David Patrick Columbia

David Patrick Columbia

Founder, The New York Social Diary

David Patrick Columbia is the founder and editor of New York Social Diary, a website that chronicles the lives of the Big Apple’s elite. Since graduating from Colby College in 1962, Columbia has led numerous lives: he's been a stockbroker, an owner of a head shop in upstate New York, a sportswear designer, a freelancer (he wrote a firsthand account of one of Truman Capote's "lost weekends"), and a scriptwriter for a courtroom television show. In 1988, Columbia finally found his calling when he collaborated with Debbie Reynolds on her autobiography. In 1994, Columbia began writing the New York Social Diary for Quest Magazine (a condensed version of the website is still printed in Quest every month). The New York Social Diary website was launched in September, 2000. Columbia has since become something of social fixture himself: he's been the subject of articles and blog posts in New York Magazine, Gawker, and the New York Observer.
1mins
David Patrick Columbia, on the people who can afford to party without working.
First, a car. Then, setting about to feed and shelter the needy masses.
5mins
The son of a chauffeur and a tenement superintendent, David Patrick Columbia came back to New York a different man.
2mins
America’s “can-do” attitude.
1mins
Are we in denial of global warming?
1mins
The difference between old money and new.
2mins
David Patrick Columbia sees his work as social observation.
2mins
David Patrick Columbia, on his lack of discipline.
2mins
Columbia thinks it’s because we’re looking for the truth about our own lives.
2mins
David Patrick Columbia talks about the joys, struggles and purpose behind writing NewYorkSocialDiary.com, which chronicles New York’s high society.
3mins
David Patrick Columbia talks about the media establishment attacking bloggers, and why he thinks this is wrong.