In Search of the Simple Life

Embracing the less-is-better ethos of the '90s, BARBRA STREISAND says she doesn't "want so many things anymore"; two houses will do, "rather than seven." So the diva put her Art Deco collection on the block at Christie's and had her biggest hit in years. A Tamara de Lempicka painting went for a record $2 million. A Tiffany lamp brought in 100 times what Streisand paid for it--a cool $717,500. Enough for Babs to buy out Ikea.

SEEN & HEARD

Despite embarrassing leaks from her phone conversations, Princess Diana has yet to swear off her cellphone. A fortunate thing for her countrymen: driving solo through London, Di spotted a couple whose car had stalled. The royal Samaritan assisted by using her car phone to dial up help.

After spending just over one month in a psychiatric hospital, overly emotional knife wielder Lorena Bobbitt has been released. With her free time she is--like so many famously disturbed people--poring over movie offers. She would like Marisa Tomei to portray her. Perhaps Joe Pesci would be available to play John Bobbitt.

Yoko Ono has never been noted for her extensive fan base. Yet the screechy erstwhile performance artist is setting records at Manhattan's WPA theater with her upcoming musical, New York Rock--music and lyrics by Ono. WPA, which has launched such plays as Steel Magnolias, is recording its biggest advance ticket sales ever for the show.

Gripes of a Golden Girl

NANCY KERRIGAN, you've won the ad dollars of some of America's best known corporations. What are you going to do next? I'm going to be uppity and ungracious! The Olympic silver medalist and Disney endorser was apparently less than delighted about riding a MICKEY MOUSE float during a Disney World parade. "This is so corny. This is so dumb. I hate it," TV footage caught her muttering. "This is the corniest thing I've ever done." But Kerrigan's snippiness will hardly cut into her bonanza. Recently bestowed with a Revlon contract, she now has endorsement deals totaling close to $10 million. Meanwhile, more ill fate has befallen her rival. Tonya Harding--for whom there are no cartoon-character parades--suffered bumps and bruises after an assault in an Oregon park. Next Year Call Emily Post

Despite big winner Whitney Houston's repeated thank-yous to God and her handlers, the 36th annual Grammy Awards proved to be an homage to bad manners. First BONO, who smoked a cigarette while gracing the Radio City Music Hall stage (a privilege one suspects is unavailable to the Rockettes), accepted an award for U2's Zooropa by declaring that "we shall continue to abuse our position and f---up the mainstream." Bono reappeared later to deliver a rambling tribute to FRANK SINATRA and present him with a Grammy Legend award. Ol' Blue Eyes, seeming somewhat shaky, indicated that he was upset he hadn't been asked to sing. "That's not what they wanted tonight," he said. "I'm angry. I'm hurt." But the ceremony's rudest gesture came when CBS cut away from Sinatra's acceptance speech to announce a list of pretelecast winners. The show's producers denied culpability, claiming the decision had been made by "Frank's own people."