Happy Hour at Bar360

Hi Wendy,   Utterly agree, and thank you so much for the kind email (you beat me to it)! And I love the poem.  I love that intimate bar...it's been beating out all others for me in BH for a while. Elizabeth and I hung out for over 3 hrs, so obviously it's a lovely place! Having grown up in BH, it's what I think of as BH for me: relaxed, but elegant; comfortable, reserved.  And YOU are an incredible ambassador for your hotel! Funny the backgrounds to compare!  Have a lovely rest of the week, Julie [dubroWORKS PR / Marketing]

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes…you are always so sweet to remember and I love the card and the description (a little too close for comfort!!!).  See you soon. Hugs…Helen [Protravel International Inc.]

Thought for the Day

The last word on ice cream.

Get on board the Sprinkles Train!

Red velvet muffin top on vanilla bean ice cream.

Feeling like you need to get your vanilla bean, salty caramel, cap'n crunch sundae on?  Wander no further, Sprinkles has launched Sprinkles Ice Cream next door to Sprinkles cupcakes on South Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills.  Served up in red velvet or old-fashioned waffle cones, the slow churned, densely flavorful ice cream can also be had in cup or between two cupcake tops like a sandwich.  Pile on the toppings if you're feeling decadent.  There are enough flavors for every day in the week.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Thanks for your thoughtful card.  Even though I do not like to celebrate my birthday, it was nice to receive it and very nice of you to remember.  Maria D'Auria [Il Fornaio Restaurant]

Ends of the Earth for me

Pamela and me

Ends of the Earth: Land Art to 1974 is the first large-scale, historical-thematic exhibition to deal broadly with Land art.  Earth used as an artistic medium highlights the early years of untested artistic experimentation and concludes in the mid-1970s before Land art becomes a fully institutionalized category. Rather than romanticizing notions of "return to nature" or an "escape from culture", the exhibition provides a comprehensive overview that reveals the complexity of the movement's social and political engagement with the historical conditions of its time. Seen here overwhelmed but the sculptural force of the form.  Thru September 2012 at MOCA, Geffen Contemporary.

Let's not forget

American flag along Santa Monica Blvd.

In our eagerness to enjoy the weekend, let's not forget the true meaning of this holiday which was created after the Civil War to honor the fallen Union soldiers and over the last century evolving to commemorate all American soldiers who served our country.

Weekend Movie

Memorial Day Weekend is considered by many to be the unofficial kick-off to summer as the weather is just right for a perfect 3-day weekend.  This is definitely a great long weekend to enjoy a full length feature in-door or out.  Note this weekend kicks off a season of great outdoor movies, visit http://www.cinespia.org/ for summer schedule.

Put Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hope all is well there at Rodeo Drive.  Thanks- Evan  [Director of Production / Executive Producer EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS]

A Happy Client

Hi Wendy,
I just wanted to say another thank you for hosting our event last week. It was really lovely! Look forward to working with you and your team.  Regards, Olivia [Corporate Traveler Los Angeles]

Travel Fact

Travel upticks. For the second consecutive year, the outlook for summer travel continues to brighten with 64% of U.S. adults, or an estimated 154 million Americans, planning on taking at least one trip for leisure purposes during the next six months. The percentage of Americans planning to travel between May and October is up from 61% last April and 56% in April 2010.

The overall Traveler Sentiment Index, which tracks Americans' evolving attitudes toward travel, reached 93.5 in April, nearly ten points higher than April 2011 (March 2007=100). It was also significant that April's index remained essentially unchanged from the level of 93.6 in February, bucking the concern and speculation that higher gasoline prices earlier in 2012 would depress travel sentiment, as it did in 2011.

Licorice Flix

Edible movie mosaics gave me a taste for red vines on Saturday.  Here's Willie Wonka immortalized in our favorite candy counter strips.  Licorice Flix got a lot of movie goers pause and chew on the idea.

Charity goes a long way

We want to thank our friend and neighbor, Montblanc, for their support of The 24 Hour Plays.  Seen here is actress Rosie Perez (L) and Montblanc North America CEO Jan-Patrick Schmitz at the presentation announcement held at Montblanc Rodeo Drive Boutique this week. The 24 Hour Plays: Los Angeles is a benefit for Urban Arts Partnership.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Dear Wendy,
How thoughtful of you to remember my birthday, thank you for the lovely card. Amazing, the color Lavender Gray is my favorite color.  Regards,  Helen [AsiaLuxe Holidays]

EnoArte

Seen here with Pietro Navarra,

http://www.pietrositaly.com/

After some experimentation, Florentine artist Elisabetta Rogai, successfully developed a manner of painting with wine on canvas.  Taking a normal canvas, a little charcoal for the main lines and just white and red wine.  This evening's demonstration further explained the combination that allows the wine to age on the canvas by implementing a natural color fixing system based on water and flour. The female figures were the perfect background inspiration for wine and food pairings at the Italian Cultural Institute.  Viva Vino generously supplied plenty to imbibe and IACCW provided the networking opportunity.

Viva Vino

Seen here with wine directory in hand and flanked by Lucia Singer
of Berman-Singer PR and Lisa Gild from Gilded Events.

The general consensus at this evening's gathering of wine lovers was "Viva Vino"!  The grand tasting, dedicated to the promotion of Italian wines, was well attended and enthusiastically reviewed.  The Italy America Chamber of Commerce West and the North American Sommelier Association partnered with Please the Palate in marketing the event to educate us in the remarkable qualities of Italian wines.  There are events available to the public all week - enjoy.   www.vivavinoLA.com

A Happy Client

Wendy,  It was great to see you too. Thank you for taking the time to show us the hotel and inviting us to dinner.  We appreciated it.  Best, Inda [Travel Manager, Trust Company of the West]

Super Heros Wanted

Corporate Traveler event, Rodeo Penthouse.

 

Over the weekend, I saw the new Avengers movie at The Grove.  Seems that the world is always in need of a superhero. 

Congratulations to graduates

Over the next few weekends, the Class of 2012 will be leaving the academic world!  Congratulations to all the graduates.  “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” - Aristotle

A Happy Client

Hi Denise,  Thanks so much! The hotel work out perfect for our needs and it was close enough to the Montage where we held our destination event. I thank you so much for all your assistance and extending a competitive rate.  Best!  Yolanda  [Puerto Rico Tourist Board]

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Wendy-  You are so kind for my birthday card! I always like the May 5 blurb I got too.  You know I have the one you gave me last year on my fridge still up. Very kind of you!!  See you soon to introduce myself to Marcus.  Have a great weekend.  Marisa  [Enterprise]

A Happy Client

Dear Wendy,  Thanks for showing me around the Luxe Hotel , and thank you for hosting me for Lunch.  Most appreciated .  Hope to see you soon at the next Prost Lunch.  Best Regards,  Edna [Safari Dreamer]

Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Don't forget to call you mom!

Mothers, food, love, and career, the four major guilt groups.  - Cathy Guisewite

BHEF

Catering Manager Michelle
Sharp did an outstanding
job of preparing the event.

Chef James Jung's
delectable dessert display.

The Beverly Hills Marching Band kicked off this evening at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel where the Beverly Hills Education Foundation's pre-Apple Ball event was hosted to honor Beverly Hills educators.  Mayor Dr. William Brien joined the celebration as well as City Council members, School Administrator and parents.  The rooftop Rodeo Drive penthouse was the perfect setting for the Apple Award recipients, sponsors and founding families.

Travel Fact

Airlines improving performance: The nation’s largest airlines posted an on-time arrival record last December of 84.4 percent, the highest on-time percentage for any December during the 17 years the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has collected comparable flight delay data. According to the report, the carriers also had a 0.8 percent rate of canceled flights, the lowest December cancellation rate for the last 17 years.

A Happy Client

It was great to finally see the hotel and to get to spend time with you. Thanks again for spending your Friday night with us. [in Cafe Rodeo]  Have a great week.   Jackie  [Senior Travel Coordinator for Publicity/Production @ Sony Pictures Entertainment]

Thought for the Day

You either have to be first, best, or different. - Loretta Lynn

Cars are in a Class of Their Own

The classic car jaw-dropping moment was a Bugatti from 1930 for me.  But there was an incredible variety of cars on display at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills this afternoon for the third annual Concours d' Elegance.  While the cars were the stars today, there was the Greystone Mansion itself to see and the beautiful Tudor gardens and sweeping views.

Famous Faces

Two exhibitions at The Getty Center examine the portrayal of identity, lifestyles and celebrity culture.  The first is the magnificent Herb Ritts: L.A. Style and Portraits of Renown.  Ritts was a master of light, shading and drama.  We loved him for his daring fashion shoots and for using Los Angeles as the part of his canvas.  There is so much to see at Getty - it could take all day!  www.getty.edu

Another Broadway, Baby

Seen here with Mary de Hoyos of the Beverly Hills
 Conference and Visitors Bureau.

I think everyone in the audience Friday night would agree, "Follies" belongs to the women.  Several Broadway greats realized Sondheim's complex characters in this revival of his 1971 production.  As Elaine Paige was quoted, "This is a musical for gown-ups." The first inkling that this is going to be a magical night is the miles of draping hung around the stage.  The first to appear on the stage are ghostly figures from some past performance, wandering the theater for 60 years.  The story balances beautifully between the present and the past.  Through June 9th at Ahmanson Theater, The Center Theater Group.

Retail Rebound

Call it the Rodeo Drive restoration. For the first time since the Great Recession, there is almost no vacancy on Rodeo Drive, the international luxury shopping street in Beverly Hills. ....some of the famed thoroughfare's iconic retailers are in the midst of intricate renovation projects. Some of the projects are expected to take up to a year to complete, a relatively long time in the construction business.  The high-profile street also will introduce new brands this year. In July, French watchmaker Patek Philippe will open its first American boutique on Rodeo Drive. Veteran Rodeo shop owner Thomas Blumenthal divided the former Valentino space at 360 N. Rodeo [Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel] to house the Patek Philippe and a Rolex store, which will open in June.   Rodeo's real estate shuffle is a sign of a good economy, said Blumenthal, president and chief executive of Gearys, located at 365 N. Rodeo. "For a couple of years, people were cautious," Blumenthal said of 2008 and 2009. "But business is robust again. They're doing all of the things they wanted to do in the past three years."  excerpt from http://www.apparelnews.net/news/retailing/050312-Beverly-Hills-Retail-Rebound-Rodeo-Filling-Up 

Thought for the Day

There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Genlux Supermodel Moms

Genlux Magazine launched their Spring/Summer issue with a runway fashion and hair show by Essensuals London.  Deejays: Luxury Kills were on hand to get the party going at The London Hotel West Hollywood.  Supermodels, Liberty Ross and Kiera Smith, who appear in the issue's fashion section welcomed us to the event.  Hurray for Brit Week 2012: April 24 to May 7th!

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hi Wendy,  You do such a nice job remembering birthdays!  I love "if you were born on this day" and your nice card.  Hope all is well with you and thanks for adding to my special day!  Fondly, Joni [ProTravel International]