November 21, 2003
MIKE'S INSPIRATION
Mike Myers drew upon his family and friends to get into character for the new movie The Cat in the Hat, opening Friday. "The cat is an anarchist. What I was going for was, 'Who would you want to come into your house, turn it upside down, and you would be happy about it?' " he said at the recent L.A. premiere. "So I thought of my mother-in-law, and of Bruce Paltrow, Gwyneth's dad (who died last year). It is sad to think of him now, but I hope what I captured in the cat was some of the joy he was so full of. The energy of the cat, though, was based on my mom. My mom used to read all of the Dr. Seuss books to me up in Toronto. Austin Powers was more for my dad, but I really think this movie is more about my mother."

NEW YORK'S HOTEL OF THE MOMENT
Matt Dillon enjoyed cocktails at the Sixty Thompson hotel recently, while the Queer Eye guys also were there celebrating their second season. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, in town promoting the film Mona Lisa Smile, was approached while waiting for an elevator by style editors from the New York Times Magazine. The editors wanted her to sit for a shoot, but Gyllenhaal said she had scheduling conflicts.

STILL HUNGRY?
Get ready for season two of The Restaurant. Filming quietly began this week for another six-episode installment of NBC's "unscripted drama" (i.e., reality show) set inside the tumultuous world of Rocco's on 22nd, sexy chef Rocco DiSpirito's new Italian eatery in Manhattan. Gone are the paper plates that drew ire from some patrons (and waiters!); they've been replaced by monogrammed china. And the food actually arrives hot at the tables. But there's still plenty of tension in the air, as cameras already captured a tiff between Rocco and his business partner, among other dramas. Filming is scheduled to continue through early December.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Spotted recently:
• The O.C. stars Adam Brody, Benjamin McKenzie and Mischa Barton, enjoying a Death Cab for Cutie concert at the Music Box in Hollywood.

• Ricky Martin, flocked by a bevy of women, drinking mojitos and snacking on empanadas at Lola's in West Hollywood.

• Matthew Perry and Hank Azaria, celebrating mutual friend Maeve Quinlan's birthday together at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills. Lauren Bacall and Joan Collins also stopped by.

Written by: SEAN DALY
Reported by: SEAN DALY, MARISA LAUDADIO, DANA MELTZER and PEOPLE's N.Y. BUREAU

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