The Quest for "it"

Hollywood Street Closures for 2012 Oscar®

Hi,

To ensure public safety, support security strategies and facilitate the production of the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles have finalized street closure plans around the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood.

To accommodate the construction of press risers, fan bleachers and pre-show stages along the Academy Awards red carpet, Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, and remain closed until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28.

MTA subway trains will bypass the Hollywood & Highland station after the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday, February 25, until 6 a.m. Monday, February 27. Service at the station will resume with the first scheduled train after 6 a.m.

Between Sunday, February 19, and Oscar Sunday, February 26, additional streets and sidewalks will be closed for varying periods.

Details of the closures and maps of affected areas are available from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Sixth and the Thirteenth District City Council field offices, at www.navigatehollywood.com, and on the Academy's website at www.oscars.org/closures.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 4:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

*photo courtesy of dguides.com

 

LOS ANGELES: VERTU Hosts Pre-Oscar® Dinner with Wolfgang and Gelila Puck in Support of Dream for Future Africa Foundation -

Hello Hello!

Vertu, the market leader in luxury mobile phones, joined Gelila and Wolfgang Puck last night to host an exclusive pre-Oscar dinner in support of Dream for Future Africa Foundation. The opulent affair brought together stars and executives from the film, art, sports and music industries at the renowned restaurant CUT by Wolfgang Puck at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  

Many personal friends of the Pucks attended including: hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams; fashion designers Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier; record and film producer Quincy Jones; actresses Holly Robinson Peete, Shiva Rose and Azie Tesfai; actor Ken Levitan; singer Macy Gray; Motown record label founder, Berry Gordy; TV personality J. Alexander; acclaimed photographer Bruce Weber; crystal heiress Nadja Swarovski; The Bold and The Beautiful executive producer Brad Bell and wife, Colleen Bell; Italian Tenor Vittorio Grigolo; and actor Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Other notable guests included Essence’s Editor-at-Large Mikki Taylor; producer Lawrence Bender; handbag designer Kendall Conrad; Target executive Greg Cunningham; author Julia Moore; The Daily’s Richard Johnson and wife Sessa von Richthofen; and executive and fashion enthusiast Angelique Soave, among many others.

Guests attending the soiree had the exclusive opportunity to experience the Vertu lounge, which featured the company’s new touchscreen phone, Constellation — a luxurious handset that strikes the perfect balance between modern technology, design and unique lifestyle services.  

While celebrating the upcoming Oscars, the dinner also honored Dream for Future Africa Foundation, founded and run by Gelila Assefa Puck, which is dedicated to providing and education and feeding programs for orphans that have lost their parents to the AIDS virus. For more than a decade, Gelila Assefa Puck has been active in supporting women’s global health initiatives and the advancement of orphaned children in Africa. 

*photo courtesy of John Sciulli/WireImage

LOS ANGELES: Earnest Sewn To Open Its Second West Coast Store--Newport Beach, Fashion Island

Hi,

Following the continued success of the brands concept/lifestyle flagship store in New York’s Meatpacking district, Lower East side and Malibu, CA locations, The Earnest Sewn Co. is opening its 4^th corporate retail location as part of their overall retail expansion plan.

The second West Coast store will open in Newport Beach, California’s ‘Fashion Island’ on October 1^st 2011. Fashion Island is a key luxury shopping destination for fashion savvy residents and its many business driven neighbors located throughout Newport Beach, CA. To celebrate the opening, Earnest Sewn will be throwing a VIP kick-off party Friday, September 30^th from 7-10pm with catering by Nirvana Grille, cocktails, and live DJ.  Earnest Sewn will also be offering 25% off all merchandise. 

 

Located at 1075 Newport Center Dr. the free standing store will encompass a complete interior redesign, remaining true to the company’s American heritage store concept while allowing for the space to represent the California lifestyle. The store’s interior, much like the other three locations will have genuine industrial fixtures and artifacts from the early 1900s, as well as introduce a few distinctly ‘New York City’ design concepts into the eclectic mix of architectural styles currently featured in Fashion Island. It is an ideal location for the brand to continue to build their West coast visibility and cater to much of its existing clientele.

The 2,200 sq foot store will showcase the Earnest Sewn denim and sportswear collection for men, women and kids as well as key vendors that carry the lifestyle tradition from accessories and footwear to home accents and pet accessories.

Earnest Sewn is planning to continue its retail concept store expansion by adding an additional 10-15 stores in key cities around the world over the next 24 months.

 

LOS ANGELES: NAVYBOOT MSONE Collection Launches!

Hello!

Driver Michael Schumacher actress Ruby Lin, Creative Director Navyboot Adrien J. Margelist and actress Charlie Yeung and actor Jimmy Lin 

At 8.30 pm, the red carpet was rolled out at MoCA, the Modern Museum of Contemporary Art in Shanghai for NAVYBOOT.  The launch event started with an art movie from Michel Comte, followed shortly afterwards by the ceremonial unveiling of the limited luxury sneaker collection from MSone. The celebrations lasted late into the night with Samantha Ronson and Keith Richard’s daughter, Alexandra, at the turntables.

NAVYBOOT had sent out invitations and around 500 guests came, including many international celebrities such as international blogger Bryan Boy, DJ Samantha Ronson from Los Angeles, Alexandra Richards from New York, Swiss star photographer Michel Comte and his wife Ayako, Vivian Wu, one of the most famous Chinese Hollywood stars, society lady Charlie Yeung from Hong Kong and Ruby Lin, the famous actress from Taiwan. Also present, of course, were Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher and NAVYBOOT’s Creative Director Adrian J. Margelist, who developed the collection together and were now presenting it just in time for the Formula 1 weekend in Shanghai.

Celeb DJ Alexandra Richards

The atmosphere could not have been better and the celebrations lasted well into the early hours. “We love being here, the party is great fun and we enjoy playing music for the party crowd. The shoes look amazing. Although these are men’s shoes, I wish I could wear them tonight,” said Samantha Ronson, commenting on the evening. DJ Alexandra Richards couldn’ t stop talking about sneakers after the presentation: “I love prints and I love printed shoes. Those become very popular in America. I already wear snake skin shoes and would love to wear the MSone Starboots. It think it is great to wear sneakers.” Michael Schumacher, who was unable to stay very long because of the race the next day, already wears the shoes. “It’s a super feeling being able to wear your own shoes. My ideas were professionally realized by Adrian J. Margelist for NAVYBOOT, and have resulted in these sneakers, which are really cool.” Adrian J. Margelist, who mixed among the international crowd, is also extremely satisfied: “The sneakers have turned out really brilliant. A high-end fashion product that’s absolutely top class.” 

*photo courtesy of Andrew Ross

FIRST LOOK PHOTOS: The Green Hornet Premieres in LA

Hey There!

Tongues can't stop wagging about last night's Green Hornet Premiere in Los Angeles. The 3D caper pairs a wealthy heir with a savvy companion to become the ultimate crime fighting team. The red carpet arrivals included Green Hornet stars Cameron Diaz, Jay Chou, Michael Clark Duncan, etc. as well as the movie's Writer/Producer Seth Rogen.  Post the Columbia Pictures premiere, the party continued at the Hollywood Roosevelt.  To follow are select shots from the evening's celebrity arrivals.

Top to Bottom: Cameron Diaz; Seth Rogen; Michael Clark Duncan; Sophia Bush; Garcelle Beauvais; Taylor Armstrong; Omarosa Manigault

*photos courtesy of Steve Granitz/Wire Image

Jeff Goldblum plays New Year's at Cafe Was!

Hi!

So, what's NEW on the west coast for New Year's Eve? If you've been around Los Angeles for any length of time, you might have been lucky enough to catch actor Jeff Goldblum tickling the ivories with his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, in clubs all over the city.  An accomplished pianist, Jeff has been featured at  the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. With a repertoire that moves seamlessly from jazz to greasy swing, the vibe is audacious, hot and always hipster cool.

If you missed his New Year's Eve performance in 2009, catch Jeff Goldblum LIVE on New Year's Eve this December 31st at Ivan Kane's Cafe Was.   For more information, visit Cafe Was.com

 

TODAY IN LA: Silver Spoon Oscar Suite Retreat BENEFITING RED CROSS HAITIAN Relief Efforts

                                                                 Hello,

One day down and one to go! On Wednesday, March 2nd  Jenna Leigh Lingerie and TY KU Asian Wine & Spirits partnered with The Silver Spoon for their Oscar Weekend Suite Retreat to help raise money for the Red Cross Haitian Relief Efforts.  The exciting event will continue on today March 4th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.  If you are scheduled to be in LA join them to raise money for this cause.

 

The invitation-only event is displayed throughout Hollywood’s Interior Illusions, presenting a one-of-kind gifting experience from  top fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands including Jenna Leigh Lingerie, Tres Glam Jewelry by Brittny and Lisa Gastineau, Perry Ellis for Men, Skagen Watches, Aiaiai earphones, Gypsy 05, Life after Denim and cocktails by TY KU.

 

***in 2005 The Silver Spoon was able to raise $25,000 in two days at a similar type of event for theRed Cross Katrina Relief fund and together we hope to engage Hollywood around this year's Red Carpet season to make a difference once again

FIRST LOOK PHOTOS: Jimmy Choo Launches with a Star-Studded Party in Hollywood

Hi!

The Hollywood launch of Jimmy Choo at H& M was a big one. The star-studded party hosted by Tamara Mellon and Jeffrey Katzenberg in support of the Motion Picture Association and Television Fund, was held at a private residence high above the famous Sunset Strip in the Hollywood Hills and  featured a grammy worthy performance by M.I.A. who dazzled the guests in front of the LA skyline.  Hollywood's stars were given an exclusive sneek peek at the glamorous collection that will be unveiled in approximately 200 H&M stores globally on November 14th.  Celeb fashionistas included: Paris and Nicky Hilton, Hayden Panettiere, Kate Walsh, Whitney Port, Angella Lindvall and Olivia Wilde. Songstress M.I.A. gave a special performance for guests. To follow are select photos from the event.

Top to Bottom: Tamara Mellon, Paris Hilton, Rashida Jones, Garcelle Beauvais

TODAY: Catherine Malandrino and Frédéric Fekkai in LA

Hi!

Fashion icon,  Catherine Malandrino and  renowned stylemaker Frédéric Fekkai join forces to create the premiere day of beauty and style in Melrose Place. Today, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm , located at the Catherine Malandrino Maison on La Cienega, the two French brands join together to offer one exclusive day of shopping, cocktails, and personal hair consultations from the  Fekkai Melrose Artistic Stylist.  Guests will enjoy 30% off full priced merchandise for the afternoon and a Fekkai gift bag with a purchase valued at over $100.

Catherine Malandrino and Frédéric Fekkai, have woven together their French identities to bring a day of European style to Melrose Place.

 

 

TONIGHT: City of L.A. Fashion Week - Opening Show - Eksempel

Hi!

OMG! We almost forgot to post this, kind of like how someone forgot to remind us that Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at SmashBox Studios is NOT happening this season. In any case, LA Fashion Week must go on and TONIGHT is as good a time as any to get with it. 

The Lady Liberty Building will be buzzing at 7:30 pm when Eksempel will be doing their Fall 2009 Presentation. Apologies, the official RSVPs should have been submitted by March 18th,  but MAYBE if you are extra hip, fly, or whatever you refer to yourself as, maybe you can score entry.  Hey, it's worth a try, people often press their luck here in New York on these matters.....

Happy Fashion Week!