THE SUNSET MARQUIS HOTEL HIDEAWAY

I'M CRAZY ABOUT THE SUNSET MARQUIS HOTEL. WHEN YOU NO LONGER LIVE IN LA, YOU NEED A "HOME." THIS IS IT.

Who wouldn't want to hide here? George and Karen Rosenthal have fashioned a European mini-park" with dark bars, sitting areas in bushes, hidden lawns, luscious trees, and magnificent rooms and service. I remember going to this hotel to interview rock star after rock star. That era is still very well-represented, but in the chicest way.

 What's fun is to go drink and have hors d'oeuvres in EVERY area of the hotel. I went there with Kim Novak and we enjoyed it all.

Kim Novak

 The inside bar is pitch black and all leather. I felt like we were in Berlin. It was so cool, and we loved the Ahi Poke Tuna!

Our suites were simply beautiful, and the Sunset Marquis' amenities were so thoughtful and generous.
And, any time we had a question, Brigitte, the manager on duty was superb.

Check out this bathroom!

Private patio

Fantastic! 

Another private patio

Each suite had a huge living room, bedroom, dressing area, bathroom, dining area, and patio.

In addition, they have a beautiful indoor/outdoor restaurant with a babbling brook running along side!

I can't tell you how much I recommend this hotel to everyone---whether it's only a couple of nights, or weeks at a time. It's HOME.

I LOVE COUNTESS LUANN DE LESSEPS-- I WISH HER WELL

LUANN DE LESSEPS HAS BEEN A STANDOUT ON REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK FOR YEARS. WE ALL KNOW SHE'S STRUGGLING WITH SOME ISSUES RIGHT NOW, SO, I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE.

Luann made a huge splash in NY with her shows "Countess Luann and Friends" at 54 Below. The incomparable Billy Stritch was her accomanits, arranger conductor. I knew he wouldn't be involved it this weren't real.

"I love her," said Billy. "She's a hard worker, and she's in on the joke. It's all about having fun."

I went to see Luann at Catalina Jazz Club in LA. I went early so I could see the rehearsal. I wanted to see who she really is when cameras are off. For almost two hours I watched a serious, determined person go over every song, all of her pattern, her blocking with each song. She had on glasses and was in a t-shirt and jeans. I was immediately impressed.

Of course, my friend, Jane Monheit, was one of Luann's performing guest artists that night. The toehr were Cheyenne Jackson and Jennie Poulous.

Jane Monheit and conductor Todd Schroeder

Luann sings a few songs here and there, and her patter is very funny. Primarily she is a hostess here and others come on and sing solo and/or she duets with them. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE EXCITED CROWD AT CATALINA. When she made her entrance, they were already standing on chairs screaming, holding their phones, videoing, testing, whatever. It looked like a Beyonce concert. I'm not kidding. the BRAVO crowd is very young and totally in on the camp and enjoying life. She got standing ovations during the show, and by the time she saing, "Money Can't Buy You Class," people were on chair again, including yours truly. What a happening it was. And, each dress or jumpsuit she wore, was more gorgeous than the next.

Luann, you're on a journey and you're not alone. Just take it easy.

JILL PHELPS' WELCOME TO PALM SPRINGS-RANCHO MIRAGE BIRTHDAY PARTY

THIS IS JILL PHELPS......

Jill with gorgeous cake from Swan Pastry

She's one of my closest friends and is now my neighbor. She is the ONLY person in the history of daytime television to have executive produced SIX shows---SANTA BARBARA, GUIDING LIGHT, ANOTHER WORLD, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND YOUNG AND RESTLESS.

Oh, yeah.....she's won ELEVEN Emmys.

Therefore, I gave her a "kiddy" birthday party, complete with a fake, smashed cake, mismatched silverware and glasses, and her name on the mirror in cut wrapping paper. My parties are rarely "by-the book."

Look for yourself...........

Drumming and martinis

Lynda Wells and I are kissing Chuck Yates' tummy as he decided to hang from the indoor hammock chair stand.

Don Amendolia is a master in the kitchen and bar

Chuck with George Rider

Lynda, Jill, Jeff Pilarcik, and Jeffrey Jones

I don't know why Dick Taylor was on the phone

Dedi, Julienne Gard, John Monaghan

Lynda and Jeff

Chuck and George flank me

WHITNEY HOUSTON---THE NEW DOCUMENTARY

                                                           

THIS IS THE IMAGE I LIKE TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN I                                   THINK OF WHITNEY.


"Whitney," the documentary written and directed by Kevin MacDonald, and executive produced by her agent, Nicole David, and her sister-on-law, Pat Houston, is simply devastating.

That's what the truth can sometimes be, and in this case, I could barely walk out of the theatre. When a magical performer with an extraordinary light explodes and dies because of being unable to deal with demons, therefore taking drugs to get out of the pain, it is such a horrific waste. Years can pass, and your remembrance of the pain caused by their passing subsidies a little bit. But, then along comes a documentary such as this and you just plummet again. I hope that maybe seeing this film could save even one person's life.

Everyone around Whitney was controlling her (her mother), using her, sexually abusing her, and, in some cases (her father) stealing from her. Everybody looked at Bobbi Kristina when she was born and thought, "she doesn't stand a chance." Well, neither did Whitney. 

I don't want to give away the new information presented here, but, I warn you that there's a ton of ugly drug footage that is so sad. She was so tortured and either unable or unwilling to get help, that, as I was sobbing in my seat I had to say, "Thank God she's out of pain. She truly is better off in Heaven.

I was blessed to see her three times in concert, and meet her twice. I'll treasure that.

                                       

KIM NOVAK'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VERTIGO ADVENTURE

VERTIGO'S 60TH---A LEGENDARY CELEBRATION WITH                            THE LEGEND, KIM NOVAK

It was incredibly joyful and rewarding to see Kim greeted by sold-out houses and receiving at least three standing ovations in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre, and in Los Angeles at American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre. A big thank you to Gwen Deglise who produced the LA event and Marc Heustis, who came out of retirement to do his one, last event at the Castro Theatre. Kim was interviewed by Larry King in Los Angeles, and Film Noir's Eddie Muller in San Francisco.

New York is coming up this fall/winter.

Kim's primary interest, for the last many years, has been her art. Gorgeous slide shows of her art were shown at both venues as she described the paintings. If you want to see them, go to:
kimnovakartist.com

Pensive in L.A. before going on

 Kim and Shawn King peruse the menu at Musso's--where we celebrate everything!

Kim, Larry King, myself, and Shawn

Leaving the hotel in LA for the event

Then, it was off to San Francisco---

After her fabulous interview, the audience watched VERTIGO. I  went to some bars with a couple of drag queens to check out the area. After the screening there was a party for Kim at the theatre, and then her guests celebrated with her at the classic bar, Twin Peaks. The next morning, friends and family all celebrated at The Buena Vista. We are insane over their Irish Coffees and Eggs Benedict.

The line around the block at the Castro Theatre

Eddie Muller

Kim--before she walked out. Her ovation lasted FOUR minutes. I have it on video!

Kim and Eddie

 With Marc Heustis

Kim and Buena Vista Manager Larry

Kim arriving at Castro

San Francisco mayor and Board of Supervisors declared it Kim Novak Day and presented her with formal declaration

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A personal aside---I had a couple of other adventures in San Francisco. My dear friend, Bradley James, is Mother Teresa's Choir Director. He lives in Rome, with the sisters in the convent, and also spends time in Palm Springs, San Francisco, and St. Tropez. He is also a marvelous singer, composer, and arranger. I met him at St. Paul's in San Francisco, the church where they shot SISTER ACT. I watched his rehearsal with the young nuns about to take their final vows. Then I was invited into the convent for silent prayer. It was so beautiful and moving. I'll never forget it. And, Bradley is truly an angel.

Bradley and the nuns

The next day, Bradley drove me to Mills College in Oakland. When I was looking at colleges in my senior year of high school, my mother refused to let me leave home to go east to the Ivy League schools. I thought a compromise would be Mills. When she took me there to look at it, I wanted go there more than any place in the world. I remembering telling her that as we were on campus, and she narrowed her eyes and said, "No!" I was broken. I waited all these years to back and look at Mills to see if maybe now I would see it and think, "Oh, I'm so glad I didn't go there. It's not what I remembered." Well, sadly, it was exactly as I remembered and I was broken again.

At Mills.....destroyed again

 

THANK YOU AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE FOR AN AMAZING L.A. BOOK SIGNING

THANK YOU GWEN AND MARGOT OF AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE FOR INVITING ME TO HAVE TWO OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES SCREENED AT THE EGYPTIAN and having me introduce them both and sell my books.

I chose VALLEY OF THE DOLLS because of my love of its campy perfection, plus my admiration for Jackie Susann, and how significant my meeting was with Sharon Tate and how it led to the Manson chapter. I also chose Debbie Reynolds' WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN? It is rarely seen, and I was on the set constantly.

Thank you to my friends from LA and Palm Springs. We all went to dinner at Musso's in Hollywood after. Wow! Great night!

Lesley Ann Warren and Dawn Moore

Palm Springs' John Monaghan

Ronnie Bloom and Toby Stone

Andrea Marcovicci and Julienne Gard

Sean Derek

Palm Springs' George Rider and my first interview ever- in Hollywood-Evie Sands

Jonathan Club friends Patricia Frandsen and Sonia Randazzo