February 26, 2008 archive

OSCARS: ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE WON BUT MASSES DIDN’T WATCH

Pretty and pregnant in purple: Cate Blanchett at the 80th annual Academy Awards

Dennis Rodman, in sweat pants, gives some love at the APLA Oscar bash at the Abbey, after getting kicked out of Elton John’s at the PDC

Mercedes Benz remade the Four Seasons ballroom into a swanky club for its Oscar viewing party. Some hotel guests weren’t happy as the festivities went loudly and late into the night

The Atkin Report is firmly in the Jon Stewart-can-do-no-wrong camp, and thus he didn’t disappoint in his Oscar hosting gig—even if the ratings did. Favorite joke: “Atonement,” finally a movie about the sexual heat of Yom Kippur.” Sweetest moment: when he brought Marketa Irglova back onstage to give her acceptance speech for Best Song from “Once.” Much has already been made of the fact that the four acting winners are all European, and all accepted the little gold man with grace. Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem both had a lock on their awards, but the women, Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton (who came in last place in the makeup awards—oy) knocked out favorites Julie Christie and Cate Blanchett. But overall, it was a night of few surprises and a palpable lack of excitement, with “No Country for Old Men” as best picture, its helmers Joel and Ethan Coen as best directors and writers of adapted screenplay and Diablo Cody for her original screenplay, “Juno.” Oscar moment that will go down in history: DDL kneeling before Helen Mirren, regal in a stunning ensemble styled by George Blodwell.

OSCAR WEEK: THE SHOW MUST GO ON

With the writers strike and many cancellations of annual events, most notably the Vanity Fair party but at least half of dozen other events, the mood just wasn’t as festive this year. The Governors Ball took on new significance as guests got down with Wolfie’s food (please, no hepatitis-carrying servers) and vino from Napa’s Sterling Vineyards. Before the big night, many people weren’t even up for picking up swag. The horror! Out of rehab Eva Mendes blitzed through the backstage On 3 gifting lounge Saturday at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on the beach in Santa Monica, stopping only to pick up a white Palm Centro smartphone. But Dennis Quaid and Felicity Huffman grabbed some Armani Exchange sunglasses and Marisa Tomei left with a white and gold anaconda Carlos Falchi clutch.

At the GBK Productions luxury gift suite at Boulevard 3, Amy Ryan, Saorise Ronan, Joan Collins, Alan Arkin, Penny Marshall, Paula Abdul and Jason Reitman took home products like Cinca straigthening irons, Robert Cramer eco-friendly furniture, Revitalash, VMV hypoallergenic cosmetics, Lindsay Condron swimwear, Croton watches and Gilty Couture ipod and iphone accessories.

TMG’s Red Carpet Ready suite featured Cuur weight loss pills, hairstyling with Pureology products, manicures with Fleur’s 24k gold-enhanced products, yummy gourmet chocolate by Dallmann Confections and after popping some Cuurs to mitigate the effects, some teeth whitening by Opalescence. For your newly slimmed ass, Plush Premium Denim, a new entry into the crowded LA-based jeans world. That’s what Lycra is for…

The SHM suite—many initials this year—showcased jeweler Natalie K’s creations and Intraceuticals oxygen facials, along with a Jelly Belly portrait of George Clooney which got a lot of lookers during their Tuesday night penthouse prime rib dinner party. WOW Creations took over the penthouse of the Sunset Hyatt for two days with SkinCeuticals, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, LA Photo Party and Sonya Paz Fine Art Gallery. At the Sofitel, it was all things green at the Alive Expo Green Pavilion including Aubrey Organics, North American Herb & Spice, Chi Tea, and Len & Joe’s natural vitamins and supplements. Handfuls were necessary to overcome the Oscar hangover.

LAST DAYS OF AUGUST

It’s the calm before the storm when after Labor Day, in quick succession, boom boom boom: its Fashion Week in New York, the VMAs in Las Vegas and Emmy Week in LA.
One man is aiming to break new ground at Bryant Park, and he’s not in the schmatta business. Executive chef Andy Pastore wants to feed the fashion masses with his take on Asian-fusion cuisine. What, you say? Food at Fashion Week? That would be a first. You could drink yourself silly, partake of any one of a number of controlled and uncontrolled substances but not run across a morsel for days and nights on end, save for a couple of chocolate-covered strawberries backstage at the shows. (At least in LA, you can buy snackies at Smashbox to soak up some of the alcohol.)
Maybe the California sunshine got to the native Brooklynite, who at press time, was searching for an NYC venue in which to temporarily hang his toque and serve up his delicacies like an heirloom tomato and mozzarella Napoleon, Thai bouillabaisse with Maine lobster tail or grilled Szechuan pepper-crusted filet mignon. Normally you can find him turning these dishes out from the kitchen at Ritual, on the site of the old White Lotus in Hollywood, with its sultry, candle-lit patio and adjacent nightclub. Pastore began his career in New York under some of the greatest names in the business, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, before moving West for stints at Wolfgang Puck’s fondly-remembered Granita, Michael’s, the Sunset Room, Sterling Steakhouse and Cabana Club.
Chef Andy Pastore wants to cook for the catwalk crowd who normally forego food for fashion at New York’s upcoming Fashion Week
Ritual, 1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood 323.463-0060

FASHIONISTAS WHO ACTUALLY EAT FOOD, IN SMALL BITES

Teri Hatcher and daughter Emerson party at One Sunset with Mark Badgley + James Mischka

Countless St-Germain liqueur artisanale cocktails were downed and truffle pizza, mini-crab cakes, tuna tartar and beef tenderloin were snatched up by a tres- fashionable crowd Monday night at One Sunset to honor Teri Hatcher as the new face of Badgley Mischka’s fall campaign. DH castmates Felicity Huffman, James Denton, Andrea Bowen and Dana Delaney turned out to show their support along with Sama Eyewear’s Sheila Vance and jewelry designer Michelle Roy.
One Sunset, 8730 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood 310.657-0111

BARON DAVIS + LA STARS = MAGIC

Angie Stone rocks the crowd at the LA Stars “Rodeo Drive Experience” earlier this month, raising money for the charity overseen by NBA All-Stars Baron Davis and Paul Pierce to benefit at-risk youth in Southern California, and furthering work done by Magic Johnson and his eponymous foundation. Always a pleasure to see his smiling face.

MARTINI MADNESS ON RODEO
With the price of a few rounds of “designer” martinis requiring a C-note these days, it’s hard to imagine five for less than $20. But that’s exactly the deal at the Luxe Hotel’s Bar 360 Monday-Friday, 5:30-7:30 pm: $3.60 drink specials include a fresh watermelon martini, or, shades of Sex and the City, a cool Cosmopolitan, both giving deeper meaning to “happy hour.” Small plates like fried green tomatoes and fresh burrata, lobster rolls and lamb lollipops add a little more joy to an after-work respite.
Luxe Hotel Bar 360, 360 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.273-0300

FROM 818 TO 310: ARCONA ARRIVES IN SANTA MONICA
Long known to Vals as THE place for a results-driven facial, Arcona is now primping and priming Westside punims. Chanel Jenae and Kevin Anderson oversee the legacy of Arcona, who was ahead of her time as a pioneer of holistic skin care. The fab product line uses only all-natural ingredients with high concentrations of antioxidants, plant and extracts, sea vegetables, essential oils, vitamins and minerals and includes the popular Magic White Ice hydration serum and refreshing cranberry toner. Chanel or one of the salon’s estheticians will advise you on a five-product regimen best for your skin type. Trust them.
The Arcona Studio, 425 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310.458-3800

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES
It sounds illogical that slapping on a clear eyeliner at night can make lashes grow longer and thicker, but TAR has it on good authority that these potions actually work, with a little patience and a lot of persistence. The best: RevitaLash, which is making some long-lashed believers out of those who use it regularly for 3-4 weeks, when results kick in. Try it yourself, and save the time spent on often over-hyped lash extensions. And there’s a great backstory: ophthalmologist Michael Brinkenhoff originally developed the product for his wife Gayle, who was losing her eyelashes during chemotherapy for breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds of each tube sold ($150) goes to breast cancer research.
www.revitalash.com, 877.909-5274

RIP OF THE WEEK
Don’t fall into this trap: valet parking at the Grove will cost you $20 unless you spend $250 at the plasticine mall. Puh-leeze. One savvy moviegoer gamed the system by purchasing a $300 necklace at Nordstrom and then returned it the next day…at Westside Pavilion.

THERE IS SOME CONSIDERATION FOR GUESTS HERE
Patrons of the Writers Bar and Jaan restaurant at Raffles L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills get free valet parking and customers of the spa at the InterContinental in Century City also park gratis via valet, which TAR awards the best chill-while waiting-for-your-car spot at a hotel in LA, complete with couches, coffee tables, heat lamps and ashtrays. But don’t get too comfortable: they always seem to deliver the cars pronto. Jiminy!

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