A Contented Guest

Dear Wendy, All of my guests loved staying at the Luxe! They said the food was great and their overall experience was great. I would totally recommend it to my friends. Thank you for being especially helpful. Mansour / Brown Wedding Group

Salute to British Design

Today the Pacific Design Center dedicated the entire day to the Influence of British Design which included a keynote panel, book signings, British Couture courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue, photo exhibit by Tim Street-Porter and cocktail reception for British portraitist, Sacha Newley. I walked through the Blue Building and enjoyed tea time! The multiple displays can be viewed through May 7th. The PDC is located only 2 miles from Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive and is open to the public.

Put Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hi Wendy - just wanted to write and say thanks for your birthday wishes. You must have a very efficient call up system! And it's a lovely touch to add in the personality traits.
Hope you had a nice Easter. Cheers, Sue [Manager - Reservations Development and Yield, Heritage Hotel Management]

Lipstick personality

Tonight I had dinner with Lisa Sjoland of VisitBritain, who is charming, philosophical and interested in everything. As the evening began, I commented on her terrific lip color at which time she pulled the tube from her handbag. As it happened both of us needed glasses to read the name of the color at the base of the tube. So instead we twisted it up to observe the creamy rose tone. Interesting how different the shape if her tube was from mine. According to a number of websites, lipstick wearers have one of the following shapes and there are personality traits that go along with each or so they say. Go ahead and do a google search!

Thought for the Day

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. -Graham Greene

We miss you, Joe

Hello Ladies,
What a great surprise to see your faces on my phone! It makes me so happy that you were thinking of me. Everything is good across the country. It's getting warmer and business is a bit better. I do miss you both and send all my love! xo Joe [Gucci, Miami, FL)

Grilled Cheese in Cafe Rodeo

So we're coming to the close of Grilled Cheese Month. This girl from Wisconsin is boo hoo'ing. If you're into the melted gooey stuff, Cafe Rodeo has a well priced grilled Swiss cheese sandwich accompanied by the perfect tomato soup on our menu daily. Or for that last kick, attend the Grilled Cheese Invitational. On April 24, dive into mountains of Tillamook and other grilled cheese samples, participate in amateur and professional grilling competitions wash it all down with beer from the beer garden and much more. $10 presale/$15 door. Los Angeles Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th St., downtown http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com/

It's in the bag; Gucci that is.

Gucci's leather workers have been on a world tour for most of 2010, but they're finally coming to America. The artisans are taking up residence in their 'Artisan Corners' within individual Gucci stores. The corners include custom work tables, sewing machines, leather stands and metal tools. The artists were introduced tonight with a VIP event at their Rodeo Drive boutique. It was a rare chance to see how a $1000 handbag is built, from the initial stages including mood boards and sketches to the finished product. I was fascinated to learn that the made-to-order handbag can include your initials embossed on the bag, or a commemorative plaque inside. From April 22 - 24, they'll be building custom leather goods emphasizing the classics as part of their Forever Now campaign. What a great way to draw attention to their long family history of leather goods. 347 North Rodeo Drive, 90210 / 310.278.3451

Charity goes a long way

This evening, Faconnable on Wilshire Blvd, hosted an event with Coachart. 15% of the evening's sale went to support CoachArt’s mission to improve the quality of life for children and adolescents with chronic and life-threatening illnesses by providing free, personal lessons in the art and athletics. It was so satisfying to see the support for this cause - thank you to Faconnable for making this possible.

40th Anniversary of Earth Day

Today is your day to be 'green'. Try and do just one thing! To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, The Paley Center in Beverly Hills is featuring programs about ecology and the environment including The Simpsons, Firing Line, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Captain Planet Bill Moyers’ Journal, and Rocko’s Modern Life. All day starting @ 12:30 p.m. http://www.paleycenter.org/

Put Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Hi Wendy,
Thanks for the birthday wishes!
Mari [Event Coordinator, International Event Company]

Queen of Comedy

For over five decades, Carol Burnett has shared the throne as "Queen of Television Comedy" with Lucille Ball. For the last two weeks of April, The Paley Center is showcasing her deft talents which clearly prove why she is an entertainment icon and an American institution. Enjoy the
Burnett Screenings: April 21 – 30 @ 3 p.m. http://www.paleycenter.org

Promised Wonderland

This evening I was a guest of the Israel Consulate at grand opening of the Saban Theater for "Promised Wonderland". It was a very special night honoring Israel's 62nd Independence Anniversary. The program began with the story of Israel's history woven with dance performances, singing, stand-up comedy and even some rap. I learned a lot and was thoroughly entertained.

Another candle on the birthday cake

Hi Wendy,
Thank you so much for you good wishes and beautiful card on my birthday! As always -I appreciate it. I like the card so much that I included that line from the card in my every outgoing email: "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."- A good friend! Thank you and God Bless!!!

Thanks & warm regards,
Shouki Khan, Travel Consultant [R.A. Travel, Inc.]

Birthday celebrating just keeps going

A special 'Thank You' goes to my dear friends who took me out for red velvet pancakes on Sunday as an extension of my birthday week. The scene on Larchmont Blvd, a quaint pocket of LA, neighborly in the best possible way, was busy because of a farmer's market on the north end of the block. The Larchmont Bungalow's specialty is Red Velvet Pancakes, a generous serving which we split by three. The buttermilk recipe is served with whipped cream cheese, caramelized walnuts and maple syrup. Forget the syrup, chef Denvile Christie. They were delicious; I have a red tongue to prove it.

Thought for the Day

I’m not trying to counsel any of you to do anything really special except to dare to think and to dare to go with the truth and to dare to really love completely. -R. Buckminster Fuller

National Library Week

It's National Library Week through April 17th! While I was in Memphis this past weekend, the Beverly Hills Library had left me a message requesting that I return discs 4 and 5 of a Carol Joyce Oates audio book. Oops - I left them in my portable CD player. As punishment, I paid my fines with a non-perishable food donation for the Westside Food Bank in association with the BH Library. * Truthfully, since I returned the items, I didn't have to pay, but I thought it was such a good idea, I did anyway.

A Contented Guest

Hi Wendy,

I just wanted to say “thank you” for the wonderful accommodations at your beautiful hotel! I really enjoyed my stay and the staff made it better! Everyone from the bell staff, front desk, doorman, housekeeping and the bartenders!! They were all very pleasant and said my name “Ms. White” every time they made contact with me. Thank you very much and I hope to visit again in the future. Best, LW

Another candle on MY BIRTHDAY cake

Hi Wendy
Happy birthday! I hope you are having a fun day and enjoying your birthday.
All the best! Regards, Carol [The Travel Collaborative]

Wendy,
I just want to with you a very Happy Birthday! I hope you have a really nice day.
Love you tons, Michael Willms [Entertainment Design Events, wedding and event production]

Hope you had a nice birthday Wendy.
Joan [Bear & Bear Travel]

Memphis weekend

Just returned from a long weekend in Memphis, TN, with my dear friends and family. It was a reunion of sorts and we celebrated March and April birthdays. Of course we had to visit Graceland as this is mandatory on the Memphis sight seeing tour. Along with Beale Street, Civil Rights Museum and The Arcade for breakfast where Elvis was introduced to grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Yes - they still have them on the menu. And yes - I tried one. Seen here is my niece, Maclaren, playing with a souvenir.

A Contented Client

Hi Wendy,
Sorry we didn’t connect last week when I was in LA but I was in good hands with April. I got your voicemail and sales kit and appreciate the follow up. It was great to see the property. I really liked it and though the renovation was great.
We appreciate the partnership. Hopefully, we can connect next time I am in town.
Best regards,
Yvette [Vice President, Client Consulting, Ultramar > Travel Management]

Las Vegas Studio at Pacific Design Center MOCA

This past Saturday, I stopped by the MOCA at Pacific Design Center to view the latest exhibit, Las Vegas Studio: Images from the Archives of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. In 1968, a group or architects together with students from Yale University, made the city of Las Vegas the object of their study. The exhibit includes over 80 photographs and a selection of films short during the authors' research that were a crucial aspect of their architectural study. They provided a glimpse into 1968 - 1972 that were surprisingly ordinary, ugly and spectacular at the same time. Free to the public and on view until June 20th.

Another candle on the birthday cake

Hi Wendy:
Thanks for the birthday note, and drink card. Mauve is one of my favorite colors and Oscar Wilde is my favorite writer!
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." - Oscar Wilde
Best, Mary [McCann Erickson]

Madame Chocolate

This is your last change to purchase some extraordinary chocolate items for that special bunny in your life. Madame Chocolate on Canon Drive is open all day today. Seen here accessing the confections.

Happy Easter

Q: Why was the Easter bunny so upset?

A: He was having a bad hare day.

Peep, Peep

Americans eat more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps per year. More than 4.2 million Peeps are made in the USA every single day. Now that's a lot of Peeps! My mother used to eat them straight out of the box. Growing up we would find small stashes of them in cupboards and closets. Can you resist?
Peeps were introduced nationally in 1958 by Pravin Pant Sr., a Nepali immigrant. When Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Company in 1953, they automated the process (originally the chicks were formed by hand) and mass-produced them. The yellow chicks were the original form of the candy, but since then the company introduced other colors and, eventually, the myriad shapes in which they are now produced.

April Fool's Day

Congratulations to the bride and groom

Dear Wendy,
Thanks so very much for being our "hostess-with-the-mostess" for all of our out of town guests! We have really appreciated how you have truly worked with us to make everything happen just as we had hoped ... from our room rates, to our own room, our clergy rooms, and the 'yoga party' ... you have been so easy and wonderful to work with! Thanks again, Jane and Arash