Oscar Week is an opportunity for people in Los Angeles to put on their party shoes, mix, mingle, eat and drink for literally five nights in a row, culminating in the granddaddy of celebrations for the big night on Oscar Sunday, the vaunted Vanity Fair post-party at the Sunset Tower Hotel.
Here’s a look at some of the select bashes that went on around town:
Wednesday night, Global Green at the Avalon: we were not able to attend this one, as we have in the past. Like so many of the Oscar parties, it is an annual event where guests know the drill. This one, put on by and benefiting the environmental organization, has always been a dress-down affair held at various Hollywood nightclubs or theaters. But we have it on good authority from several reputable sources that it has gone downhill since its heyday when Leonardo DiCaprio pulled up in a Prius to demonstrate his eco-sensibilities. In the gift bag: recyclable paper towels and other eco-products you could get at Whole Foods. Granola bars, anyone?
Thursday night, QVC at the Four Seasons: held outdoors on the back lawn of the hotel for several years running, this year’s attendees were happy that it didn’t rain as it did last year, turning the area into a veritable mud fest. The home shopping network imported 10,000 white roses to decorate the grounds, and did a live broadcast. Guests were greeted by flanks of waiters proffering drinks and appetizers which included tuna and beef tartare and salmon on mini potato pancakes topped with caviar. The party featured a huge circular bar that served up the full range of spirits dispensed by friendly bartenders. Spotted there: Chris Noth and Kyle Richards—not together, along with Stacy Keibler, but no George, Gilles Marini, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Richie.
Friday night, Women in Film at Cecconi’s: sponsored by Perrier-Jouet champagne and hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow and WIF prexy Cathy Schulman, the organization toasted Oscar nominees Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Janet McTeer, Annie Mumolo, Sandy Powell, Dede Gardner and Demian Bichir.
Also spotted in the shoulder to shoulder crowd that jammed the WeHo hotspot, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Shailene Woodley, Jennifer Beals, Ziyi Zhang, Gabourey Sidibe, Allison Janney and Gwynny’s beautiful mom, Blythe Danner.
The parting gift, products from M.A.C. Cosmetics, chosen by Amanda Knight, the Oscar-nominated makeup artist for “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2.”
Saturday morning, Mont Blanc Princess Grace de Monaco Collection champagne brunch at Hotel Bel-Air: a royal affair with her son Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene in attendance, and a coming out party of sorts for the hotel, which underwent a two-year renovation and reopened last year. This was the first time many of the guests got a look and taste of the modernization of the classic property.
Speaking of classic, the Princess Grace jewelry collection from Montblanc was featured in full for the first time. It also includes writing instruments and timepieces in the Swiss watch-making tradition.
Among the guests: Dennis Haysbert, Teri Hatcher, Rosario Dawson, Nastassja Kinski, Petra Nemcova and Rosanna Arquette, some of whom had seen the collection and other offerings earlier in the week in a luxurious suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Saturday night, Governors Ball preview at the Kodak Theater: this was Cheryl Cecchetto and her Sequoia Productions 23rd time producing the spectacle, and this year they tried something different: casual seating. In the past, there have been elaborate place settings, but this time, it was musical chairs time for the vast majority of attendees. The room featured beautiful red rose centerpieces and a retractable Oscar-themed chandelier over the dance floor. What doesn’t change: classic Puck menu items like salmon-covered Oscar crackers with a caviar topping and bottomless glasses of Moet to celebrate.
Sunday night, Mercedes-Benz viewing party at Soho House: everything the automaker does is first-class and this event lived up to that, taking over the exclusive top floor of the private club for a festive environment in which to view the awards and party it up simultaneously. Not one of those stuffy viewing dinners, but the food never stopped coming to your table, including a yummy tray with four types of sliders: beef, tuna, vegetarian and short ribs. More Moet was also on tap, and lasted until just before closing time when some guests had to switch to non-bubbly libations.
Weinstein Co. celebration at the Mondrian: raising the roof for the huge wins by “The Artist,” the Sunset Boulevard hotel’s SkyBar was tented to keep things toasty for the night’s winners, including Michel Hazanavicius with wife and supporting actress nominee Berenice Bejo, Jean Dujardin, Meryl Streep and the man who’s made Oscar campaigning a second career, Harvey Weinstein. His designer wife Georgina Chapman also had a big role at the Oscars, as she outfitted some of the contenders in Marchesa.
Vanity Fair at Sunset Tower: the celebrity traffic jam was blinding with everyone from host Billy Crystal, Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez with boyfriend Casper Smart, Cameron Diaz, Sean Combs, Rooney Mara, Tom Ford, George Lucas, Claire Danes, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis and Joan and Jackie Collins making the scene at Graydon Carter’s fete—and many gobbling down the traditional In-N-Out burgers. No need to suck in the gut at this point in the evening after all the stress and pressure that awards season entails. Just think, the machinery cranks up again in about six months. Until then, more burgers, please.
