Brokers Mock Madonna

Given the slightly déclassé location of the 57-foot-wide East 81st Street townhouse that Madonna is reportedly buying, we knew that buttoned-up Upper East Side brokers would be making fun of Madge under their breaths and in private phone calls. But now they're actually repeating those insults to the Observer's Max Abelson (anonymously, of course). Said one, "It's one of the worst blocks in creation. It might as well be on the moon in terms of a great townhouse location." Madonna's longtime broker Wendy Maitland even reportedly tried to talk Madonna out of visiting the property. [NYO]