Partying, Oscar 2010 Edition
What better time to throw a party than Oscar Week? Venues all over town were booked with soirees—and if the bashes didn’t really have anything to do with the Academy Awards, that was fine, too.
A lack of heat lamps didn’t put a damper on the QVC party in the “backyard” of the Four Seasons. Women’s heels sinking into the grass? Everyone dealt. The champagne-soaked, glitzy bash featured reams of bite-size appetizers and an extremely well-dressed crowd, including supporting actress nominee Anna Kendrick, who did have to go inside to get her coat. 93-year old Ernest Borgnine (who looks amazing) and wife Tova (who did, too) made the scene before hitting another party over the hill where they were honored, the Believe in Dreams event on a Universal soundstage where “Phantom of the Opera” was shot.
The swank party, hosted by the charity’s Chandler and Rick Lutz, featured a full carved meat buffet, a mashed potato bar and talk about a sugar rush–a decadent dessert room overflowing with gorgeous cupcakes from Bella Donna, cookies, ice cream and chocolate fondue.
The Andaz West Hollywood (formerly the Riot Hyatt) was mobbed for three nights running with rooftop/poolside cocktail receptions honoring “The Cove,” “Precious” and the Golden Trailer Awards (best and worst movie trailers) in conjunction with HAVEN360 and Hachette Filipacchi Media. For “The Cove,” obviously no fish or seafood was served, but other tasty appetizers were aplenty and the wine from Napa’s Johndrow Vineyards and Jack Daniel’s specialty drinks flowed as guests including Ben Stiller (not in blue makeup) thronged the hotel’s Panorama Ballroom.
Wolfgang Puck’s culinary creations, magnums of Moet and Sequoia Productions’ 1930s Streamline Moderne/Art Nouveau supper club theme in shades of charcoal, blue and purple greeted guests at the Governor’s Ball. Beautifully set and centerpieced tables were dressed in layers of silvery iridescent taffeta with platinum and cognac matte satins. Produced by events maven Cheryl Cecchetto for the 21st year running, the theme merged artistic creativity and glamour with the traditional elegance of the Academy Awards.
At the Beverly Hilton, Children Uniting Nations, which helps at-risk youth and foster children, honored local and national heroes who mentor kids during an Oscar viewing party and dinner in the International Ballroom, presented by TV Guide and THR. The menu was created by celebrity chef Stefano Tedeschi of Stefano’s Italian Grille in collaboration with Executive Chef Suki of The Beverly Hilton. While the Academy Awards were being handed out, founder and host Daphna Ziman presented Randy and Rebbie Jackson with the “Angel Award” on behalf of their brother Michael Jackson’s humanitarian work for children.
Along with the films being celebrated for the Oscars and Independent Spirit Awards, beauty was a big party theme. Anastasia showcased her new Brentwood salon for partygoers with complimentary blowouts, manicures and the house specialty, brows. It was girly beauty night at the Beverly Wilshire in celebration of its spa, so it was refreshing to see someone with no makeup—Apolo Anton Ohno, who made the scene on the chilly poolside patio, sans his recently scored Olympic medals. Attendees at the Sunset Tower’s Argyle Salon and Spa braved the pre-Vanity Fair party security to partake of top-notch hair and beauty services—and gallons of Cosmopolitans.
