BAD NEWS ANTIDOTE: SUMMER OF FUN A Beatles tribute band rocks the back lot of Paramount for the Concern Foundation’s Block Party honoring Avi Lerner Capped by yesterday’s 5.4 magnitude quake, the LA basin from Malibu to Holmby Hills to Hollywood, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills rocked during July. One Saturday night saw dueling music industry events involving iconic British legends on rival campuses: The Grammy Foundation’s gala honoring Beatles producer Sir George Martin at USC vs. VH1 Rock Honors the Who at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. The thrilling concert featured Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Incubus and Flaming Lips performing Who songs, before the legendary band, fronted by surviving original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend brought down the house. Feel it here: Click here. The same night at Paramount, Concern Foundation’s 34th Block Party raised $1.5 mil for cancer research and brought out 3,500 revelers for a food, wine and drink lover’s paradise created on the back lot, all done up in 60s psychedelic colors with huge peace sign floral arrangements on the tables—all of which were snatched up as parting gifts. Tribute band Stars of Beatlemania made sweet Fab Four music. Sixty restaurants, 15 wineries and 12 bars kept the crowd sated and nothing was left to chance as Pechanga supplied the gaming.

TCA TAKES OVER 90210 The cast of SNL and bossman Lorne meets the press After the writers strike forced cancellation of the winter Television Critics Assn. press tour, the nearly two-week extravaganza made its home at the Beverly Hilton after years in Pasadena, which dissuaded many…okay, many Westside locals from attending. This time, not so much. With panels all day and parties every night, the hotel hadn’t seen this much action since the 2007 Golden Globes, since this year’s awards were a strike victim as well. Each cable and broadcast network trotted out their executives, some clip reels and the stars of their programming in half-hour or hour increments and took questions from a somewhat jaded and increasingly exhausted audience of reporters from cities across America, and a few international locations. The women of Desperate Housewives--all looking as though they took four hours to get ready for the gig-- gamely braved a series of questions about the next Teri Hatcher: mobbed by ‘desperate’ TV reporters season, which takes place five years after the last one ended and features a glammed-up Teri Hatcher (oooh, that’s a stretch) and a fattened up housewife with two bratty kids Eva Longoria (now, that’s a stretch). In person, three of the five gals sported sky-high Christian Louboutins, and after the panel concluded, fans, oops, TV critics mobbed Hatcher and Longoria, leaving the other three ladies (Nicollette Sheridan, Felicity Huffman & Dana Delany) to make as fast of an exit possible on their ultra high heels. Creator Marc Cherry has an end date in sight for Wisteria Lane to close up in a couple years—and enter the highly lucrative syndication market. Andy Samberg: not in a box At the Saturday Night Live panel-- dominated by creator Lorne Michaels and weekend update anchor Seth Meyers--the big news was that SNL will soon become TNL. Yes, with all the satire and humor to be mined as the historic 2008 presidential campaign goes into its final stretch, SNL will also do a live half an hour on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC, beginning in mid-September. For those of us who just can't get enough of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report, we’ll set our TiVos for their granddaddy.

PARTY HEARTY, SANS CLOTHING Look closely: the “clothes” of these women are painted on Even by Playboy Mansion standards, scads of naked women (aka the Blu-ray Girls) with artfully painted- on outfits were a sight to behold as they worked the crowd at the second annual kickoff party for the ESPY Awards, sponsored by Sony PlayStation3 and Blu-ray. Traditional bunnies in bright satin and Hef himself mingled with athletes (Jose Canseco, Greg Oden) actors (Michael Vartan), musicians (Ryan Cabrera) and Playmates (Kendra Wilkinson. Holly Madison). Always amazing with the in your face sexuality that people are so well-behaved, except for the gent who got a slap in the face for trying to pat a painted fanny. The giveaway green & white striped bikinis were a big hit with the ladies (the guys had to settle for beach towels), and as the night wore on, a couple of guests slipped them on and frolicked in the pool and grotto, providing another great photo opp for the evening.

THE BIG ONES Cover model/porn star Chad Hunt showing off his assets What a creative idea for a book-signing party: have it at two places across the street from each other, one appealing to men, the other to women. When the tome is The Big Penis Book, Taschen scored a big crowd of member fans of both sexes at WeHo’s Coco de Mer and Alpha, with the editor and some of the photographers showcased signing copies before it sold out.

VERSACE LAMBO Drivers of this hot rod will be sure to attract almost as many speeding tickets as gawkers It’s not quite as high-performance as the Lamborghini Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne flew through the streets of Gotham in, but it's still a mighty impressive piece of custom automotive machinery. And who better than two Italian nameplates, Versace and Lamborghini, to come up with this object of desire: the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640 Roadster? Sure, it's one of those “if you have to ask the price you can’t afford it” deals, but because it will be custom-built to your specs, the price will vary. The ultimate howoff feature is a transparent engine hood that reveals the powerful V12 engine. Happy motoring!

POP GO THE POTATO CHIPS Crunch to contentment: Pop Chips, at Jamba Juice in NY and Gelson’s, Pavilions, Vons, Ralphs, Whole Foods and Joan’s on 3rd in LA Sometimes--usually late at night—there’s nothing better than downing a whole bag of potato chips. Or tortilla chips (TAR loves Garden of Eatin’s Red Hot Blues) or corn chips--or anything crunchy with some zing to it. But your waistline soon pays the price for that indulgence, unless you switch your (bad) habit over to pop chips, the "healthful" alternative. Tough to resist a popped potato snack with delish flavors like barbecue, sea salt and vinegar, Parmesan garlic and salt and pepper. A whole 5 oz. bag will cost you only 600 calories, and about $3.

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!

© 2007 Atkin Communications.  Reproduction of material from the Atkin Report without permission is prohibited.  The Atkin Report™ is a trademark of Atkin Communications, Los Angeles, CA.