And in the next gallery: John Millei

The Ace Gallery held the gift of another exhibit on the 2nd floor, that of, John Milei and Woman in a Chair. As outrageous as this sounds, Los Angeles painter, Millei, was so taken by a Picasso painting on view at the Centre Pompidou in Paris that he bought a postcard, pinned it on the wall of his studio and spent almost two years creating an incredible amount of studies. This lead to an impressive number of fully-realized canvases. I took a seat in the room where they are mounted and reveled in the sum of this full frontal attack of abstract paintings - all bound by the image of a woman in a chair. Also through August 28th. http://www.acegallery.net/

Herb Albert: Black Totems

This afternoon, I found myself standing in what seemed to be a forest of black totems, twisting and spiraling into the heights of the gallery today. Herb Alpert [yes - the trumpet player] has focused on this totemic language of sculpture for the past twenty years. The current show comprises mostly bronze pieces coated with a soft black patina and reaching up to 18 feet height. Inspired by the totems unique to the Pacific Northwest, Alpert's are more abstract and primal, yet suggest recognizable forms. Ace Gallery Beverly Hills is open Tuesday - Saturday. Black Totems can be seen through August 28th. http://www.acegallery.net/

Stylechic tip for the week

Splashy extras such as giant green gems or candy-colored stones always add brightness to any look. Layered Links let you pile on multi-strand necklaces or mix and match and earthy jewels allow you to wear organic stones adorned in gold. http://www.stylechicla.com

Membership Appreciation Night

This evening, the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce celebrated an elegant evening exclusively reserved for Chamber members at the Cobblestone Via at Two Rodeo. The sun was setting and it was a spectacular Beverly Hills midsummer night for enjoying food, drinks and live music. Seen here with Maria Vittoria D'Auria and Brian Nesbitt of Il Fornaio.

Another Candle on the Birthday Cake

Wendy,
Thank you for the Birthday Greeting. I am on the Cusp of Cancer and Leo, a Fusion of Sorts.
Best, David Beedie [Travel Consultant, Ovation Travel Group]

Hollywood Bowl Picnic Basket

This summer, Jennifer Albert, Restaurant & Special Events Manager, suggests enjoying a picnic coordinated with the evening's entertainment at the Hollywood Bowl. With twenty-four hour notice, Cafe Rodeo will create a delicious picnic on the go that compliments your night under the stars. To place an order for a Hollywood Bowl picnic basket, please call 310-691-7655.

Travel Fact

According to the World Tourism Organization, the largest industry of the current world is not automobile and petroleum but tourism. As early as the beginning of 1990s, the economic aggregate of tourism accounted for more than 10% of the world's GDP, and its number of employed people amounted to over 8% of the total global employment. Tourism has superseded automobile and petroleum as the largest industry in the world. It has increasingly become an important symbol of modern economy and social development.

In Print

High Jewelry by Cartier: A sumptuous tribute to Cartier’s creations with spectacular new photographs of unique pieces, many of which have never been published before. Featuring over 300 color images, many of them full-page, this lavish, satin-bound volume presents Cartier’s most recent collections: modern pieces of high jewelry conceived in the spirit of Cartier’s traditional values of creativity, authenticity, and originality. It's a celebration of the inimitable Cartier style, defining elegance in jewelry for over a century and a half. Written by Sophie Marino, the book may be found at http://www.rizzoliusa.com/ Then again, if you want to see the most recent collections in person, Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel is located next door to the Beverly Hills boutique.

A Happy Client

Dear Wendy,
Thank you for your kind note and I am happy you liked the small goodies.
Also thank you for all the assistance you and your staff gave us during our recent stay in California. The members of our group were very pleased with the arrangements and the standard of service that you offered to us.
Please extend our gratitude to the hotel staff, especially to April Hernández for her dedication and the front office desk agents.
Thank you.
I look forward to working with you again in the very near future.
My best regards, Carlos María Gil [Carlos Gil & Gil Asociados Consultores, S.A]

Thought for the day

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. - Henry David Thoreau

Keith Urban performs

Luxe friends and clients joined us courtside at this year’s Farmers Classic Tennis Tournament, presented by Mercedes-Benz and benefiting the Grammy Foundation. Last night's event featured musical performances by Grammy winner Keith Urban and opening for him, the Avett Brothers. Incredible hors d oeuvres’ and refreshments were prepared especially for us in our private box by Chef Olivier Rousselle, On Sunset. Margit Haut [Luxe Sunset Blvd Hotel], Sandra Machuca [Luxe City Center Hotel], and I are grateful for their support.

Hollywood Museum

WHERE magazine rolled out the red carpet at the Hollywood Museum this week. Located in the heart of Hollywood near the Kodak Theater and the historic Walk of Fame, the museum is one of the unique experiences in Los Angeles with sets, movie props, vintage photos costumes and scripts from silent movies to Twilight: New Moon. The museum is housed in the historic Max Factor building, longtime headquarters of the cosmetics pioneer who made screen queens gorgeous. Seen here in the basement with Franenstein, just steps from Hannibal Lecter's jail cell from Silence of the Lambs. So creepy! http://www.thehollywoodmuseum.com/

Beverly Canon Park

Let's celebrate those moments and places where people make their own public spaces. This evening, there is a concert in the Beverly Hills park between Beverly and Canon Drives. Make your own public space and enjoy! Or grab a lunch on-the-go from Cafe Rodeo and exhale.

A Happy Client

Hello Wendy: It was such a pleasure meeting you this afternoon! Thank you for lunch and the grand tour. This invitation sounds wonderful. I’ll email Jeannie shortly. We’ll talk again in the next week or so. Have a fantastic rest of the day, Madeleine [LACMA, Marketing Manager]

Japan Tour Operator Luncheon

Today, BHCVB hosted Agent Kai’s monthly luncheon meeting in Beverly Hills at the famed Spago restaurant on Canon Drive. Agent Kai is a Los Angeles Japanese inbound tour operators association whose members are Japan-based travel companies. Members in attendance today included Nippon Travel Agency (NTA), Kintetsu, Jalpak International, JTB, TTA, Meitetsu, H.I.S. Tours, R & C Tours and ANA Sales America. Seen here with representatives of Beverly Hills including Stephanie Nakasone, Business Development Director for BHCVB and Chef Wolfgang Puck.

A Happy Client

Dearest Trish and Wendy,
I want to thank you most sincerely for your generosity in arranging for an FOC night for myself and boyfriend, Quentin Morgan, at Luxe Rodeo Drive on 12 June.
It was my first time at Luxe Rodeo Drive and although I knew it had a prime location, and I constantly tell my clients this, I can now attest for myself that it has the BEST location. Just fantastic.
I hadn’t been to LA for about 10 years and having the lovely one night stopover at Luxe Rodeo Drive on my way to Sydney has given me the appetite to return. It’s such a fabulous city. I love the vibrancy and there is so much to do and staying at Luxe Rodeo Drive is the perfect stepping stone to do it all!
We had a lovely room. Very nicely maintained and spotless. I cannot not fault it in any way at all. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the guests were nice too! I chatted to a couple of guests in the lift (from Colorado) and they told me they only ever stay at Luxe Rodeo Drive when they come to LA.
Travelforce staff are required to give a critique to our colleagues upon our return from holidays, and you can rest assured I gave Luxe Rodeo Drive a very positive review! We will continue to sell the property with great confidence.
Wendy, I very much look forward to seeing you when again when you are next in Sydney.

Thank you dear friends for your hospitality.

Kind regards, Rosemary.

Architectural jewelry

What's the best way to show off a fresh manicure? With a great ring? Or is it the other way around? In this case, I started with an impressive pink gold ring. Vhernier jewelry may be considered contemporary works of art; each hand-made revealing soft clean modern lines. This piece from their current collection is a perfect continuous band intertwined as if by magic. Visit Vhernier on Brighton Way and you'll see why they are masters of design and craftsmanship. http://www.vhernier.it

Legend of Zegna

This is the 100th anniversary of one of Italy's most emblematic companies, Ermenegildo Zegna. Today Ermenegildo's grandchildren run the design house, which started as an idea in 1889 when Angelo Zegna, a watchmaker, went into the wool trade with just four looms. You can find their elegantly crafted men's suits on Rodeo Drive, walking distance of Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive.

Neverland Lost

Always curious about anything related to Neverland, this gal [Wendy] visited M+B Gallery today to view Neverland Lost, the premier exhibition of color photographs by Henry Leutwyler. In stark objectivity, Neverland Lost examines the Michael Jackson myth through portraits of personal items and pieces of his stage costumes—like the iconic sparkling glove—that were removed from Jackson's Neverland Ranch and intended for auction. Seen here is the demystified crystal glove. http://www.mbart.com In addition, there is a marvelous exhibit of Jones Beach, a grouping of black and white photographs by Joseph Szabo.

Girls Night Out at The Geffen Playhouse

Rumor has it that The Geffen Theater is thinking about extending Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss and What I Wore, at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, another two weeks. Let's hope so because it makes for a great 'girls night out'. This collection of thoughtful, touching and fashion foibles has attracted so many talented artists in a rotating cast of actors. Everyone of them brought a unique quality and depth to the multiple characters. http://www.lovelossonstage.com/