The Harry Belafonte I knew.

In ’99 he bought three pairs of socks for $5. 

’04 he shopped at Tender Buttons. 

1990 he was voted “top fashionable gent.”

Best Thanksgiving ever?

He told me, “The year Nelson Mandela was released.” ’84 involved in World Disarmament. ’”

99 a PSA for the Board of Elections and consultant to ABC’s civil rights special.

At ’87’s NAACP Image Awards he called Jesse Jackson “Mr. President.”

In ’01, at our dinner in the Plaza, he broke out singing “Day-O.”

And once a respected Chicago columnist wrote him c/o me.

We dined together before an RFK auction.

Producer Pierre Cossette booked him in Vegas but he could not stay in that same hotel in which he performed.

About the East Side apartment he couldn’t get, he said “the owner blanched when I walked in.”

I knew my special friend forever.

Unfortunately, “forever” is now over.

JFK. Delta to London. Group in Premium Economy, free thanks to American Express miles.

The purser: “We request two volunteers to deplane. Take same flight tomorrow and receive $2,800 per person from Delta.”

Two accepted.

Wasn’t $2,800 per person.

Was $3,000.

And Business Class upgrade.

Free tickets to London.

Plus $6,000 cash.

Nice.

EMMY winner and Golden Globe nominee “All in the Family’s” Sally Struthers is in the new R-rated horror film “Evil Sublet.”

Story: Setting was in an actual junko East Village flat long thought as haunted.

Dialogue in the movie: “Who cares if it’s cursed. Rent’s cheap and it’s an eat-in kitchen.”

Then begins scary sexy ride as murderous ghost roommates move in.

Actual paranormal activity while shooting got kept in the footage.

Lights on and off on their own.

Cold hand grabbing one actress.

Strange voice in the dark of night shrieking “move!”

Also, 200 live but ghostified faces are hidden throughout because the film’s partial funding was by those wanting to play spook.

“Evil Sublet” premieres May 6. Where?

The Coney Island Film Festival.

How better to show this than inside America’s A-1 sideshow?

Twice in 2022 I reported ex-Governor Cuomo’s former pit bull Melissa DeRosa writing a bark-it-all book.

May 18, I wrote “This former staffer was writing a book — everyone’s writing a book, including illiterates — and she’s calling around to get a party hosted for her.”

Came growls.

Snarls.

Dog pooping.

Wouldn’t nibble her Alpo treats.

Called me a liar.

Said I don’t know what I’m talking about. I know what I’m talking about — and I know right now who she’s talking to.

And about what.

I’m also saying her book’s coming, so better she shuts up before I take away her wee-wee pads.

Realty talk.

“Walk to stores” means nowhere to park.

“Natural ranch style” stands for crawling with spiders.

“Panoramic view of the stars” equals leaking roof. “Full Basement? The flood still hasn’t subsided.”

Not only in New York, kids, not only in New York.