night at  Nello Summertimes. Per Stanley’s instructions, they were to order (not drink) as many drinks as they could get their hands on.  You know things are tough when even Nello Balan catches the ressionista bug. His drinks were considerably lower from last year. MORE >>>

Remember when we were appalled with the price tag of our brunch one Saturday at the posh Nellos resturaunt?  We couldn’t figure out why this place had stayed on the radar for so long as the go-to upper east side brunch venue.  Well today the mystery was solved.  The food and location have nothing to do with it.  It’s all about press.  The NY Times reports today on just how much $1,000 can get you.  For Nello Balan, that much in the form of a gift to a Page Six editor can get you a hell of a lot.

“A database check shows that in the two years after the gift was made, around Christmas 1997, according to The Post, Mr. Balan or his restaurant, Nello, were mentioned at least 15 times in Page Six, almost always favorably.”

Now we get it.  This also reconfirms how shitty the print journalism jobs are paying these days…These editors will do almost anything for a grand.