IT’S A NOM IN A BOX, BABE

Justin Timberlake gives directions on how to impress a woman with a special holiday gift in the Emmy-nominated SNL Digital Short 
Absolute favorite nod amongst the scads of recently announced Emmy nominations: Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg for their roll on the floor with laughter-inducing “Dick in a Box,” which aired on SNL during the holidays.
"I never thought it would be anything," Samberg admitted to the New York Daily News. "Justin did, though. He knows what a hit sounds like. I so want to win this Emmy." (It’s up for best original music and lyrics against songs from Scrubs, Family Guy and Mad TV.)  Good luck, guys!
Also funny how the spoof on smarmy male singing duos from the late 70s holds up on repeat viewings. If you’re one of the few who somehow missed this, add to the staggering 24 million and counting hits it has racked up to date on YouTube: 
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA

THOMPSON 90210
If the still-in-progress Thompson Beverly Hills turns out to be anything like 60 Thompson in Soho, book now, but don’t hold your breath.  Not only is a rooftop bar planned for the top of the previously non-descript hotel building (the Best Western Beverly Pavilion) on Wilshire Blvd. at Crescent Drive, but the hotel will boast an outpost of New York’s acclaimed hotspot, Bond Street. Not that LA really needs another high-end sushi place, but, well, we’ll be there. Still under construction after numerous delays, the hotel’s now set to open in September after a July ’06 opening was originally announced. Dodd Mitchell is designing.

THE CONTINENTAL TOUCH

An array of  Exec Chef Vincent Cachot’s tantalizing appetizers at the InterContinental’s Park Grill

So, you’re looking for some quiet luxury, a bit off the beaten path, but still close in and a tad undiscovered. It’s no further than a stone’s throw from the heart of Century City. Not many people realize that InterContinental has taken over what was formerly the Park Hyatt and for those with really long memories, the JW Marriott property on the edge of the Fox lot. Now that the St. Regis has gone condo, this is the hideaway hotel in the ‘hood, close to CAA, ICM and the best shopping mall in LA. New executive chef Vincent Cachot is wowing diners with his Cal-French seasonal organic menus. We carnivorously recommend the Wagyu ribeye and the Black Angus tenderloin. And unlike many places, you can actually enjoy a conversation along with the fabulous food. The spa features completely private cabana treatment rooms, each equipped with a shower, Jacuzzi, locker, bathroom and treatment table for massages and facials. Tight on time? Try the Little of Everything, an express facial, massage and manicure (90 minutes, $175.)
InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Century City 310.284-6500

PLENTY CONCERNED
 CONCERN FOUNDATION’S
33rd Annual Block Party on Paramount’s backlot July 14 raised $1.5 million for cancer research, and the live auction brought in an additional $100,000.  More than 3,200 guests attended the event honoring philanthropists Gene Rosenfeld and Rick and Debbie Powell. Fifty-six LA restaurants and drink purveyors made sure no one went away hungry or thirsty. Congrats to Concern!

ROYALTY ON RODEO
TAR had the pleasure recently of drooling over the jewels at Garrard in London’s Harvey Nichols (we didn’t get anything wet, promise!), then doing a drive-by of the NYC Soho outpost of the jeweler to Her Majesty, since 1843, no less. And now comes Garrard’s sparkling new gem of an outpost on Rodeo Drive. Check out the Wings collection, in sterling silver if you don’t want to spring for diamond bling.
Garrard, Two Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310. 860-8968, www.garrard.com
 

BAKED, NOT FRIED
Repeat three times: it’s not good to lay out in the sun, it’s not good to lay out in the sun, it’s not good to lay out in the sun. Damn…
But also not good are most of the self-tanner products on the market. They’re messy, they smell weird and they don’t look that great.
So herewith, in the heat of summer, The Atkin Report’s awards for best fake-tanning products:

#1: GlowFusion’s Micro-Nutrient Face & Body Natural Protein Tan in Light and Medium (5 oz., $58)
They aren’t kidding when they say no streaking, no staining and no odor. Bottom line: great results!
Second place goes to Estee Lauder’s Go Bronze Plus Tinted Self-Tanner for Body (5 oz., $28.50). You can literally slap this product on and look naturally tanned without worrying about streaks or smelling funky. Plus, the bronzer has a bit of shimmer for an added glow.
Worst products: Neutragena’s Instant Bronze, horrendously streaky, stinky and orange, and Kiehl’s Self-Tanning Formula, which after 24 hours, turned into a blotchy rash-like mess that otherwise might have necessitated an emergency trip to the derm.
And the best salon spray tan goes to Sunset Tan (locations including WeHo, West LA and Santa Monica) for their Tower Tan, the evolution of Mystic.  Three seconds a side and you’re good to go. Just remember to hold your breath…

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