A bucket of Moet at The Governors Ball
There are a few, but not many more high-profile events than the Academy Awards. The Oscars themselves, the afterparties, and all the parties leading up to the big night provide great opportunities for brands to make an impact with Hollywood elites. Especially when it comes to the ubiquitous open bars that come with the territory, the competition is fierce.
Moet seems to have a lock on the bubbly quotient—it sponsors the Oscar Governors Ball and a myriad of other events during awards season, starting with the Golden Globes and their prime time camera placement of Moet magnums on the tables.
But everything else is up for grabs—especially vodka, and if you’re one of the vast majority of people imbibing, you could come out of the season with a new liquor favorite or two–or a new cocktail.
Known locally as Oscar Week because it really did used to be a full week of partying before the economy decimated budgets beginning in 2008, Los Angeles is abuzz with festivities that springboard off the glamour of the Oscars–and the world media attention focused on a precious handful of square miles between Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
Starting on Wednesday night, there were events at just about all of the area’s major hotels–from the Four Seasons on Doheny to the trendy SLS, where cars backed up on La Cienega Blvd., desperately trying to get into the parking—and then into the party.
The Four Seasons is the epicenter of awards season activity, the favored luxury hotel for out of town awards participants and the site of multiple events. Sources tell me that 52 nominees stayed there this time.
But back to the parties. Because these are school nights, Oscar events start right after work–as early as 5:30 or 6, and this is not the time to be fashionably late—unless you’re Natalie Portman. In fact, if you don’t show up on the early side, the night can quickly become a major ordeal. You risk not being able to get into the parking lot or even if you find alternate parking, you could get locked out by an overzealous fire marshal, particularly for events in Beverly Hills.
At the Andaz in West Hollywood, formerly and popularly known as the Riot Hyatt, it was a celebration of the Independent Spirit Awards—which moved back to their beach home in Santa Monica after a foray to downtown LA last year. IFC (Independent Film Channel) took over the penthouse overlooking Sunset Blvd. and the chilly pool area for a vodka-soaked soiree.sponsored by Russian Standard Vodka, Monster Energy and HAVEN360. Barefoot supplied the vino and champagne.
The rooftop poolside setting was festive for IFC
If you weren’t up for downing iced shots of vodka, Russian Standard generously supplied tins of Petrossian caviar for the guests, which included a bevy of independent filmmakers and Dermot Mulroney, Sharon Lawrence and Tara Reid. No, not to go—you had to spoon it out while you were there. Not many people left early. About 200 people partied until closing time at the hotel.
Designer Tom Ford took the opportunity to open his gleaming, new, eponymous Rodeo Drive shop to capitalize on the heat of Oscar Week– as if he wouldn’t have gotten the attention anyway, he of the smoldering stare, who was specifically singled out by Colin Firth in his acceptance speech.
But Ford was lucky it didn’t rain that night on his incredibly well-dressed guests. The downpour– and it was officially predicted–came on Friday, and played havoc with what has become one of the most high profile parties of the season, QVC’s bash at the Wetherly Gardens at the Four Seasons.
Reams of rain didn't faze partygoers at QVC at the Four Seasons
Having been to this event before, and knowing it was outside in the grass, some of us opbsessive-compulsive logistical planners found out ahead of time that it would be tented, but were still cautious enough to wear the type of footwear that could be soaked without too much stress.
And that’s exactly what happened. Rain has a way of making its way to the ground despite tenting–and within short order, part of the grounds were actually swirling with mud. Nominees Mark Ruffalo and Helena Bonham Carter were there early and escaped with their shoes fairly intact. But as the night wore on, and the crowd grew larger, it became increasingly difficult to traverse the terrain without suffering some shoe damage.
It still wasn’t enough to put, um, a damper–even though it was very damp and chilly–on the vibrant mood of the party, which is also known for its generous gift bags filled with goods that are sold on the shopping channel. The problem was outside the hotel, with a sea of cars forced to wait for the valet for up to 45 minutes. Then, after that nerve-racking, bad experience, some of the attendees were told that they couldn’t come in because the fire marshal and closed down the party.
On to the next one….
Suzie Turner and a piece from her 2011 Red Carpet Collection
Up the rain-slicked streets to the soggy hillside home of Los Angeles restaurateur Adolfo Suaya for the Supper Club’s Pre-Oscars Soiree, featuring a special preview of Suzie Turner’s 2011 Red Carpet Collection. Weather forced the runway to be moved indoors, where models paraded before the appreciative but a bit soggy crowd of about 150 guests, which included Estella Warren and Natasha Henstridge.
The Supper Club that sponsored the event is not the restaurant/nightclub in the former Vogue Theater on Hollywood Blvd. It is a private traveling dinner club with outposts in LA, New York and London which hosts about eight unique events/parties/dinners each month.
