3-Day Weekend

Va-Va-Versace

Versace Boutique and Children's Hospital paired up this evening for a peak at Fall Runway fashions with a portion of all purchases donated for a great cause.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles - the best place for kids where they create hope and build healthier futures.  Founded in 1901, Children's Hospital is the older freestanding pediatric hospital in California.  It boasts more than 110 years of experience as a premier academic facility with a world-class medical team.  The newest inpatient facility for children in the state is the 460 square foot Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion where 85% of the rooms are private and semi-private.  Focusing on a healing environment for all who enter, they care for the whole family.

Dining at the top

Seen here with our extraordinary Luxe Catering Manager, Michelle Sharp, at Mastro's Steak House in Beverly Hills.  Their new rooftop private lounge is now open.  Reason to celebrate.

Let There be Light

The facade of Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel is now illuminated by columns of light.  We've named this one 'crystal blue', one of a thousand variations on the spectrum of color possibilities.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Wendy,  It oh so very sweet of you to remember my birthday.  It put a BIG SMILE on my face….62……..can you imagine!!!!!!  Thanks soooo much, Kenny [Journeycorp Travel]

La Brea Tar Pits

My nieces taking photos of
the creatures caught in tar.

The Tar Pits are still a point of interest for visitors to Los Angeles. Excavation at Rancho La Brea has continued, off and on, since 1913. Many of their excavation techniques have remained the same as back then: Bones are excavated using small hand tools, field data is recorded with pen and paper, and excavators still do their own shoring. It smells funny but the park is fascinating.

A New Production of 'Helen'

On stage with Melissa Volpert.

Euripides, the most subversive of the great Greek dramatists, presented an entirely alternative history of "Helen of Troy" in Helen (412 B.C.), a play now rarely performed. In Helen, Euripides' heroine is no wanton seductress, but rather a pious, faithful wife and a hapless victim of Olympian plots who struggles to make the best of a very bad situation. By a trick of the gods, this Helen never travels to Troy at all, but is replaced by a phantom replica on the eve of her kidnapping by Paris. The real Queen Helen is magically transported by Hermes to the far off island of Pharos in a cloud for safekeeping, where she waits out the Trojan War in an ironic celibacy.  Helen picks up the story 17 years later, as the abandoned, middle-aged queen remains stranded on the island, oblivious to her infamy and ignorant of the war's outcome. Euripides' inventive fantasy of mistaken identities and impossible coincidences ensues.  Through September 29th, Thursday to Saturday at the magnificent Getty Villa, Malibu. 

Right on Time

This evening Patek Philippe boutique and Gearys struck the right note with a perfect reception marking the opening of their new boutique on Rodeo Drive.  Operated by Gearys, this is the first reestanding boutique in the United States.  These two family-owned companies, both dedictate to impeccable quality and style have chsen to embark on this unique endeavor together.  Patek Philippe's clientele include heads of state, royalty, Fortune 500 CEO's celebrities and connoisseurs around the world.  Tonight Gearys invited their friends and VIP's to share in a toast to this wonderful partnership.

Eat, Shop, Drink

The title of Taschen's new architectural book sounds a little like being on Rodeo Drive at the street-side newly remodeled On Rodeo restaurant!

Some of the most spectacular architectural designs of the moment have to do with our most basic needs: eating, drinking, and shopping. Restaurants, bars, and boutiques are the substance of this new book that puts an emphasis—like all volumes of the Architecture Now!-series—on the very latest and best creations.  Look for it at Taschen located on Beverly Drive on on-line www.taschen.com

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Sweetest Wendy:  THANK you so much for your lovely card. I got it yesterday.  You are so kind of thinking of us.  And definitely, I will follow your advice... I am going to start wearing horizon blue color!!!! That’s for sure!!  Have a great weekend and hopefully we can meet very soon.  Love, Alejandro  [B/W]

Constitution Day

On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine brave men gathered for the the last time to sign the document we know as the Constitution of the United States of America.  Although this date is not widely-known or even celebrated, we should all pay special tribute to this important day in our nation's history.  The preamble establishes the principles of our individual and collective responsibilities in this great American democracy.

Thought for the Day

"Life is partly what we make it and partly what is made by the friends we choose." - Tennessee Williams 

Wishing you the Best Year ever filled with health, joy, laughter, fun and the friends and family you love to share it with!  Happy New Year!

Chocolate Challah Bread Pudding

In honor of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which started on Sunday, here is Chef Chris Brugler's  chocolate challah bread pudding recipe, (a.k.a. The Challah King of Beverly Hills).
Chocolate Challah Bread Pudding with Raspberry Sauce - Serves eight
Ingredients For the bread pudding
2 loaves of challah
4 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. sugar
3 large eggs, beaten
2 c. half & half
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
For the raspberry sauce
3 c. fresh raspberries
3/4 c. powdered sugar
2½ tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Cut challah into small cubes and place in a buttered 3-qt. casserole dish.
3. In a medium-size bowl, combine sugar, eggs, half & half, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Mix well.
4. Pour mixture over the bread in the casserole dish. Let sit for 25 minutes so the bread can fully absorb the custard.  Bake for 40 minutes or until puffy and set.
5. Remove and let stand for 30 minutes.
6. Puree raspberries, powdered sugar, and lemon juice in blender. Strain the puree.
7. Drizzle sauce over pudding and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh mint leaves (if desired).challahking.com

Urban Light

My niece Chloe climbing on them.

The huge installation known as Urban Light is a joy to walk through.  This forest of city lights was created by artist Chris Burden has the initial appearance of a perfect grid.  Not so as the lamps arrange themselves in different angles and arrays.  These 202 cast iron lamps once lit the streets of Los Angeles.  Burden bought one at the Rose Bowl flea market and soon collecting and restoring lights became and obsession.  He painted them neutral gray in order to draw the eye to all the different varieties of cast iron decoration.  I was at LACMA last night to meet friends for drinks at Ray's and the lamps transformed into a building of light behind the 'free' jazz stage in the courtyard.  Look for them along Wilshire Boulevard, every night from dusk to dawn.  And on a warm Friday night, it's a great place to relax at the end of a work week. lacma.org

Client Appreciation

Seen here with Maria Bowers and agents.

This evening Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel held a client appreciation party.  It was also the perfect opportunity to introduce Luxe Sunset's new General Manager, Amy Commans.  The weather was balmy and Chef Olivier created marvelous displays of delectable treats.  And red velvet cupcakes...who could ask for anything more?

Travel Fact

The U.S. travel industry continues to outpace the rest of the economy in terms of jobs growth, contributing 9,200 new jobs in July and increasing total direct employment to 7,596,400 according to senior vice president at the US Travel Association.  "Travel-job growth was mainly driven by increases in the restaurant and lodging sectors.  In total, 63,700 jobs have been added to the U.S. Travel industry, or an average of 9,100 jobs per month since January of this year..." Huether said.

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's Got Style

Seen here is Craig Donahue, publicist, arranging (L to R) Timothy Vreeland,
designer James Galanos, model Peggy Moffitt, and Fred Hayman.

This morning's gathering at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way proved that Diana Vreeland can still command a crowd of admirers and photographers.  Legendary editor and fashion icon Diana Vreeland was the 19th inductee into the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style. Vreeland, who had a monumental impact on fashion from the 1930s to the 1980s, will will receive a bronze plaque featuring her signature along with one of her famous quotes embedded into the sidewalk of Rodeo Drive. She is in good company; recognized along with Giorgio Armani, Versace, Missoni and Valentino, to name a few.  The move to induct Vreeland comes on the heels of the highly-anticipated release of the Samuel Goldwyn Films and EPIX film Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.  “Style: All who have it share one thing - originality.”

A Happy Client

Hi Wendy, Thank you for letting me join you at the Luxe Hotel last night. I enjoyed the tour and dinner was outstanding!  thanks!!   Joanne

Farmers' Market

Sunday is always the day I go to the local Farmers' Market to start off the week with some fresh produce.  When my nieces were here two weeks ago I shared with them my regular routine and they were charmingly open to trying a few new fruits.  It was very satisfying to observe them biting into a fig, for instance, for the first time.  Can't say they like all of the produce, but it was still fun.

One to One

Spent 3 hours last night with three geniuses to clean up my iTunes.  It was fun to watch them try and figure out what to do.  I started out with a One to One class and ended up at the Genius Bar.  Only wish I was a genius!  I'm still waiting for 5G to come out.

Save Our Park

The Restoration of Beverly Gardens Park was passionately outlined at Thursday's cocktail reception at The Beverly Hills Hotel.  Mayor William Brien, M.D. spoke eloquently about the importance of supporting this local effort to restore the 2.5 miles of park along Santa Monica Boulevard.  What better time than the City's 100th anniversary?

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hello Wendy,  I hope all is going well for you, and enjoying your summer.  I just received your birthday card today!  That was so thoughtful of you and enjoyed reading what the birthday color is.  Thank you very much.  I guess I need to drink more wine since August 25th is grape. :P  Thank you again and have a wonderful day, Noriko  [Rakuten Travel USA, Inc.]

Fashion's Night Out

Beverly Hills is a style mecca, making it the idea first stop on Fashion's Night Out, the annual worldwide movement celebrating shopping.  Extended hours and special sales happen at retail outliets throughout the Drive and Wilshire Boulevard.  Here are just a few: Anne Fontain, BCBG, Bally, Chanel, Etro, Fendi, Bottega, Lanvin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Juicy and G-Star http://www.lovebeverlyhills.com/event-detail/Fashions-Night-Out-2012-in-beverly-hills.aspx 

Thought for the Day

Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.  - From the last episode of "Cheers"

Happy Labor Day

The number of travelers taking to the air this Labor Day weekend will rise 3.7% from 2.46 million a year ago to 2.55 million, according to the American Automobile Association.  So enjoy!

More Celebrating

Thank you Jenny for inviting me to you birthday party.  It was wonderful to catch up with so many fashionable friends.  And you have many!

Summer colds

To all of my friends and associates who have one of those summer colds, I wish you a speedy recovery.