Wednesday, October 26, 2011

WANDERINGS........

Martinis on a lounge on the Standard Roof in downtown LA. Never fails to delight.

Top Chef buddies Antonia LoFaso and Jamie Lauren at Antonia's Black Market
 Just a sampling of how I treat myself. Get out and grab life.
Hotel Zoso. Not a bad getaway for a couple of days.

Treat yourself. Go to the Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown and have the best Tres Leches cake in the world

Solange Azagury Partridge BH Jewelry Evening

Star Bev Hills realtor Susan Fedder with my mother and me

Gareth Siegel and writer-former Gernreich model Leon Bing

It's a Swarovski clock

A crystal grape chandelier is off set by burgundy velvet walls
Solange Azagury Partridge is an amazing designer located in London, but her jewels are all over the world. Her store in Beverly Hills is, itself, a jewel, and besides decor, you will be mesmorized by the designs, including the Kate Middleton ring. Azagury Partridge mixes unusual materials with perfect gems. Go to the Rodeo Drive store and see for yourself.

MORE LARRY NICOLA VODKA, MORE PHOTOS

Lobster in a peach confit
Vodkateur Larry Nicola

Jay Weston and Luke Nicola

Borscht and a chilled shot!

Yours truly with Claire Smith
This was a Belvedere Vodka dinner that Larry and Belvedere top exec Claire Smith held at Nic's Martini Lounge in Beverly Hills. It was many courses with many cocktails---all knocking your socks off. Check out the photos......

KIM NOVAK, NORMAN BROKAW AND LILLY

Kim in Norman's chair


Norman, Kim, and his treasured assistant, Mary
William Morris Chairman Emeritus Norman Brokaw's beautiful dog, Lilly, passed away recently, and it was a great loss to him and his family. His beloved long-time client, Kim Novak, who spends much of her time painting (which was always her first love) surprised him with a portrait of Lilly that she had done. Norman was so excited that he called in a picture hanger right that second and Kim "rearranged" his wall photos for him and they installed Lilly. It was a real pleasure to be a part of it.

ANDREA MARCOVICCI OPENS AT GARDENIA OCT. 27

Andrea Marcovicci, the Queen of Cabaret, is doing a four-night run at the Gardenia night club on Santa Monica in Hollywood. She always breaks-in her Algonquin shows there before opening for her regular winter stand. The new show takes you on a romantic journey through songs of other countries. It sounds amazing.........Can't wait

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

MEDAVOYS HONORED BY AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY

Brindell Gottleib makes her entrance

Kimberly Emerson's amazing shoes
Kimberly and John Emerson


Cynthia Yorkin and Harry Sloan

The girl in the bubble
The gorgeous tables


Cocktail entertainment

Cocktail entertainment

It was a gorgeous night at Brindell Gottleib's French Chateau in Bel Air. "Angels" greeted you at the door with cocktails, and then you entered a fantasy universe. A live woman in a plastic bubble was floating in the swimming pool. Dancers were placed around the property on modernistic, bold art pieces. The front driveway was transformed to an elegant palace to honor Irena and Mike. Larry King presented the award to Mike, and John Emerson presented to Irena for all the good work they do in the community and the world. We've all been to hundreds of these evenings, but this one will stand out as one of the best.
Mike, Irena, and Nicky Medavoy

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Thursday, September 8, 2011

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAGLOM'S "EATING"

Last night, as part of the American Cinematheque festival, Henry Jaglom's "Eating" was honored. The film came out 20 years ago, and was the first big screen movie to tackle food and women's body images. It is as brilliant today as it was 20 years ago. Now we frequently see starlets or stars with their skeletal selves in tabloids. But back then, it was never talked about. Women suffered in silence. I absolutely believe that this movie opened the conversation about this very dangerous problem and has saved lives. It was really fun watching it sitting next to Henry. I had seen in three times when it came out. God knows how many times he's seen it, but neither of us had seen it in a very long time. We sighed when Gwen Welles came on screen and we remembered her suffering and death from breast cancer. We gasped when the breathtakingly beautiful Frances Bergen, Candy's late mother, sang by the piano. We relived so much of our lives in that two-hour period last night. When it was over I turned to Henry and said, "It was every bit as brilliant as it was 20 years ago." He said, "I'm just shocked. It really held up. This is a very powerful experience for me." A number of the actresses who were in the film joined Henry on stage, including Mary Crosby.
Mary Crosby and Henry
"Mary's in the new movie I'm creating. It's about menopause.'" Yes, Henry, we will go through all life's stages with you and your camera. It's our pleasure.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

HIDING AWAY.........


Meet "Jill Phelps"
Once you're in Santa Barbara, you don't have to stay put. You can cruise around and see where others are hiding out.  Check out these photos and guess where I am......

Estifado Red Mole
And then later, in Carpinteria, at Oaxacan---you can get the BEST moles on the coast

LUNCH WITH RONA BARRETT AND ADVENTURES......

One of my favorite people in the world, Rona Barrett, lives in the Santa Ynez Valley. She has been there for over 20 years, and she and her husband, Dan, are living the most wonderful life. Rona is spending her time working on the Rona Barrett Foundation that is going to build new, special senior housing developments. This is her dream, and it's about to become a reality. What a fantastic thing to do.
We had lunch at Louie's at the Upham Hotel--one of my secret spots in Santa Barbara. Usually I go right to La Super-Rica, but for Rona I went "high end."


Description: Rona Barrett FoundationRona Barrett
Rona Barrett Foundation
Founder & President
P.O. Box 1559
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 688-8887

RONA THE MAGNIFICENT
UPHAM HOTEL 

UPHAM BACK YARD
The Upham Hotel and Country House is Vintage Hotel that oozes laid-back, elegant charm. To stay in their main hotel or cottages is a real treat.

Friday, August 26, 2011

DON'T MISS NOLA'S RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN LA

It opened a little while ago and it is a cross between a New Orleans hip bordello and a NY jazz club, with Creole food and live music to die for!!! Don't be surprised if you are met at the entrance by a "lovely man" with a Mardi Gras mask. You get the hottest R&B and jazz plus the BEST Shrimp Etouffe, Gumbo, Jambalaya.......you get the point. This place is in the LA Downtown Arts District right near Zip Fusion and Wurstkuche. So COOL. AND IT HAS A SECRET, SEXY BACK PATIO

LARRY NICOLA AND THE VOD BOX


There's a cool bar in Beverly Hills called Nic's Martini Lounge and Restaurant owned by chef/Vodkateur Larry Nicola. He has invented a VOD BOX---an all glass freezer that you go into for tastings. You put on the "fur" coats and hats he makes available and go into this 28 degree wonderland with walls of vodka from all over the world. Larry is a true Vodkateur, traveling all over, meeting distillers and finding new tastes. It's amazing. You HAVE to go in and try it.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, LUCILLE BALL

Lucie sits at the dressing table shooting a picture in Lucy's "dressing room."
Randall Kleiser and Lucie's husband Larry Luckinbill
Valerie Harper and Tab Hunter
The Hollywood Museum honored Lucille Ball's 100th birthday with an amazing exhibit and a party with Lucie Arnaz and the surviving cast and crew. "This is like the Desilu Annual Picnic," said Lucie gazing out over the room. It was a very touching and happy evening. After we snuck over to the Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt. Since "Ricky's" nightclub in "I Love Lucy" was the Tropicana............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS DUDDY

Lainie Kazan
Connie Stevens
All the Fisher-Duddys 
Joely Fisher through a 50th birthday party for her handsome husband, Chris, who shoots "CSI." It was a family affair outdoor picnic with a DJ and great food. Go Chris!

SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN--I LOVE HER

Senator Dianne Feinstein and I had dinner at Bouchon the other evening and DID NOT TALK POLITICS AT ALL. She is a woman with such honor and grace, and real respect for the people she serves.
Bouchon was charming and I thank Trevor Daley and Mike.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LESLEY ANN WARREN

Merrin Dungey, Debby Boone and Lynn Grigg

Lesley's son Christopher Peters and his wife Daniella

Ron and Lesley

The "Angels" you WON'T see on ABC

We all had such a good time at Lesley's that the "gang" meet up again at Susan Feniger's STREET last night and had a ball. What great food! Love to Susan
Lesley Ann's husband, Ron Taft, planned a fabulous surprise party at the home of Bob and Lynn Grigg. The surprise worked. Lesley had no clue and her scream could be heard to the beach and back. It was a very romantic party---Ron had all of us sing "Young at Heart" while he and Lesley danced. He brought in her favorite dessert--Munchies Yogurt. He had us all write something to Lesley for a special electronic guest book; the evening was shot on tape, AND there was a photo studio set up by Bob, who, among other things, is a photographer. There was so much love all around for our wonderful Lesley.