Elizabeth Taylor has a new man

Hollywood icon introuduces Jason Winters

By LIZ SMITH

Taylor

"ENOUGH IS never enough." That's what Elizabeth Taylor said about, well -- everything. We told you last year when La Liz went swimming in a shark cage in Hawaii that she had a new man. Now she's ready to formally introduce him. He is Jason Winters, a wealthy businessman. He will be Elizabeth's escort at the Passports AIDS event on Sept. 27 in Los Angeles. When I asked Elizabeth if she wanted to comment, she demurred at first, then called back with this brief, but telling remark: "Jason Winters is one of the most wonderful men I've ever known and that's why I love him. He bought us the most beautiful house in Hawaii and we visit it as often as possible." Love. We. Us? Maybe it won't lead to a ninth marriage, but Taylor's choice of words means this is serious. Of course, when has love ever not been serious to Hollywood's Queen of Hearts? P.S. Elizabeth and her guy fly off to Hawaii again next week, and she is preparing herself for the big AIDS fund-raiser in December, when she and James Earl Jones will perform A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters."

HEAVENLY DAYS. I'm now one of the most popular persons in NYC. Why? Well, my natural charm, but more than that. I emcee the New York Landmarks Conservancy's "Living Landmarks" gala and some sillies think I can get them named to this group. (Actually, the Board does the choosing though I did lean on them to cite Phyllis Newman in 2008, so she can join her name with late husband, Adolph Green.) On Oct. 30, we have a grand gang of stars from Oscar de la Renta and Mica Ertegun to the distinguished John Whitehead to theater's head man Gerald Schoenfeld and on to the great diva Jessye Norman and Lauren Bacall. I'll have fun introducing because the Cipriani 42 St. party is enlivened by fun and frolic. It's a party that doesn't take itself too seriously. This charity is intent on saving the city's buildings and monuments. We add "Living Landmarks" just for the glamour and the kick. That night Norman will be spending time in a luxury suite at the Carlyle Hotel, filming before moving from our event to accepting the Rockefeller Award at Purchase College, Nov. 12.

HERE'S WHAT'S sizzling: the VIP insider sneak of writer-producer Nick Pileggi's movie, "American Gangster," to be seen at MOMA on Saturday. Brian Grazer and Ridley Scott are inviting and boy oh boy, is this Russell Crowe starrer a hot ticket. Need I remind that writer Pileggi is America's expert on crime and the Mafia? He wrote one of Martin Scorsese's best movies -- "Goodfellas."

ON HALLOWEEN, there's the "Hulaween" gala in the Waldorf where this year Bette Midler's N.Y. Restoration Project honors "the general YOU." That is, you, the reader and hoped for guest of the one and only Bette. Come prepared as we may well draw your name out of a hat and you'll have to make an acceptance speech to get a kiss from the Divine Miss M. Call 212 - 573-6933 for tix. A last chance to see Bette on this coast for a while; she opens in Las Vegas replacing Celine Dion on Feb. 20. ... Here's a treat. At 2 p.m. Tuesday, the Majestic Theater, West 44th Street, will put on a star-studded (think Stritch, McDonald, Ebersole, Cook, Uggams and surprises) memorial for the late playwright-lyricist Betty Comden. Public invited.

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