A Happy Client

Hello Wendy,
Thank you for having us for lunch on Wednesday. It was lovely.
Have a great weekend,
Dan Braunstein
Administrative Specialist / Consulate General of Israel

Happy Birthday, Susie

According to colorstrology, you're chalk violet. Kind, committed and detailed are the three words that sum you up: Susie Dobson. Hope it was happy!

A Happy Travel Agent

How thoughtful and sweet
I love my birthday wishes!
Thank you so much!
My best,
Tracy Milenkovic
All Star Travel Group, A Member of Tzell Travel

Das Rheingold

Director/Designer, Achim Freyer took us on a stunning visual journey last night through the world of the Ring. In over fifteen hours of playing time, Wagner deals with the world's origins all the way to its apocalyptic end. Das Rheingold was just under three hours setting the mammoth myth in motion revealing the ring's curse and unleashing its vengeance. Thank you to WHERE magazine for introducing us to this remarkable opera of Gods, goddesses, giants, and dwarfs struggling to be lords of the ring. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.laopera.com/

A Contented Guest

Dear Efrem,
My son Ron Diskin is staying at your Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive for two weeks while he is visiting me from Israel. He loves it there. Your staff are all very nice, and Katrina [reservations] was especially helpful in making sure Ron had a lovely room and could stay through his visit home. I send you warmest regards, Rita Spiegel

Honoring Frost/Nixon

Reels and Tape was the third entree on the menu last night, reference to Frost/Nixon. James and Kevin outdid themselves this year. When I walked in their home, I was offered a "Scarlet Fever", reference to The Reader. From there we had delicate blini with caviar, pansy salad, a 'slumdog' chicken-mango sausage wrapped in kulcha, Three Musketeers shake, old-to-young cheese with old-to-young port and of course, spotted Dick splashed with Cointreau. And did I mention that I came in 2nd for the cash pool?

Element of Style

Edith Head won eight academy awards for costume design. More than any other woman in history. Bits of advice: "Fashion is like a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will." or "The cardinal sin is not being badly dressed, but wearing the right thing in the wrong place." or "Don't wear your clothes too tight. A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to prove you're a lady."

A Happy Guest

Hi Fiona, I have been meaning to ask you to pass on our thanks to The General Manager at Luxe Rodeo for our wonderful stay in January. The staff were fantastic and Beverly on the front desk was a stand out... so helpful, very knowledgeable on all restaurants,attractions and shops and she was always happy and smiling. Otto in the bar and his staff also gave us lots of great tips. They had so many suggestions each evening for our outings for the following day.
I would love you to let Wendy and others there to know how much we enjoyed and appreciated being there. Such a great place to stay.
Hopefully we will return in the near future. DI YATES

Oscar Fashion

There are fashion opinions galore in today's news. The day after the Academy Awards is a blogger's paradise. I'm so proud to say that we had the Elie Saab team staying with us. Angelina Jolie looked amazing!
Dear Wendy,
Thank you for all your kind support as usual....they loved your hotel and this is to reconfirm the same suite and connecting room 227 and 229 for next year.
Hope you are well,
Xoxo
Lucio [Di Rosa]
Celebrities & PR Consultant

Thought for the day

The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
-Eden Phillpotts

Anticipation is mounting...

At the movies

Q: How many nominees can you fit in a Gran Torino?

Heath Ledger Scholarship Honoree

Last night, Australians in Film ushered in the Heath Ledger Scholarship Award at a reception at the Chateau Marmont. Ledger's family was present to see the first award recipient, Oliver Ackland, graciously accept the honor surrounded by so many from the AusFilm community. Heath Ledger has been posthumously nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his amazing performance as the Joker in Batman Returns. It is the second time Heath's work has been recognized by the Academy with his previous nomination being for Best Actor in 2006 for his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Academy Award Documentary Nominees

For the second night in a row, I spent my evening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wilshire Blvd. My dear friend, Melissa Volpert, Director of Sales at The Standard Hotel on Sunset Blvd invited me to join her for the 27th annual celebration and reception. Host, Lily Tomlin, lead us through the Best Documentary Shorts and Best Documentary Features; making us laugh and cry. It was such a great pleasure to see the passion and commitment that all of these dedicated and talented filmmakers demonstrated in their work. Anyone interested can still purchase tickets at http://www.documentary.org/docuday09 to see them all on Saturday, February 21st at Writers Guild of America Theater.

Shorts!

Oscar Week was kicked off with a screening of "Shorts" and "Live Action Shorts" last night. There was also an onstage discussion with the nominated filmmakers. When I put my $10 into the pot on Sunday at James' annual Oscar Party, it's going to be even harder to check the winner's box in these two categories. They were all terrific! http://www.oscars.org/

Robert Evans and Me

When we were approached by the Rodeo Drive committee to host a Vanity Fair photograph for a week leading up to the Oscars, I was thrilled to learn that we could choose the perfect photograph from the extensive collection of glamorous celebrities. Seen here with the legendary Robert Evans in our lobby, I invite you to view a special photographic installation of award-nominated and award-winning actors as featured in the Abrams book Vanity Fair, The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images. The images will be on display from February 16 to 22 on Rodeo Drive and coincides with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's current exhibit "Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008." Participating retail locations includes Bally, Bernard K. Passman Gallery of Beverly Hills, Brooks Brothers, Cartier, Chopard, David Yurman, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Garrard, Gearys Beverly Hills, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Ilori, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger LeCoultre, Judith Ripka, Lacoste, Lladró, Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Mikimoto, Ralph Lauren, St. John, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.

A Happy Travel Agent

Hey Wendy-
Just wanted to say Thank you so much for the birthday card and my horoscope (its me to a T!!)
Hope all is well. Thanks again, Frank
[Frank Perrotta / Manager, Travel Services, HBO Travel]

Dan Graham: Beyond

It's Valentine's Day and I'm attending another legendary opening party at MOCA. This time it's Dan Graham: Beyond. The work of Dan Graham has been central to the development of art since the 1960s—from the rise of minimalism, conceptualism, and video and performance art to explorations of architecture and the culture of rock and roll. I was patiently standing in line to enter one of the mirror and glass structures when two men just walked in ahead of me. I turned to the guard and inquired as to why I was waiting. Who did that man think he was? The artist? So I stopped waiting my turn and stepped-in to join Dan.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Olive.

Olive, who?

Olive you!

"Truth Lies and Ted"

Here is a link from Tuesday's filming by gossip columnist Ted Casablanca from E! online. Watch for coverage of Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive! This segment "Truth Lies and Ted" gets a quarter of a million views per week. Seen here with Ted Casablanca is our very own publicist, Susie Dobson.http://vids.eonline.com/services/player/bcpid1396519019?bctid=11894527001

The International

Australians in Film and Sony Pictures Releasing International presented a screening of The International last night. Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) were determined to bring to justice one of the world's most powerful banks. Chasing all those bad guys across the globe made us all very hungry. Thank goodness there was a post-screening reception serving complimentary Penfolds and Rosemount Estate wine, Cooranbong vodka, beer and appetizers.

hey wendy
thanksssssssssssss
you're the best. hope all is well with you.
have a great day
ttyl
mark [Mark Keene, on-air radio personality]

A Happy Travel Agent

Wendy:
This is why he comes back to you.
Thank you as always. Kay (Tzell Travel)

The Grammy Museum presents "Michael Jackson:HIStyle"

On February 7th, the Grammy Museum unveiled Michael Jackson's one-of-a-kind exhibit featuring a selection of elaborate clothing that came to define the "King of Pop". For a limited time, visitors will have a rare chance to view some of the jackets worn on the Victory Tour, at his 1984 American Music Awards appearance and at the dedication of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One bejeweled piece is said to weight nearly fifteen pounds! http://www.grammymuseum.org/

2009 Economic Summit

Held annually at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, this year's economic summit topic was Temporary Upheaval or Paradigm Shift? I was there for two hours and this year's panel of five economists, strategists and business leaders came to five conclusions. Seen here with the General Manager of Avalon Hotel and The Crescent's, Shaw McPherson.

A Contented Guest

Dear Wendy,

Thank you for your response. I must say that despite this reservation coming in at the last minute and during the Christmas period, everyone who handled this reservation booking, including Rolando and yourself, have been most efficient and thorough with the follow up.

The rooms were comfortable and staff friendly. It did make our stay away from home a lot more enjoyable.

Thank you.

Kind regards,
Karen [Lai, HBO]

Thought for the day

Gossip, even when it avoids the sexual, bears around it a faint flavor of the erotic.

-Patricia Meyer Spacks

90210

Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive was set, ready, go! Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth are reprising their roles on 90210 and yesterday they were filming a scene in Cafe Rodeo's al fresco patio on Rodeo Drive. The director and crew had to re-write the scene due to the rain shower but everything went smoothly. Proving that drizzle and convertibles don't mix.

Beyond Words

The Writers Guild Foundation holds regular events featuring the top writers in the entertainment industry. Last night's "Beyond Words" brought together moderator Judd Apatow who set the tone with some comic relief for an evening of interviews with the likes of Simon Beaufoy [Slumdog Millionaire], Lance Black [Milk], Eric Roth [Curious Case of Benjamin Button], Jonathan Nolan [Dark Knight] and Tom McCarthy [The Visitor]. My girlfriend was studiously taking notes on a pad of lined paper. I hope that a lot of young writers in the audience were doing the same. We wish them patience and luck. http://www.wga.org/

Minsky's at the Ahmanson Theatre

Minsky’s is the big, racy, new musical comedy at the Ahmanson Theatre [downtown]. It's a backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City, that peeks into a world populated by comedians, con men and burlesque. Based on the four Minsky brothers, Billy Minsky is the man who falls in love using cunning and some cops. The creative costumes were worth a ticket. Watch for the leggy lobsters and some bouncing bongos! Oh, and there's a banana or two.
http://www.centertheatregroup.org/

Zombies, Inc.

There were a couple of zombies who greeted us at the door but pictured here is director, Jeromy Roberts, and Pamela Tretter of Empty Vase. Congrats go out to him on the pilot episode of Zombies, Inc. We met the cast and crew and they were deadly serious about making 5 more episodes.

LACMA's "Two Germanys"

The sprawling exhibit, "Art of Two Germans / Cold War Cultures", is a richly details survey of nearly 50 years of painting, sculpture, photographs and other work made in the wake of shadow of World World II. It took us about two hours to make our way through 300 works by 120 artists. I was grateful to be with a German-born baby boomer to help me interpret a few of the pieces. The timeline put generations of work into a new perspective. Gallery after gallery in the BCAM building, 2nd floor, looks back at Germany's fractured past. http://www.lacma.org/

Groundhog Day

Q: what happens if the groung log sees its shadow?

A: we'll have six more weeks of splinters.