DOWN TO THE WIRE Rudy
Is Rudy Giuliani a Christmas procrastinator? The story that went out over the wires on Christmas Eve was that the presidential candidate, now cancer-free, spent the day before the holiday reading Christmas stories to underprivileged children at Hale House in Harlem. True enough. What the feel-good reports failed to mention was the ex-Mayor's mad dash to Manhattan's swanky Bergdorf Goodman department store, where a Radar spy spotted him at 3 p.m. Monday.

Giuliani was loitering outside of the department store's chic BG cafe, just steps away from its home store, where a Kelly Wearstler golden egg sells for $1095 and a pair of gilt bird candlesticks go for $2,500. Was Rudy simply feathering his nest? Or was he taking a respite from stocking up on designer duds for Judith?

Either way, it's interesting to hear that the Yankees aren't the only New York institution dear to old Giuliani's heart. He's also got room in his heart for less populist pursuits.