Pumpkin Patch

Maclaren and Chloe loading wagon with best picks!

So many pumpkins.  So many choices.  My nieces and I ran about trying to pick just the right size and shape a few weeks ago.  It was already cold and leaves were beginning to fall in Wisconsin.  We carved mine immediately that night and saved the others for Halloween.  I'm sorry that I missed being with them for their favorite holiday.  But they still had my [sagging old-man] looking jack-o-lantern on the front stoop keeping a triangular eye out for trick-or-treaters.

Happy Halloween Beverly Hills Style!

400,000 Expected at West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval

'400,000 people' are what City officials are expecting to flood Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood tonight for what is labeled one of the world's larges annual Halloween celebrations.  The Carnaval officially begins at 6:00 PM and will be themed, "Become Your Other" encouraging attendees to let their alter egos come out and play.  Warning: Recommended for Adults!

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Good morning Wendy,
I wanted to let you know I received your birthday wishes. Thank you for thinking of me. I hope you are well.  Best, Robyn [Komen, Lifestyle Manager/Concierge for Preferred Group Inc.}

Last minute costume idea

1. Cut a big piece of foam board in an “Angry Bird” shape. Cut a hole where your head will go.
2. Cover with red construction paper. (Add white to the bottom if you like.)
3. Make a beak with yellow construction paper and V-shaped eyebrows with black.
4. Wear red from head to toe.
5. Walk around with an evil look in your eyes.
Extra credit: Make an evil pig with green paper and glue it on.

Listen to your dentist

My dentist sends me an annual Halloween card and it goes something like this:
Trick or Treat
Eat some sweets
Then be sure to brush your teeth.

Listen to your dentist

My dentist sends me an annual Halloween card and it goes something like this:
Trick or Treat
Eat some sweets

Then be sure to brush your teeth.

Happy Halloween

Q: What did the man say when he saw the long-lost ghoul?
A:  You're a psycho for sore eyes?

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hey Wendy,  I hope all is well. I received my Birthday card, so kind of you!  Thanks again, Debra [Legal Assistant]

Murder She Wrote

Just in time for Halloween, Stephen Webster Boutique on the Via Rodeo has a fantastic window creation.  The rotating collection of international artists curated by Webster is currently "Murder She Wrote".  In the window overlooking the grand Via Rodeo staircase the Stephen Webster store features a “stylist-of-the-month”, where stylists and costume designers alike are invited to create visual marvels.  Upstairs there is a permanent bar (the perfect accoutrement to any jewelry establishment) and let's not forget the jewels which are one of a kind.

The Wizard of Dogz

I followed the Yellow Bark Road to The Via Rodeo at Two Rodeo Last night and met the Wizard of Dogz.  There were Munchkin dogs, Glenda dogs and various flying monkeys, witches and what-nots.   It was a marvelous Halloween event benefiting the Amanda Foundation, a no-kill animal rescue in Beverly Hills.  Bow Wow Beverly Hills featured a fabulous silent auction and doggy costume contest too!  Additional donations are welcome http://www.amandafoundation.org/

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hi Wendy, You are terrific that you remember to send me a card every year on my birthday! I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I was actually wearing a variety of lilac when I opened your card! How coincidental.
Take care and I hope you have had a great year.  Best regards,  Marilyn  [Travel Store]

Thank you and the Luxe Family for thinking of me on my birthday.








I really appreciate your kind words and the Luxe Robe.







Pax et Lux,







Paul

Year of the Rabbit

The first major public sculpture by Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, titled Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads comprises twelve monumental bronze animal heads.  Seen here is one of the re-creations of the famous traditional zodiac sculptures that once adorned the fountain clock of Yuan Ming Yuan, the Old Summer Palace, located just outside Beijing. Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads are on view outdoors just east of the museum’s Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion.  Ai Weiwei is known for his engagement with Chinese history and these twelve animals show a bit of his subversive wit. This past weekend was beautiful; perfect for a stroll in LACMA's animal garden.

Recipe for Halloween Cards

Need a spooky inspiration for your Halloween party? With these easy recipes you can make Halloween cards that will scare and delight any recipient.  Our neighbor The Paper Source suggests this Black Cat Halloween Card:
A7 Folded Cards in Beet
A7 Curry Envelopes
Pumpkin Shapes Pack and Happy Halloween Rubber Stamp
Black Cover Paper,Curry Cover Paper, Eco-White Cover Paper, Fuchsia Cover Paper
Poppy Cover Paper
Wicked Black Color Box Dye Inkpad & Orange LePen
3/4" Circle Hole Punch and 1/4" Round Hole Punch

http://www.paper-source.com/

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Thank you and the Luxe Family for thinking of me on my birthday. I really appreciate your kind words and the Luxe Robe.  Pax et Lux,  Paul

A Happy Client

Hi Wendy,   It was great meeting you as well, thanks for coming in. Looking forward to working with you as well. Thanks for the little bits below :-)  [Conde Nast, HRG Worldwide]

Missoni Walk of Style

Seen here with Craig Donahue (The Donahue Group), Meg Heinzer (Lanvin) and DJ Gomez (Jimmy Choo)

This evening's celebration of style honored the Missoni family and the elegant [and talented] Iman.  Three generations of Missonis gathered to accept the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award - the first fashion house to be honored as an entire family.  The salute began with a tribute from stylist Rachel Zoe and recording legend and Missoni family friend Quincy Jones.  As Mayor Brucker of Beverly Hills observed, "The crowd before me is so beautiful" and as Quincy said about Missoni designs, [they] "are like the notes of a beautiful love song."

"Charmed"

One of twin Queen Anne Victorian homes.

On Saturday and Sunday the LA Conservancy is offering tours of Angeleno Heights, a part of Los Angeles that you may not be familiar with.  Scheduled on the scavenger hunt is the “evil of the thriller” house. My girlfriend, Pamela and I were “charmed” by the ghosts of this Victorian neighborhood.  Out of the Box Events and the Los Angeles Conservancy explored the spirits, secrets and legends of one of the oldest neighborhoods in LA. We were armed with a camera and a flaslight for this hunt because you never know what we might capture!  [A portion of the admission benefits the LA Conservancy, non-profit organization dedicated to the recognition, preservation, and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage of greater Los Angeles.]

A Happy Client

Hi Wendy, Happy Halloween back at you!

Thank you so much for the lovely dinner and site inspection yesterday. We had a very nice time and hope we didn’t stay too late, and you had the time to finish your work. It was much appreciated. Thanks again!  Have a great weekend.  Laurie [All Star Travel Group]

Travel Fact

Travel tops dream list for boomers. An AARP national telephone survey of 29,000 older adults recently asked people to describe their “top dream.” Surprisingly, it was to travel. Two out of five older adults said that vacation and travel was their top dream, ranked above hobbies and interests (15 percent); kids, grandkids, family and friends (13 percent); faith and spirituality (6 percent); good health (6 percent); and career, job and work (5 percent).

BHCVB announces newest arrival

Welcome to Beverly Hills: Mary Saunders De Hoyos! Julie Wagner, Executive Director of the Beverly Hills CVB, has announced that Mary will be our new Senior Manager Business Development for the organization. In this role, De Hoyos is responsible for the development and implementation of all programming and interaction with members of the domestic and international travel trade. "With more than 20 years of travel experience working at neighboring CVBs and in-flight at Delta, Mary brings a level of expertise that complements the existing BHCVB team,” says Julie.  Beverly Hills is known across the globe for superlative service and world class attractions and we are all happy to have her on board.

Thought for the day

“You’ve gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it, you’re nobody.” – Diana Vreeland, legendary Harper’s Bazaar editor

Vreeland should know better than most!  As the gleeful iconoclast and daringly original thinker, she cultivated a striking sense of personal style by transforming her so-called flaws into a mark of elegance by emphasizing them.  From 1936 to 1952, she brought her imagination and wit to life on the pages of Harper's Bazaar.  Lisa Immordino biography, Diana Vreeland: The Eye has the Travel is available in bookstores now.

Outbound: New York

A Happy Client

Good Morning Wendy,
Thank you very much for such a wonderful night, I appreciate the invite.The finger food was outstanding, and the company even better. I look forward to doing business with you in the future. Please take note of my new email address.  Anthony [Castro, Travel Consultant, Ultramar > Travel Management]

Looks familiar

Great works of art in New York

Beverly Hills and Beyond

Today the Beverly Hills CVB hosted a travel agent luncheon in New York at Armani Restaurant, Fifth Avenue.  The Honorable Mayor Brucker welcomed the esteemed group with a synopsis of 'what's new in Beverly Hills'.  It was officially announced that Swarovski Crystals would be this year's holiday decorating partner, henceforth known as Sparkle City.

Tree of Hope

On September 11th 2001, Trinity Church might have been erased by falling wreckage of the collapsing World Trade Center, but an old sycamore tree in the churchyard cemetery caught and deflected the metal projectiles ---saving the building but losing its own life.  Later Artist Steve Tobin obtained the tree's root-pack and made a life-sized cast of them in bronze. The freeform roots shape was purposefully up-ended and then painted orange. The sculpture, titled (The) Trinity Root, serves the same purpose as the preserved stump.

I thought I saw an elephant. I did, I did.

It is sitting on the traffic island between Union Square east and 14th Street.  
Through the end of May 2012.

Here I am in New York City where I was surprised to find another fantastic piece of public art. This time it is a 2008 bronze sculpture by Spanish artist, Miguel Barcelo, called Gran Elefandret. Behaving like an  urban pachyderm, Gran Elefandret is perched on the tip of his trunk in a position that could only be taught to an elephant by a California yoga instructor.  The highly textured metal surface captures the detail of the rough skin and floppy ears of an elephant.  

Travel Fact

A child on a farm sees a plane fly by overhead

and dreams of a faraway place.

A traveler on a plane sees the farm below

and dreams of home.  - Carl Burns

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Dear Wendy,  Thank you for remembering my birthday. You are very special.  Xoxo  K  [Reicherter - Specht, Tzell Travel]

A Contented Guest

Wendy, Thank you so much for your hospitality.  Jodi and Steve [Rose]

Seen in the Luxe lobby

Quietly ensconced in a corner booth in Cafe Rodeo today, Stephen Kamifuji from Genlux Magazine met with Byrdie Bell, best known for her independent film and modeling career.  Not to mention New York socialite!  She was charming and bright - we love her.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Dear Wendy,   HOW FABULOUS!!! , really how sweet of you to send a birthday hello to me! and the note about being born on a certain date assessment is actually quite accurate !  Where did you get that? anyway hope all is well with you….when will you be back in New York? before we freeze again I hope. Thank you again !   Elizabeth [Szilagyi - Stephens, Protravel International Inc.]

Cosi fan tutte

Two young men go undercover to test the fidelity of their ladies. What could possibly go wrong? Mozart's delightfully comic battle of the sexes returns to the LA Opera stage for the first time in 15 years. Filled with ravishingly beautiful music and sparkling wit, Così fan tutte was a wonderful way to begin this year's Opera season.  The funny, clever plot that was bracingly politically incorrect, even in Mozart's day. The baritone was particularly beguiling.  http://www.laopera.com/

Designed Designer

Camilla models one of her designs in the Ladies Shoe Department at Neiman Marcus.  I admit, not a great photo, but a marvelous and versatile dress!

Last week I met the gorgeous Stephanie Weiss from Cassis Travel at Neiman Marcus where they were showcasing the new Manolo Blahnik Fall Collection.  Of course we started talking to everyone around us and met another wonderful designer whose website is below. "Hi Wendy, Hope this finds you well.  It was so lovely to meet you in Neiman Marcus, I would love to see the picture if you wouldn’t mind forwarding on. Thank you, we had such a lovely stay in LA, the sunshine was amazing after NY. Please stay in touch.  Kindest, Deva"  [International Accounts Executive, CAMILLA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD] http://www.camilla.com.au/

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Thank You for the birthday card it was so thoughtful. I really like the fun fact sheet =)   Warmest Regards,
Christine [Bonotel]

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Thank You for the birthday card it was so thoughtful. I really like the fun fact sheet =)   Warmest Regards,
Christine [Bonotel]

Zombie Reception

AMC and The Screen Actors Guild screened the opening 90 minute episode of The Walking Dead on Sunday.  Lucky to be invited by a SAG member, I truly enjoyed the gruesome hour and the Q&A which followed.  Really I did.  Not quite so sure about the friend who invited me as this was her first exposure to 'zombie-ism'.  Based on a graphic comic book, The Walking Dead is definitely worth watching.  I walked [upright without drooling] away feeling a little bit ahead of the game; season opener is scheduled for October 16th, AMC, 9:00 PM PST.

Taste of Italy

Seen here with Maria from Maria's Italian Kitchen.  She hand made the cookies that she was serving.  Yum!

As a member of Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, I spent Saturday night at a fund raiser for the new Italian American Cultural Museum - coming soon to Main Street in downtown Los Angeles.  Currently there is a wonderful pueblo and market along with the Chinese Cultural Museum on the plaza, 424 N. Main Street.  I tried bites of pastas, pizza and sweets from some of LA's most popular restaurants.  But the best part was running into so many people I knew from Beverly Hills and listening Italian opera and popular music.  Volare!

Under the Big Black Sun

Pacific Standard Time is a collaboration of more than sixty cultural organizations across Southern California that have all created exhibitions about the birth of the L.A. art scene.  First stop on the Time travel was the MOCA members opening of Under the Big Black Sun: California Art 1974-1981, the most comprehensive survey exhibition to date to examine the exceptional fertility and diversity of art practice in California during a tumultuous, transitional time in American history; through February 13, 2012.  Afterward, Susie Dobson and I had curry noodles at the new Little Tokyo hot spot, Fat Spoon. http://www.moca.org/

Thought for the day

The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who hate me away from those who are still undecided.  - Casey Stengal