Jennifer Lopez is not dating, though she still goes out regularly looking glam and getting her picture taken, because she’s hoping for a reconciliation with Ben Affleck. “She is still hoping for a miracle reconciliation,” said my well-placed source. “J.Lo has made sure her Instagram is full of thirst traps.” **** New Year’s Eve in New York City has gone digital with nycnewyears.com, the platform of John Nova and Nacer Hamai, dubbed “The Digital Nightlife Kings.” As the ball drops in Times Square, the pair will co-host 85 events, topped by parties at the Marriott Marquis, Bar 13 and the Dream Hotel Downtown. A Queens native, Nova brings the borough’s gritty authenticity to the platform, while Hamai, an Algerian immigrant who grew up in Brooklyn, adds a multicultural perspective. **** Yankee Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera signed a white and blue Yankees jersey and presented it to Gov. Kathy Hochul when the pair joined Somos Community Care founder Dr. Ramon Tallaj to distribute over 4,000 toys to children in the South Bronx at the organization’s annual Toy Drive. The legendary pitcher talked about “the importance of the holidays” and “community doctors who work in the neighborhoods” as he stuffed bags with toys for several hours. The line to Santa and the three good Samaritans stretched down and around two blocks. As the music played, Gov. Hochul, Rivera, and Dr. Tallaj danced with the kids as they distributed the gifts to the happy youngsters. Tallaj told the assembled, “Together, we’re building a lasting legacy focused on making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.” Governor Kathy Hochul distributes toys with Mariano Rivera at the Community Care Toy Giveaway in the Bronx on December 18, 2024. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) **** From Deb of the Decade to matriarch, it’s been a glorious journey for Cornelia Guest. The well-born daughter of C.Z. Guest is in “Oh, Canada” with Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli and Jacob Elordi. Elordi plays the younger version of Richard Gere’s character, and Cornelia plays Elordi’s mother-in-law. “His character is a bit of a naughty boy. I have to straighten him out,” Guest told me. “I’m the matriarch of the family. I definitely channeled C.Z.” The movie was directed by Paul Schrader, who wrote “Taxi Driver” before he helmed 23 films, including “American Gigolo.” “I’m a huge fan of Paul Schrader,” Guest said. “He’s quite the character, smart as a whip.” Cornelia Guest walks the runway at the Dennis Basso fashion show during New York Fashion Week – September 2023 at 583 Park Avenue on September 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) Guest has known Imperioli for decades since they were in acting classes at the Strasberg Institute. Having appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, and “Good Day NY” with Rosanna Scotto, Guest said, “I’ve been a busy girl.” **** The craziest story in “Mafia Takedown” by retired FBI agent Mike Campi is about a female colleague who had sex with an informant for three years. Undercover FBI operative Michael D’Urso, who had flipped 20 years earlier and helped convict two mafia bosses, complained he’d been used. “She demanded to have sex every time we met,” D’Urso told Ganglandnews.com reporter Jerry Capeci. “She’d get there early before everybody and we’d have sex. It became a mandatory routine. And if couldn’t be before, it had to be after. She wouldn’t let me go.” The book, from Skyhorse Publishing, reports D’Urso was married while being pressed into service. “He complained that he was a married guy who was forced to cheat on his wife with a woman who’s not his type in order to get the living expense money from the FBI that his family needed to live with while he was working for the feds,” Capeci told me. **** “Gypsy” — starring six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald — is getting standing ovations at the Majestic Theater. The musical inspired by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee is Broadway’s ultimate tale of mothers and daughters, ambition and fame, and the lengths we’ll go in pursuit of the American dream. Among those who went to previews are Michelle Obama, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Scherzinger, Lane Bradbury (the original Dainty June), F. Murray Abraham, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, Jason Alexander and Kerry Washington. The show, directed by George C. Wolfe, features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, who collectively have armloads of Tonys and other awards. Even people who have never seen the show will know the songs, including “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” and “Let Me Entertain You.” Audra McDonald and Joy Woods in “Gypsy.” (Julieta Cervantes) **** Composer Karen LeFrak, whose pieces have been performed by the New York Philharmonic and have received over 38 million streams, had a group of her compositions performed at National Sawdust, Brooklyn’s groundbreaking concert hall. Guitarist Sharon Isbin performed several of LeFrak’s works with the orchestra of St. Luke’s under the baton of Elizabeth Askren, including “Habanera Nights Urban Tango” which had the audience dancing in their seats. Leading the applause were Karen’s husband mega-developer Richard LeFrak, Francine Lefrak and Rick Friedberg, Gail Hilson, Justin Ellis, Marc Johnston, Elizabeth Helgeson, Charles Letourneau, and Paola Prestini. **** Out & About: Legal eagle Arthur Aidala, who has represented 50 Cent, Alan Dershowitz and Rudy Giuliani, has just been recognized by Crain’s NY as one of the city’s 101 “Notable Leaders in Law” … DJ Prince Hakim, the son of Kool & the Gang’s Robert Bell, performed alongside the Rockettes at one of their holiday parties … The NY Phil’s performance of Handel’s Messiah with conductor Ton Koopman, soprano Maya Kherani and tenor Kieran White drew a sold-out crowd including interior designer TC Chou and divorce attorneys Martha Cohen Stine and Harriet Newman Cohen.