According to the auction, Mayor Koch hated it and Madonna loved it (no surprise there). Personally, I was amused by it. It certainly made a statement but I wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there - too noisy and too many desperate people trying to be cool. The bar is 40' by 23' - imagine shipping that, much less having space for it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7536552665

An even better auction is from a group of famous authors who are auctioning names in upcoming books. What makes it even better is that the proceeds go to a very worthy cause: The First Amendment Project.

Here's the deal - if you win the auction, one of the participating authors will use your name - or whatever name you choose - in an upcoming book. The authors are:

* Michael Chabon
* Amy Tan
* Peter Straub
* Andrew Sean Greer
* Karen Joy Fowler
* Stephen King
* Lemony Snicket
* Dorothy Allison
* Jonathan Lethem
* Ayelet Waldman
* John Grisham
* Nora Roberts
* Neil Gaiman
* Dave Eggers
* Rick Moody
* ZZ Packer

I especially like the organization, whose goal is to protect and promote First Amendment rights (freedom of expression, in case you're weak on the Constitution). Since 9/11, our rights have been curtailed in an alarming manner and organizations like these are very welcome.

Be warned, though: if you win Stephen King's auction, you have to use a woman's name if you want to be viciously (no doubt) murdered.

"One (and only one) character name in a novel called CELL, which is now in work and which will appear in either 2006 or 2007. Buyer should be aware that CELL is a violent piece of work, which comes complete with zombies set in motion by bad cell phone signals that destroy the human brain. Like cheap whiskey, it's very nasty and extremely satisfying. Character can be male or female, but a buyer who wants to die must in this case be female. In any case, I'll require physical description of auction winner, including any nickname (can be made up, I don't give a rip)."

HOW does he think up this stuff?

http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=auctioncause