HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE, HEALTHY, HAPPY 2016

Every year has challenges. Our job is to never lose focus of the happy times filled with love. 

Just keep going and stay close to God.

 

Here yesterday

And here today

CONNIE STEVENS' CHRISTMAS EVE......YES. I CAN BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE.

In 1975, Connie Stevens bought a house above Sunset in Holmby Hills. It was designed by Paul Williams for Sonja Heinie, and it is a true movie star house. There is a gigantic pool (and Esther Williams did take a dip from time to time), a sunken tennis court, lush gardens, a recording studio, and on the third floor is the room that was Sonja Heinie's ice skating practice area with original murals of Norway. Connie kept it original and never touched it at all.

Well, the "kids," Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher are parents themselves, and the time came this year to sell this huge house and property. For many years, (as long as I can remember) I spent Christmas Eve here. There was always a tent with Christmas lights and an band and incredible food.
I remember in those days you'd see everyone from Sid Caesar and Buddy Hackett to Troy Donahue, Edd Byrnes, and Robert Conrad. Those parties were a cross between teen idols and every comic in Vegas. They were legendary, and it was incredible to be included.

Christmas Eve, this year, was the big blow-out goodbye party. The only one from the old days was Robert Conrad. The spirits of all the others were flying around all night and the energy was eclectic and sparkling. The tent came back; the band played on; and those of us who were part of the magic were still there smiling. Thank you Connie, Joely, and Tricia for the memories.

It's not really over, by the way. We'll just change venues and make new memories.

Connie Stevens

Joely Fisher and me

Joely and the full moon

Lounge and bar room

Tricia Leigh Fisher won the hot dress contest

The beautiful fireplace mantel. Connie had it made when she bought the house in 1975

The tent

Lounge in the tent

ALEXANDRA DWEK'S ELEGANT AND WARM CHRISTMAS EVE

This was an evening of style and heart. As Alexandra said in her opening toast, "This is the first time my whole family has been together in 30 years. It is so meaningful to me."

Alexandra and her parents David and Willow Bloome. They are not married anymore, but clearly, family comes first at the holidays. We tried to "fix them up," but there were no takers.

"

Daughter Cairo Dwek and Alexandra

(L-R) Laurie McCaskill, Alexandra Dwek (the younger--her stepdaughter), Willow Bloome, Gwen (Vanessa's daughter,) Vanessa Sandin, Alexandra, Bridget Gless Keller, Cairo, Me, Audrey (married to Alexandra's cousin, Bede)

A happy shot of Daddy David

The beautiful table

Satiated after dinner

Thank you Alexandra and Joe. It was a very special evening!

CHERYL AND HAIM SABAN'S HOLIDAY PARTY FOR THE AGES

First---thanks so much for the invitation, dear Cheryl and Haim. It was an extraordinary party. The Sabans created a Dickens Village on their property as well as a snow playground, complete with a snow mountain where you could ride down in an inner tube. The snow area also had pizza and hot dog stands!

On their land they had seven tented areas--arrival; the Dickens Room, The High Tea Room; a nightclub; the Crafts Room; The Santa and Dessert Room; and a lounge room with couches. There were buffets in each room, plus bars and basically whatever one could want in the world.

Join me..........  HERE'S WHAT YOU SAW AT THE ENTRANCE

THE DICKENS VILLAGE (WHERE SNOW FELL ON YOU AS WELL)

Fiddler on the roof

Grounds and opening tent in background

Opening tent

Dickens Tent held hundreds of people

Haim Saban in Dickens Tent

Dickens Buffet

Donna and Steve Antebi were in Dickens

 AND IN THE HIGH TEA TENT.................

Dagny Dubelko

More acrobats and a high tea buffet

Michael Solomon and Luciana Paluzzi Solomon

Irena Medavoy and David Foster enjoyed the festivities. Stop it. They've been buddies for years.

AND ON TO THE NIGHTCLUB TENT:

Dancing went on for hours

THE CRAFTS TENT: In here you could make many kinds of Christmas ornaments and holiday  decorations

By the way, I kept running into Carol and Frank Biondi in each tent. We just never shot a picture!

THE SANTA TENT:

Dessert buffet to die for

LAST, MOST DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, THE SNOW AREA

Catherine Bach and her daughters Laura and Sophia

Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed

Irena, Dagny, Catherine, Me and various daughters!!!!

And Catherine took my camera and did this to surprise me!

WHAT HAPPENED, AMERICA???????

ALEXANDRA DWEK'S EXQUISITE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

Alexandra Dwek

Every year, Alexandra's luncheon is among the most joyous and elegant holiday events. Wonderful friends, magnificent food, beautiful decor---and we stay for HOURS!!!!!!

Alexandra, and her daughter, Cairo, love to make these gorgeous Gingerbread Houses. Everything is done from scratch.

Beautiful table setting

Vanessa Sandin, Bridget Gless Keller, me, Dana Pachulski, Alexandra and Michie Gleason

Cara Ahmanson Esposito, Tawny Sanders, Christine Chiu

Heidi Johnson, Kim Deck, and Katy Strouk

Dana Pachulski and Maryetta Anschutz

We know. They both win. It's Mary Milner and Tawny

Vicki Walters and Carolyn Powers

With Vanessa

Alexandra,  Jenny Jones, and Stephanie Shafran

Carla Sands and Lynn Booth