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Above Mick Fleetwood with the author (left).
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE fewer acts that
preceded the 2009 MTV Movie Awards
(alas, Kari Feinstein’s tent of rock star fabulousness was not pitched
for the first time in years), there were plenty of ways to taste
the good life in Hollywood. While current economic circumstances
are curbing some desires to travel abroad, accessorize with too
much bling and rely on tricked-out SUVs
to deliver celebrities from point A to point B, one luxury that
will never go away is good food and drink.
Platinum still shines
NATHALIE DUBOIS
and her DPA team took their act (the
only one for the 2009 award show season in Los Angeles) to the Peninsula
Hotel, where individual stories behind her featured entrepreneurs
and inventors were as compelling as the products. Steas, a favourite
beverage of Hollywood event planners, chose Nathalie’s event
to debut the new Steas Organic Iced Tea line, which is the first
full line of organic and Fair Trade-certified prepared iced teas.
The eco-chic Vamp Bags’ creators offered imaginitive ways to
literally wear one’s heart (and affection for the environment)
on her sleeve. BamBoo Hugs, meanwhile, offered statements for babies
and tots with whimsical animal beach cover-ups.
Though DPA, as
usual, had a very international selection of fashion finds, we particularly
liked local LA designer Eva Varro’s
packable but feminine separates and some downright funny understatements
from the European company Pull-In. Also, after so many years of
blingy diamond everything, Michelle Henderson’s jewellery (whose
devotees include Joan Collins, Angela Bassett and Kimberly Elise)
was a fabulously earthy change of pace. Each design had a wonderful
primal femininity to it, and you could imagine ancient queens donning
these dazzlers in preparation for a coronation ceremony.
It was also great to see Janet League-Katzin and
her Sphatica line back on the circuit. However, at this year’s
DPA suite, we had the opportunity
to test drive some of her best selling products via indulgent facials.
The mix of such luxuries as their Bulgarian Rose Scented Facial
preparation, Gold Finishing Serum (with real gold blended in to
protect skin from environmental stress) and other things made from
Himalayan left one feeling, post-facial, as if she plunged into
an ice-cold pool and emerged totally refreshed. Once the æsthetician
told us Janet and her team had spent time in India researching the
subject, we were dually impressed. While the Sphatica line could
be described as a vacation in a bottle, Jeffrey Crochet had us considering
a trip to Tahiti’s Manea Spa for some more hands-on attention.
A Time for Heroes celebrity carnival
Splice together the Academy Awards and an old-fashioned all-American
Memorial Day picnic, and what you get is A Time for Heroes,
which has funded the global efforts of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric
Aids Foundation since 1989. The 20th anniversary edition of the
mostly A-list-powered and attended event was headlined by now-ubiquitous
teen sensation Miley Cyrus, anchored by Sharon Stone and Heidi Klum
and powered by Disney. Celebrities (Denise Richards, Melissa Rivers,
Brad Rowe, Billy Bush, Laura Lee Bell, Lisa Rinna) and their impeccably
accessorized families not only turned out to see their colleagues
man the game booths, but also nibble tricked out midway fare from
Pink’s Hot Dogs, Drago, Crustacean and the new Beacon: an Asian
Café. Other treats for the senses included a Michael Stars
T-shirt customizing station, denim decoration of pieces from American
Eagle Outfitter’s new 77Kids line, and cast members of the
TV series Heroes celebrating
the release of Pixar’s critically acclaimed Up, and
reading stories based on the movie’s characters and locales.
While celebrities and their families were treated like royalty,
as per usual, there were opportunities to give back: some of the
luckiest kids in the world spent their time in the sun creating
special Generation Free Kits designed to benefit mothers and children
in Africa.
You can go his own way
Rock legend Mick Fleetwood hosted a most civilized wine tasting
dinner at the red hot LA live location
of Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Fleetwood, a
loyal fan of the popular US steak
house, has achieved something rare in the beverage world: creating
a celebrity-named product that’s as consistent and high quality
as his artistic endeavours. In late May, he rocked the world of
both his music fans and foodies with a sampling of his terrific
vintages, which included the scrumptious Mick Fleetwood Private
Cellar Riesling (teamed with lush appetizers of bree cheese bites
and lamb) and Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar Chardonnay and Cabernet
during dinner.
The three-course meal was composed of his personal
favourites—shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, grilled veggies and
crispy frites—that were not only excellent companions for the
wines, but simple and stunninglike Fleetwood Mac’s enduring
music itself. Though vanilla ice cream topped with berries was the official dessert, what truly gave the night a sweet note was
the fact that guests went home with an autographed copy of his acclaimed
CD, Blue Again, and a photo
with an authentic rock legend. Those who come to Fleming’s
from this point on, meanwhile, will be delighted to know many of
his selections (which were an instant hit at earlier wine dinners)
are now a permanent part of the restaurant’s wine list.
While many celebrities put their names on all
kinds of products, Mick Fleetwood went on record to proclaim he
put the same effort and love into his wines as he does with the
music that bears his name. ‘I did not want to be another person
slapping my name on the bottle,’ said Fleetwood. ‘It was
a hell of a lot of work, but also a hell of a lot of fun. I went
about developing the wines the way I approach music, with a love
for the process and respect for the journey, trusting my instincts
and knowing what I enjoy. [Business partner] Jonathan and I started
the process with a dream in a garage band-like fashion, when he
made a casual suggestion over dinner one night and I, fool that
I am, followed along. I am not a raging expert on soil or how weather
patterns affect grapes, and I am not intimidated by wine snobbery.
Also, as my life has involved a lot of travel, good food and wine
were important, and it seemed as if the success of a tour in part
tied in to great places where we ate, such as that great Indian
restaurant back in New Zealand, and so forth. It was about creating
a wine I personally would love to drink and serve friends.’
Golly GBK
The event that ultimately ended up delivering was the one hosted
by GBK and Lisa Jamal that captured
the spirit of a good old-fashioned ’50s and ’60s style
pool party and barbecue. Though gifting was the lure (with fantastic,
handcrafted luxuries from Dr Brecka Bags, Tara Moor Paris and Meggie
Jewelry on the higher end and Cool Three Bags, RNFactor
Skin Care, Revitalash, LaloFit DVDs
and Faded Fool Ts on the practical side), one of the show’s
true stars was Jesse and the boys from Ocean Bar Service, spinning
their magic with Svedka vodka, Kilo Kai rum and other cool things
from Rose’s Mixers. Volkswagen lended both transportation and
retro flavour to the proceedings by squiring guests up in eco-friendly
autos. Nitro-Cream’s sensational made-to-order sorbets and
health-conscious goodies by the chefs of Gotwheatgrass.com
goodies completed feast for the senses, satisfying the appetites
of such party-goers as Bridget Marquardt, Bella Thorne, Aaron Carter,
Alexander Gould (Weeds), Alimi Iraneta (Numbers),
Arissa Hill (CSI: Miami), Billy Burke (Twilight),
Bobb’e Jay (Role Models), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies),
Chris Warren, Jr (High School Musical), Christina Murphy
(Dance Flick), Anastasia Griffith (Damages), Angus
T. Jones (Two and a Half Men), Chelsea Hobbs (Make it
or Break It), Clifton Collins, Jr (Star Trek), Jonathan
Scaech (Prom Night), Julia Ling (Chuck), Olyesa Rulin
(High School Musical), Paul-Ben Victor (Entourage)
and Roger Cross (Mad Money). In the end, it was simply a
great way to pass a Saturday afternoon in LA,
regardless of what award show followed it, with nice people, nice
vibes and bodywork from the High Maintenance Mobile Spa.
The land of milk and honey
Even with the future of the pre-award show gifting suite in question,
the Garage PR, and the creators of
the new shopping site shopmilkandhoney.com,
came together for a sweet little event that may actually represent
the big direction in which young-Hollywood gatherings may be going.
There were some fun, fashionable items from iLuck Jewelry, Country
Love hoodies, Scanty PJs and Vans
sneakers. Lynn LaBorde did card readings based on birthdays and
their connections to a traditional playing card deck that were fun
and enlightening. However, the presence of a large table filled
with paint and markers dominated the event’s space. Celebrities
could transform simple printed Ts by OpportUnity, some which could
be donated for an auction to benefit the multi-denominational charity
Spirituality for Kids (www.sfk.org),
which this event was built around.
Krofft services
On the moderate end, the fast food chain Subway kicked off summer
with a blast from the past with their Land of the Lost promotion.
Though the event was intended to promote the Will Ferrell summer
comedy-adventure, guests such as Zachary Levi, and iconic ’70s
kid show producers Sid and Marty Krofft, stirred up nostalgia for
the original time-travel series that sent a hapless single Dad and
his teenage kids back to prehistoric times to face dinosaurs, cave
people and sleestacks (which bear eerie resemblances to former US
vice-president Dick Cheeney and Republican pundit Karl Rove). And
Sam Tyler and Alex Drake, BBC One’s
recent time-travelling icons, thought they had challenges adjusting!
Truth be told, the ‘Tusssscan’ Chicken sandwiches were
very nice, lending a gourmet slant to the menu.
Chez VuQo
If an ambitious producer of cocoanut-based vodka and fruit wines
rents out the studio location of the American television series
CSI: New York, you know he or she really believes the products
will succeed in the world’s most challenging marketplace. That’s
exactly what COO and co-founder Jose
Panlilio had in mind for the US début
for the new Filipino-made VuQo vodka and Haliya Mango wine. The
Hollywood-style première for these libations pulled out all
the stops, from non-stop passed appetizers and buffet to a live
stage show which featured rap artists AudibleSol and a mixologist
performing on the same stage as go-go dancers, well, shook things
up. Pomp and circumstance aside, we found the mango wine most delightful
and cosmos made with VuQo more than good enough to get us interested
in the (now) old Sex and the City signature cocktail a-new.
Elsewhere around Los Angeles, spirits were the
stars, with mixologists behind the brands making up a different
kind of A-list—as in appealing, appetizing and aromatic. Le
Tourment Vert, Herradura Tequila and Neve Ice were among those inviting
tastemakers to sample their interpretations of the good life across
the city. Across the board, it’s living proof that top-shelf
liquor is not going away, even if most visible forms of excess has
been shelved in this town for the moment. •
Elyse Glickman is west coast editor of Lucire.
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From top Sid and Marty Krofft. Zachary Levi
(Chuck). Other guests at the Land of the Lost promotion.
Gavin Keilly. Bella Thorne at GBK. Bridget Marquardt at GBK. Jesse
the bartender. Remaining photographs from Milk & Honey and the
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation benefit.
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