Six in the CityKelly Will and our city spies hear everything…and they don't keep secrets

Mom Michelle Obama isn't planning many public appearances until Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, settle into their new life and school (inset).

What have Sasha and Malia Obama gotten themselves into? The private Quaker school Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C., where the first daughters recently enrolled, sounds like a touchy-feely sort of place. But some alumni paint a slightly more Darwinian picture of the elite academy, which counts Chelsea Clinton, Al Gore III, the Nixon daughters and Nancy Reagan among its alumni. While the early grades focus on Obama-appropriate issues like community service and the Quaker values of equality and communal learning, grueling workloads and fierce competition are the hallmarks of the junior high and high schools. "I pulled my first all-nighter when I was in sixth grade," says Sidwell alum Erik Meers, editor of celebrity website Uinterview.com. "I had a teacher who used to assign us long essays to write every night, sometimes 20 pages." Sidwell's high school, which routinely sends more than a quarter of its graduates to Ivy League schools, is reputed for its Dickensian workloads. "On the nights before big tests, a friend and I used to call each other at 3 a.m. to make sure we were still awake. I used to take NoDoz all the time in high school and never thought there was anything weird about it," says Erik. "Not everyone was doing this, but there was a lot of competition among the students. When I got to Yale, I remember being relieved that the workload was so much lighter!" And you thought the president has it tough. —Stan Donnelly

Kelly and Daniel (inset) have another custody hearing on April 6.

Kelly Rutherford has won the first round in her custody fight with millionaire husband Daniel Giersch, but the real war is just beginning. Last week, the actress was granted permission by an L.A. court to return to NYC with the couple's 2-year-old son, Hermes, so that she could resume work on Gossip Girl. But a source close to Kelly, who is four months pregnant, says, "Daniel will not let the custody fight end easily. He is planning to temporarily relocate to New York so he can see Hermes daily." Kelly's friends are speculating that the German entrepreneur, 34, will hire people to keep an eye on his estranged wife, 40. "Kelly is trying to balance her working schedule so that she can show she's willing to make more time for Hermes and the new baby. The Gossip Girl producers are being helpful and trying to set a better schedule for her. Kelly was desperate to have children—she won't let Daniel take them away." —KW

Doctors recommend that gastric bypass patients like Star avoid fatty foods.

It looks as if Star Jones has fallen off the weight-loss wagon. When the former View co-host was at the Grey Goose inauguration party at BET chief Debra Lee's house in Washington, D.C., she didn't want to miss a bite. A partygoer says, "Star arrived late and told the caterer that she wanted one of every item that they had served earlier in the evening. She requested a plate of scallops wrapped in bacon, macaroni and cheese, goat cheese poppers and coconut shrimp. A staffer asked if there was anything she didn't want and Star responded, 'I'll take it all, please!' " While guests like Samuel L. Jackson and Gabrielle Union enjoyed chocolate, Star—who lost more than 150 pounds after gastric bypass surgery in 2003—tucked into her savory platter. Later she burned off some calories dancing with her boyfriend, chef Herb Wilson. —KW

Onlookers were amused by Devon (far left) and Karolina's weighty exchange.

Karolina Kurkova obviously took it to heart when the Brazilian press claimed last year that she was fat. The Victoria's Secret model tried to nab a $40 Terraillon BMI weighing scale at the Drugstore.com Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, but when she looked away for a moment, actress-model Devon Aoki grabbed it. Karolina raised her voice and said, "Hey! I wanted that!" An eyewitness then saw Devon laugh and say there was "no way" she was giving up the scale—the last one available in the lounge. Karolina's boyfriend, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, attempted to cut the tension by joking he would find out where Devon's hotel was and steal it back in the middle of the night. Funnily enough, neither woman laughed. —KW

Despite Mariah's bad behavior, she and Nick cuddled and made out at the House of Hype party.

Marriage hasn't mellowed Mariah Carey. The singer was in full diva mode while promoting her film Push at the Sundance Film Festival. Mariah and her husband, Nick Cannon, arrived at Island Def Jam's House of Hype party on January 16, when "Mariah whipped off her coat and tossed it at Nick to hold like he was her assistant!" says an eyewitness. Later, our spy caught more over-the-top antics. "They were heading to another venue a block away, so Nick said, 'Let's walk.' Mariah looked at him like he was crazy and said, 'No way—I want to drive.' " So they climbed in the car, where they sat for 30 minutes because traffic (in Park City, Utah) was so bad. Eventually they got out and walked. At least she didn't make Nick carry her across the snow-covered street. —KW

Tiger has earned about $800 million throughout his career.

Waitstaff of the world, be warned: When Tiger Woods walks into your eatery, don't expect a gratuity after the meal is over. While he may have a golden grip on his golf clubs, he has a pretty firm grasp on his wallet, too. "Whenever Tiger was in Las Vegas, there was a woman who would hang out with his group, sort of as a local guide," says our source. "They would have a great time but Tiger never tips. Ever. She had to stop going out with him because it would cost her three or four hundred bucks every time they went out, since she had to keep tipping for him. Even though he paid the bill, people knew her, so [to not leave a gratuity] would reflect badly on her." Here's a tip for Tiger: Even 10 percent is better than nothing! —Roger Singer