Belated Happy Birthday, Kathleen

Dear Wendy..Thank you so much for the lovely eve. as always...I love being around you because your full of so much love...and you are a very wonderful person. Kathleen [Allen], William Morris Agency.

Shuttin' it down in New York

Cecilia Moreno, publisher of GenLux Magazine, just sent me this photo from New York City. Looks like I'm being held up by two gorgeous bookends: Cecilia and Susie Dobson. Our entrees had just arrived and I was ready for bed. Did someone say, "Party pooper"?

Trick or Treats?

My dentist sent me a Halloween postcard which said: "Trick or Treat. Eat Some Sweets. Then Be Sure to Clean Your Teeth!" Inspiring - not.

The Sales Dept got robbed of first prize

We should have won the employee pumpkin carving contest! In fairness, all four candidates were featured on the jack-o-lantern. They all basked in the glow of a flickering candle.

We demand a recount!

Roberts Western Wear

Of course, when in Nashville, one has to listen to some country music. That's what it's all about! I sat mesmerized for hours at a front row table listening to this band that also performed at Tour Connection's reception at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel earlier this same night. Turns out, the lead singer in the sparkly blue jacket daylights as a bellman! Everyone was having a stomping good time.

Nashville Tour Connection

Earlier this week, I enjoyed some Nashville hospitality. Tour Connection was another success! Attended by dozens of agents from Alabama to Pennsylvania, I met up with Heidi and Kathy from Premier Travel in Dublin, OH.

Haunted House

Q: What do you call two witches who live together?
A: Broommates.

This looks like an ideal haunt!

Leaves, Leaves everywhere

Running through leaves, jumping in leaves and being buried in leaves translates to "..let's make a mess of the pile that dad has gathered for bagging." Or at least that's how our father would have interpreted it when we were growing up. Fortunately, my brother has an adjusted attitude about my nieces love of the fallen stuff.

Chanel Mobile Art Exhibition - Central Park

That most iconic of bags, the Chanel 2.55 is honored this October and November with a traveling art exhibition in New York’s central park called "Chanel Mobile Art," financed by the French luxury goods company. The show features the work of 20 international artists of the moment, with the original Chanel 2.55 bag as their inspiration, in sculptures, photographs and videos. Chanel's Mobile Art exhibit is on a 2 year world tour and will be in Rumsey Playfield until November 9th, 2008. After November 9th, it goes on to London and Moscow and will end in Paris in July 2010. Wish I could travel along with this giant version of the open bag! It has a great itinerary.

What did the vampire call his girlfriend?

A: His 'vein squeeze'.

Seen here, dressed to kill, is Melissa from Direct Travel. We love her free spirit and flashy eyelashes.

Lana and Sukhbir from Ultramar were first timers at our annual bash...Boo!

Halloween Bash at Hudson Terrace

Once again, the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau created a 'boo'tiful party atmosphere to host one hundred or so select travel agents in New York on October 23rd. The theme this year included vampires, a specialty drink called Fangtasia and a host of dead characters. Seen here with Rachel Eskoff from the Beverly Hills Hotel and the corpse bride and again with Bonnie & Kim Tobias of Tzell Travel, taken from the corpse's vantage.

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

The Bethesda Fountain at the heart of Central Park welcomes hundreds of visitors each day to enjoy the view of the lake. The sculpture that tops it, Angel of Waters, was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1873 and is one of the most recognizable icons in the entire park. Originally an aqueduct fed the fountain which supplied fresh water to the city. The fountain has probably appeared in more movies than any monument in the park offering a romantic charm to cinematographers. Featured in the 1973, "Godspell", disciples splash joyously around in the pool. http://www.centralpark.com

Marvel Entertainment

Visited Marvel Entertainment while I was in the Big Apple. Couldn't resist standing with the Super Heros we all loved.

Farmer's Market in Union Square

I had an appointment in Union Square on Friday of last week and came across the local Farmer's Market. What a sight: apples, peppers, tomatoes and pumpkins galore. It seemed all the more perfect in 45 degree weather. Being from Wisconsin, I'm very fond crisp tart apples. Macouns are impossible to find in California markets. We seem to be stuck on the Fuji track.

The lions at the New York Public Library

Spent the third week of October in autumnal New York City. I've always admired the lions that watchfully sit at the base of the steps to the New York Public Library. They're call Patience and Fortitude. During the recent world series, one wore a Mets baseball cap and the other wore a Yanks cap. With dignity.

Angeleno Interiors

Last evening Poliform Los Angeles and Angeleno Interiors hosted a divine dining experience with Chef Andrew Kirschner of Wilshire Restaurant a their showroom on Beverly Blvd. This was the official launch of Angeleno's interior design magazine! Check out the "Home Front Trends" column. It feels so California! Flanked by Chef Kirschner and Paula Gild.

These certainly are extraordinary times

The stock market does not like uncertainty and at the moment, there is nothing but uncertainty. Stay strong and stay the course. And I especially want to thank all of you who called to ask me how I was doing. I can't tell you how much I appreciated that.

- from my stock broker

Seen at the Luxe

Dennis Oppenheim recently returned to Ace Gallery to exhibit a new series, the Architectural Cactus sculptures. the exhibition features brightly colored unique works ranging in height from 9 feet to 16, created with a wide variety of architectural materials. Oppenheim, born in 1938, has had an extensive career which has embraced earth art and body art, video and performance art. Check out the Ace Gallery, only three blocks from the Luxe. http://www.acegallery.net/

Best friend

Q: Why do demons and ghouls hang out together?

A: Because demons are a ghoul's best friend.

Paper Source

According to my sources at Paper Source, frightful fun begins with creating your own Halloween Trick o’ Treat goodie bags. This means stamping with any of their fun Halloween stamps: bats, cats, skulls, spiders & webs, ghosts and more! Inking them up with a complementary orange, black or white ink pads. Dusting with clear embossing powder. Adding a touch of yellow or orange Stickles to the skull eyes or bats. And most importantly filling candy corns, sunflower seeds or other spooky sweet treats! Paper Source is only 26 steps from the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive. As the mummy said, "It's a wrap." http://www.paper-source.com/