A Happy Client

Hello Wendy,
Thank you for having us for lunch on Wednesday. It was lovely.
Have a great weekend,
Dan Braunstein
Administrative Specialist / Consulate General of Israel

Happy Birthday, Susie

According to colorstrology, you're chalk violet. Kind, committed and detailed are the three words that sum you up: Susie Dobson. Hope it was happy!

A Happy Travel Agent

How thoughtful and sweet
I love my birthday wishes!
Thank you so much!
My best,
Tracy Milenkovic
All Star Travel Group, A Member of Tzell Travel

Das Rheingold

Director/Designer, Achim Freyer took us on a stunning visual journey last night through the world of the Ring. In over fifteen hours of playing time, Wagner deals with the world's origins all the way to its apocalyptic end. Das Rheingold was just under three hours setting the mammoth myth in motion revealing the ring's curse and unleashing its vengeance. Thank you to WHERE magazine for introducing us to this remarkable opera of Gods, goddesses, giants, and dwarfs struggling to be lords of the ring. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.laopera.com/

A Contented Guest

Dear Efrem,
My son Ron Diskin is staying at your Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive for two weeks while he is visiting me from Israel. He loves it there. Your staff are all very nice, and Katrina [reservations] was especially helpful in making sure Ron had a lovely room and could stay through his visit home. I send you warmest regards, Rita Spiegel

Honoring Frost/Nixon

Reels and Tape was the third entree on the menu last night, reference to Frost/Nixon. James and Kevin outdid themselves this year. When I walked in their home, I was offered a "Scarlet Fever", reference to The Reader. From there we had delicate blini with caviar, pansy salad, a 'slumdog' chicken-mango sausage wrapped in kulcha, Three Musketeers shake, old-to-young cheese with old-to-young port and of course, spotted Dick splashed with Cointreau. And did I mention that I came in 2nd for the cash pool?

Element of Style

Edith Head won eight academy awards for costume design. More than any other woman in history. Bits of advice: "Fashion is like a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will." or "The cardinal sin is not being badly dressed, but wearing the right thing in the wrong place." or "Don't wear your clothes too tight. A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman and loose enough to prove you're a lady."

A Happy Guest

Hi Fiona, I have been meaning to ask you to pass on our thanks to The General Manager at Luxe Rodeo for our wonderful stay in January. The staff were fantastic and Beverly on the front desk was a stand out... so helpful, very knowledgeable on all restaurants,attractions and shops and she was always happy and smiling. Otto in the bar and his staff also gave us lots of great tips. They had so many suggestions each evening for our outings for the following day.
I would love you to let Wendy and others there to know how much we enjoyed and appreciated being there. Such a great place to stay.
Hopefully we will return in the near future. DI YATES

Oscar Fashion

There are fashion opinions galore in today's news. The day after the Academy Awards is a blogger's paradise. I'm so proud to say that we had the Elie Saab team staying with us. Angelina Jolie looked amazing!
Dear Wendy,
Thank you for all your kind support as usual....they loved your hotel and this is to reconfirm the same suite and connecting room 227 and 229 for next year.
Hope you are well,
Xoxo
Lucio [Di Rosa]
Celebrities & PR Consultant

Thought for the day

The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
-Eden Phillpotts

Anticipation is mounting...

At the movies

Q: How many nominees can you fit in a Gran Torino?

Heath Ledger Scholarship Honoree

Last night, Australians in Film ushered in the Heath Ledger Scholarship Award at a reception at the Chateau Marmont. Ledger's family was present to see the first award recipient, Oliver Ackland, graciously accept the honor surrounded by so many from the AusFilm community. Heath Ledger has been posthumously nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his amazing performance as the Joker in Batman Returns. It is the second time Heath's work has been recognized by the Academy with his previous nomination being for Best Actor in 2006 for his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Academy Award Documentary Nominees

For the second night in a row, I spent my evening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wilshire Blvd. My dear friend, Melissa Volpert, Director of Sales at The Standard Hotel on Sunset Blvd invited me to join her for the 27th annual celebration and reception. Host, Lily Tomlin, lead us through the Best Documentary Shorts and Best Documentary Features; making us laugh and cry. It was such a great pleasure to see the passion and commitment that all of these dedicated and talented filmmakers demonstrated in their work. Anyone interested can still purchase tickets at http://www.documentary.org/docuday09 to see them all on Saturday, February 21st at Writers Guild of America Theater.

Shorts!

Oscar Week was kicked off with a screening of "Shorts" and "Live Action Shorts" last night. There was also an onstage discussion with the nominated filmmakers. When I put my $10 into the pot on Sunday at James' annual Oscar Party, it's going to be even harder to check the winner's box in these two categories. They were all terrific! http://www.oscars.org/

Robert Evans and Me

When we were approached by the Rodeo Drive committee to host a Vanity Fair photograph for a week leading up to the Oscars, I was thrilled to learn that we could choose the perfect photograph from the extensive collection of glamorous celebrities. Seen here with the legendary Robert Evans in our lobby, I invite you to view a special photographic installation of award-nominated and award-winning actors as featured in the Abrams book Vanity Fair, The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images. The images will be on display from February 16 to 22 on Rodeo Drive and coincides with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's current exhibit "Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008." Participating retail locations includes Bally, Bernard K. Passman Gallery of Beverly Hills, Brooks Brothers, Cartier, Chopard, David Yurman, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Garrard, Gearys Beverly Hills, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Ilori, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger LeCoultre, Judith Ripka, Lacoste, Lladró, Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive, MaxMara, Michael Kors, Mikimoto, Ralph Lauren, St. John, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.

A Happy Travel Agent

Hey Wendy-
Just wanted to say Thank you so much for the birthday card and my horoscope (its me to a T!!)
Hope all is well. Thanks again, Frank
[Frank Perrotta / Manager, Travel Services, HBO Travel]

Dan Graham: Beyond

It's Valentine's Day and I'm attending another legendary opening party at MOCA. This time it's Dan Graham: Beyond. The work of Dan Graham has been central to the development of art since the 1960s—from the rise of minimalism, conceptualism, and video and performance art to explorations of architecture and the culture of rock and roll. I was patiently standing in line to enter one of the mirror and glass structures when two men just walked in ahead of me. I turned to the guard and inquired as to why I was waiting. Who did that man think he was? The artist? So I stopped waiting my turn and stepped-in to join Dan.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Knock, knock!

Who's there?

Olive.

Olive, who?

Olive you!

"Truth Lies and Ted"

Here is a link from Tuesday's filming by gossip columnist Ted Casablanca from E! online. Watch for coverage of Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive! This segment "Truth Lies and Ted" gets a quarter of a million views per week. Seen here with Ted Casablanca is our very own publicist, Susie Dobson.http://vids.eonline.com/services/player/bcpid1396519019?bctid=11894527001