West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval

Massive crowds turn out each year for WeHo's Halloween spectacle, which shuts down a stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard. Six stages of live entertainment, a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" tribute, graffiti artists, dancing, parade and general mayhem will all be a part of the evening's activities. Starts at 6 PM to 11 PM. www.westhollywoodhalloween.com. Enjoy!

Anne Fontaine reception

Lovingly referred to as 'the white shirt store, Anne Fontaine's passion for clothing began at an early age. Her taste for the natural is clearly express in the white shirt, to which she brings an unforeseen level of diversity. New materials are presented every season, from poplin, pique cotton, organdy and lace. Fontaine hosted a lovely reception to thank their loyal customers. Luxe Rodeo Drive provided the catering.

More treats than tricks

Trick or Treat? The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays dates back to the Middle Ages; we've certainly come a long way from then. The National Confectioners Association reported in 2005 that 80 percent of adults in the United States planned to give out confectionery to trick-or-treaters and that 93% of children, teenagers, and young adults planned to go trick-or-treating or participating in other Halloween activities. In 2008, Halloween candy, costumes and other related products accounted for $5.77 billion in revenue. Happy Halloween weekend!

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hi Wendy,
Thank you for the birthday greetings. I cannot believe another one has come around. I guess it is better than the alternative! Hope all is well at Luxe. Thank you for the complimentary glass of wine. I will enjoy it when Ann and I get to B.H. for some shopping.
Best regards, Stan [Stan Jones Manager, Encino Branch AAA Travel/Auto Club of So. CA]

Jack-o-Lantern Contest at Luxe

Oh!—fruit loved of boyhood!—the old days recalling,
When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling!When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin,Glaring out through the dark with a candle within! - from "The Pumpkin" (1850) by John Greenleaf Whittier

One of the most instantly recognizable symbols of the Halloween season is the hollowed and carved out Pumpkin known as a Jack-o'-Lantern. Every year, millions of children and adults alike sit down to carve their own unique and frightening versions of this hallows eve mascot to put in their windows or on their front porch. And in this case, the Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel has an annual tradition of carving great pumpkins. It's not just a matter slicing and dicing, we've entered into a contest of skill. May the sales office win!

Solange

What a grand affair! The opening of Solange Boutique last evening drew a beautiful crowd, curious to see the newest gem on Rodeo Drive. Gems, gems, gems; there are some simply wonderful pieces to be found here. Champagne, disco dancing and aura readings flowed. We wish them much success. Seen here with some of the in-crowd. http://www.solangeazagurypartridge.com/

Count Chocolate

If you're looking for a little more upscale chocolate candy this Halloween, we suggest K Chocolatier in Beverly Hills. Voted the "Rolls Royce of Chocolates" by Food Network, Dian Kron has created these amazing chocolates fresh daily and packaged them in air-tight packets. For easy shipping, call 310-248-2626, or just stop by 9606 Santa Monica Blvd! No tricks, just treats.

Happy Dining - Cafe Rodeo

Wendy, Thanks you ever so much for the wonderful lunch. I wish we had more time to discuss the business. I am finishing up a tour with El DeBarge and didn't have a moment to spare. So, that is why it took me a moment to say, "Thanks". So, the next time we must do somewhere off the premise. Always, BGJ

BHCVB destination: New York City

Hi Wendy,
Aaawww.......we looked adorable!! Thanks again for inviting us to the Beacon Restaurant. We had so much fun! Abby [Abby Blaha, Product Development Executive - Quikbook.com]

Beverly Hills did it again! We held a fabulous party in New York to celebrate our top restaurants and invited le creme travel agents and media. Seen here with Abby Blaha and March Albert from Quikbook.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Wendy,
You are so sweet. Thank you so much for my Birthday card and drink ticket. I hope you are well and look forward to seeing you at the next screenings. Soph [Scarf, Executive Director, Australians In Film]

Halloween around the corner

Halloween is around the corner and costume stores abound in New York. Everyone is looking forward to Sunday when the big parade down Sixth Avenue! Vampires seems to be a favorite subject.

Bryant Park

This morning I meandered my way across Bryant Park on the way to my first appointment. For two days they have been working on building the ice rink and various additions for the holiday season. On the way back tonight at 6:00 o'clock, there was a charming merry-go-round, another restaurant kiosk and a lot of amateur photographers taking pictures. Including this one.

Where Italy meets Fifth Avenue

EATALY, a giant Italian food hall opening in a month or so on West 23rd Street near Fifth Avenue, is a culinary extravaganza, from arancini to zabaglione. The complex created by Joseph Bastianich an Mario Batali has more than 20 retail departments, most with their own dining areas. As I walked from one area to the next, in this 36,500 square foot space, I couldn't quite find my bearings and ended up with a quick panini and espresso. Besides I'm in New York on sales calls; not a lot of time between appointments. But wow, I'm impressed and so were a few hundred other New Yorkers or tourists. One of my clients made the suggestion that I take a look at this latest installment of the Batali empire and it was worth the extra four blocks.

Fall is in the air

All the decorative details are abundant in New York this weekend. I give the Big Apple an A+ for best use of chrysanthemums, bittersweet and gourds. Every restaurant and grocery store is packed with signs that the season is changing. Seen here is the produce section of Dean & Deluca in SoHo. And almost every menu features Brussels sprouts as the seasonal vegetable.

A Happy Client

Just wanted to thank you for being so gracious and assisting us in making our visit to LA a success. Wendy you have a great staff they are wonderful group. Thanks again, Elaine and AG Saab

Beverly Hills Literary Escape

Next weekend immerse yourself in everything literary. The Beverly Hills Literary Escape (October 22 – 24) includes once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to have coffee with New York Times best selling authors, enjoy lunch with celebrity chefs and sip cocktails with noted littérateurs, all bookended by a “Moveable Feast” along Canon Drive to kick off the weekend and An Evening with Author Colum McCann to finish it off. All events take place at either the Saban Theatre or at various hotels and restaurants throughout Beverly Hills. http://www.bhliteraryescape.com/

Salvatore Ferragamo, Perfect Fit

Salvatore Ferragamo and Harper's Bazaar held an exclusive shopping event today in honor of the 9th annual celebration of Dreams Gala. The fall/winter 2010 collection featured ready-to-ear, shoes and accessories were mobbed with fans from as far away as Santa Barbara. 15% of sales will benefit The Dream Foundation: purchases today through Sunday, October 17th. Seen here is a special installation of limited edition archival shoes.

Fall Festival - October 16 & 17

Get your autumn fix in Los Angeles. Find pie-eating contests, magic shows, craft demonstrations, live music and endless food options. The festival also features many kids activities such as a petting zoo, fancy painting, carnival games and more. 11 a.m. till closing at Farmers Market. Third Street at Fairfax Avenue, adjacent to The Grove.

Real Housewives, Beverly Hills Style

Bar 360 at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel presents Bravo Thursdays, a weekly Real Housewives of Beverly Hills viewing party, beginning tomorrow, October 14th and continuing every Thursday from 8pm-11pm for the duration of the season. Champagne cocktails, bar bites and high wattage drama will be featured along with the opportunity to win fabulous prizes.
Champagne cocktails will flow ($12-$18), and the full Bar 360 bites and cocktail menus will be available from 8-11pm each Thursday. While snacking on Ahi Tuna Tartare on Taro Chips ($12) or Truffle French Fries ($10) and watching the show, patrons can enter a drawing to win an overnight stay at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, and the chance to experience life as a Beverly Hills drama queen. The highly anticipated series premieres on Thursday, October 14 at 10 p.m ET/PT.

Stylechic tip for the week

Find a talented tailor. Fit is key. Alter your pieces so they flatter you perfectly; you'll look great without looking in the mirror. Wear all of your looks with total confidence, good energy and humor. Don't let your look take you over. Enjoy every minute of showing off who you are in your favorite pieces. "Style is primarily a matter of instinct." - Bill Blass http://www.stylechicla.com/

A Happy Client

Wendy, Thank you so much for taking care of Cinzia. She was very pleased. Have a wonderful day. Thank you again, Darryl [Cesare Paciotti Boutique]

Counter Cinema: An Avant-Garde Film Festival

From October 14–16, MOCA, Pacific Design Center and Charles S. Cohen will present Counter Culture, Counter Cinema: An Avant-Garde Film Festival co-curated by David E. James and MM Serra. This cinema extravaganza, programmed from the collection of The New American Cinema Group/New York’s Film-Makers’ Cooperative, showcases the long-term alliance between experimental cinema and counter-cultural activity. Covering 50 years, these films and videos explore sexuality, politics, communal experiments, and transgressive film appropriations. Proceeds benefit MOCA and The Film-Makers’ Cooperative.Individual Program Tickets $10/$8 MOCA MembersFestival Pass $45/$40 for MOCA Members. For Schedules http://www.pacificdesigncenter.com/

Beverly Hills sweet smell of success

The City of Beverly Hills is launching its own line of perfumes this week; you could call it 9021'eau'. Branding consultants said they couldn't recall another city with its own beauty products, but of course, not every city is Beverly Hills. This evening the launch took place at the famous Greystone Mansion where beautiful ladies in white gowns, offered spritzes of "Must Have", "Rodeo" and "Iconic". Ah, there's nothing like the sweet smell of success!

Mariposa lunch date

What a surprise to find myself surrounded by Christmas decorations at the bottom of the escalator leading to Mariposa Restaurant. I hadn't really given much thought to Santa and pine trees. I'm still scouting for Halloween costume accessories! But don't let me spoil your fun - the choices are spectacular.

Entering the restaurant, all holidays were soon forgotten having lunch with the incomparable, Caran Sealey, Manager Public Relations at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills. One word: popover. Okay, two more: butter and fresh strawberry jam. Nothing better.

Travel Fact

Orbital Technologies, a company based in Moscow, and Rocket & Space Corp. Energia, a spacecraft manufacturer, have partnered to build a hotel that would orbit Earth. The Commercial Space Station, as it has been dubbed, is scheduled to be ready by 2016, according to a company representative. But Bigelow Aerospace, a Las Vegas-based company owned by hotel chain founder Robert Bigelow, plans to have its own commercial space station ready by 2015.

Social Network

Finally saw the film, Social Network, over the weekend. Everyone had been talking about it and most of my friends had already seen it. Just as in the script, there is this tremendous word of mouth about the movie. What would happen if all of us closed our Facebook account at the same time?

Happy Birthday, Sean!

There's nothing like being single and enjoying [albeit briefly] birthday celebrating with a herd of 7-year-olds. Sean Kamifuji, 7 year old son of Cecilia Moreno and Stephen Kamifuji (much loved publishing and creative team of Genlux magazine) organized an afternoon of fun at the Peterson Automobile Museum. The top floor of the museum is an interactive area for kids to enjoy the inner workings and outer dynamics of cars! Thank goodness the buffet, serviced by Johnny Rockets, was available for hours because the energetic children required fill-er-ups. Seen here is Sean [with birthday cake from Hansen's Bakery]. Even Aunt Wendy indulged.

Leadapron: where artists meet collectors

Leadapron held an opening on Thursday evening for Morton Bartlett's new exhibit Model Children. Founded by Jonathan Brown, LEADAPRON is a creative agency and purveyor of rare books, art and photography. They support emerging artists while celebrating established and vintage works. Located on Melrose Place, their library is simply marvelous, darling. http://www.leadapron.net/

Gladys Magazine Celebrates

Gladys Magazine Celebrated the “The Inspirational Issue" with an exclusive Fashion Preview presented By Golden Rule LA, created by The Shadrow Sisters. Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel provided an item for the silent auction which benefited Dress For Success, an international not-for-profit organization offering services designed to help women find jobs and remain employed. Sponsored by LiveLoveShopLA and cuisine by Philippe Chow. Seen here is one of Los Angeles’s most inspiring entrepreneurial-minded women,
Caroline d'Amore.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Organic Pharmacy, located on Beverly Drive, is offering a special when you book a health assessment with one of their homeopaths this October. There are many natural therapies that can work alongside conventional treatments; such as antioxidants that can help protect cells from further damage. Each year, 209,000 women are diagnosed with cancer in the US, so let's all be good to ourselves. Go to http://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/ and enter the promo code NGW01 at the check-out for 20% discount.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Dear Wendy:
What a nice surprise to come back from vacation to a lovely birthday card! Thank you so much. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Best regards, Mark [David Yurman]

Your kitchen as art gallery

Imagine paging through the mouth-watering paintings of French garden vegetables commissioned by the 19th century's most important seed company, Vilmorin-Andrieux & Cie, and ordering your seeds for your spring garden? Les Plantes potagères (The Vegetable Garden, 1850–1895) featured 46 magnificent color plates. The Vilmorins employed some 15 painters to create this work of agro-botanic iconography; most had trained as artist-naturalists at the Jardin des Plantes, the former Royal Gardens, including Elisa Champin. These illustrations—reproduced for Taschen with exquisite care and accuracy—transcend mere artistic interest, beautiful as they are, they are also a valuable resource for anyone researching cultivarietal evolution and old varieties of fruits and vegetables. http://ww.taschen.com/ Located on Beverly Drive - leaf through a book and enjoy your vegetables.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Wendy, Thanks for always remembering my birthday. It’s so special to me that you do that.
Love K [Kim Reicherter - Specht, Tzell Travel]

Fashionable exhibit in the new Resnick Pavilion

Continuing with the Resnick Pavilion debut is LACMA's recently acquired European costume collection. The exhibition examines the textiles and changing fashionable silhouettes that characterized the elegant art of dressing men, women, and children in 18th and 19th-century Europe, with special attention paid to their exquisite construction. The show features a wide array of pieces that demonstrate the varied textile artisanship of the period, including lacework, embroidery, needlepoint, and quilting. Through January 9th and simply exquisite. http://www.lacma.org/

Thought for the day

The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes, but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust

Resnick Pavilion Opens October 2nd

The attention-grabbing, Renzo Piano-designed structure on the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's campus is cloaked in mystery no more. The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion--a 45,000-square-foot, single-story structure filled with natural light--opens to the public with three exhibitions. First being, Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico is devoted to structures and sculptures from Mexico's Olmec civilization, which began sometime around 1400 BC and was centered in the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Olmec architects and artists produced the earliest monumental structures and sculptures in Mexico, including enormous basalt portrait heads—weighing up to twenty-four tons—of their rulers. This exhibition is the first presentation on the West Coast of the colossal works and precious small-scale sculptures produced by Mexico's earliest civilization. Through January 9, 2010

Fashionable Photos

In the [oh - so - stylish] lobby of the Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, Timothy Yarger Fine Art has a collection of historic fashion photographs by Dan Wynn on display. These classic, silver gelatin prints represent the golden era of Chic during the 1950's and 1960's, when European style icons made fashion glamorous and de rigueur. The prints will be on view through Los Angeles Fashion week! Timothy Yarger Fine Art, a Beverly Hills gallery and dealer of Fine Art since 1986, is located at 354 N. Bedford Drive. Beverly Hills.

Saks Beverly Hills launch

Hello All,
On behalf of Cookie Johnson and the Cj By Cookie Johnson team, I would like to THANK YOU for your support last night!! The event was an absolute success and we appreciate all you did to assure our success at our SAKS Beverly Hills launch!!! Each of you have been absolutely amazing!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU… We will definitely keep you updated on the CJ By Cookie Johnson line and we look forward to working with each of you on future projects… Continue to spread the word about this wonderful product...Towalame

A Happy Client

Dear April,
It was very nice meeting you and Wendy yesterday and thank you for the room tour. My group was impressed with the calibre of the hotel and with the delicious lunch we had in the dining room. I believe you'll be hearing from most of them in the future. Helen Sargent, who is our "event planner", is in the travel business and handles tours regularly. Seeing the Luxe was a discovery for her, particularly knowing the rate that you have given us. I assume she left you her card but let me know if you would like further information.
Thank you for arranging our daily parking rate during the tour. That is a very nice help for the LA committee members who will be meeting the bus each day at the Luxe. We're also very pleased with your contribution to our Welcome Bags of the cookies, Physique 57 class coupons and the Saks Discount cards. These are nice treats for our attendees.
Thanks again for your efforts on behalf of our Finch College Visit.
warm regards, Alba