Go Fish

Go with the Flo

Dear Wendy,

Thank you so much for last night.
It was really good to see you and I was still laughing this morning about us exhausting the battery of your camera!!!!!

Have a beautiful day!
Florence Saint-Cricq
Branding & Marketing

Shown here:
Florence Saint Cricq

Shrek

Sans a Memorial Day grill, I met my girlfriend at Dupar’s at the Farmer’s Market on Monday morning for breakfast. Our plan was to follow those buttery pancakes with “Shrek” at The Grove. Respectfully, I restrained from mentioning that I was here at the insistence of my niece, Maclaren, who detailed a vomiting scene from Shrek that she thought was ssooooo funny. I was left with strict instructions to call her back as soon as I saw it to confirm.

Here Comes the Bride

Here comes the bride: Shannon Leigh. Her bridal shower was Sunday at The Grove. Shannon and I met by chance at Newark Airport two years ago when we were bumped from the same American Airlines flight to LAX. At the time, she did marketing for Barbie at Mattel Corp. and being a former Barbie user, I was fascinated. Both of us raved about the book,
Barbie Loves L.A: America's Favorite Doll Sees the Sites, by Greg Lavoi (Author). There’s a great photo of Barbie in Beverly Hills!

Shown here: Shannon Leigh and Stephen Gabor.

Memorial Day Weekend

It seems that long weekends are not only meant for picnics with friends and family, but also to get some household chores done. Our general manager boasts that he put up a swing over the weekend. His wife asked him if he needed a handyman but with much bravado, Seth assembled it himself. On the other hand, I employed a carpenter last week to install three narrow shelves in my apartment. Saturday tasks for me were: dust, rearrange artwork, spackle holes and paint. My friend, Pamela, called in the early evening and asked if I wanted to go to the movies. Of course, I was up on a ladder with a pint of ‘banana split’ colored latex. So when she came to pick me up, I had to quickly change clothes and dash. Thank you, Pam, for picking the yellow paint out of my hair! You’re a good friend.

A Contented Guest...

Good Afternoon

It was indeed a pleasure and look forward to my next visit, hopefully a little longer this time

Thank You

Ron Oboler (Marvel Entertainment, New York)

Quote for this Memorial Weekend

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

The High and the Mighty

Last night, the Academy Foundation featured the theatrical premiere of a new restoration of The High and the Mighty with iconic star John Wayne. At 7 o’clock I was still asking myself, why did I purchase this ticket? I suppose for the sheer reason that my mother’s favorite movie star was John Wayne. Growing up, I secretly believed that she wished my father was a little more like John Wayne and less like Howard Keel. There was an unwritten rule in our home regarding certain words or phrasing. Of course, there was the occasional slip and a word such as Oklahoma, 76 trombones, or old man and river passed our lips and, on cue, my dad would break into song!

But I digress. Now I know why my mother found The Alamo so engaging. John Wayne exudes confidence. The High and Mighty film project was a decade long restoration spearheaded by Wayne’s son and daughter-in-law. Wayne co-produced and starred in the air disaster film which was released in 1954. This Centennial Salute (this would have been Wayne’s 100th birthday) was a beautifully restored print and offered a remarkable look at airport check-in procedures fifty years ago! Further, it seems that Hollywood only made two hair colors in 1954: peroxide blond and red.

For more information on upcoming events, call the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at 310/247-3600.

Business After Dark

On Tuesday night, I attended the final installment of Media as Mirror at the Museum of Television & Radio. Located in Beverly Hills at the corner of Beverly Drive and Little Santa Monica, MT&R is the west coast home of the William S. Paley Television Festival every March and houses a library of archival television and radio broadcasts from the birth of both! Media as Mirror series showcased the media’s power to reflect different world cultures, from fiction to political satire in a digital age. Look for upcoming events, including “One Night with 30 Days” on June 19th at 7:00 PM. www.mtr.org


Last night the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce held their Business After Dark monthly mixer at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive penthouse. A gathering of various business representatives mingled until 7:30PM over mojitos and delectable nibbles from Chef RaShon Smith. Next mixer to take place at The Celebrity Vault on Wednesday, June 20th from 6:00 to 8:00PM.



In the photo:
From left to right- Tylo Braga (Keller Williams), Sonya Hammonds (Home Stone Mortgage), Wendy Zvara (Frederic Missir), Seth Horowitz (Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive General Manager), and yours truly

A Contented Guest

Dear Wendy:

You beat me to it! It is for me to send you a thank you note for your warm hospitality. I enjoyed my stay at the Luxe Hotel very much, and I am now able to visualize what the L'Oreal Group in July will experience--a useful exercise.

I am looking forward to working with you and the staff, and I am sure the program will be so successful that the client will demand the Luxe Hotel whenever he comes to the Los Angeles area.

Again, many thanks and take good care.

Gilda Poliakin (Group Travel Consultant, San Francisco)

Quote for the Day

The secret of happiness is to make others believe they are the cause of it. Al Batt, in the National Enquirer

StyleChic

Unique to Los Angeles, StyleChic is a VIP tailor-made shopping service for people that want to shop like a VIP. Through her relationships with all the stores from her ten years as the Associate Publisher of high-end publications and celebrity styling, Founder and LA wardrobe stylist Alyson Scott has strong relationships with all the luxury stores within the packages to make sure the client is given five-star, VIP treatment. StyleChic has partners with all the boutiques on Rodeo, Robertson, West Third St, Melrose Place, La Brea, and Vintage. We work with all the five star hotels in Los Angeles to offer this experience to travelers and also with clients locally. StyleChic offers wardrobe overhauls for local residents combined with the StyleChic shopping experience.

StyleChic shopping experience












Day of shopping (six hours) includes:

• Luxury town car
  
• Escorted by a professional LA stylist to your unique itinerary of boutiques
  
• VIP treatment throughout the day
  
• champagne
  
• celebrity discounts,
  
• private retail service,
  
• special VIP dressing rooms,
  
• gifts and personal attention
  
• goody-bag full of unique high-end products

StyleChic is available for men. Gift Certificates are available- a great gift for a friend, significant other, family member, or anyone who loves to shop or needs help in the fashion realm.

StyleChic has recently been seen on: Access Hollywood, E! News Daily, Style Network, WeTV, Variety, Angeleno, 944, etc.

Luxe "StyleChic Package"

• For $789, one night Deluxe Accomodation based on single or double occupancy (additional nights at $259),
  
• Includes a two-hour personal shopping experience with stylist Aly Scott on Rodeo Drive,
  
• VIP shopping experience includes a personal greeting by store directors, private dressing rooms, complimentary champagne, celebrity discounts, and special sales attention while shopping with Aly,
  
• A goody bag filled with everything from designer cosmetics to scented candles.

Luxe "Chic & More Chic Package"

• For $1289, enjoy a one-night Deluxe Accomodation based on single or double occupancy (additional nights at $259),
  
• Includes a four-hour personal shopping experience with stylist Aly Scott on Rodeo Drive, Robertson Blvd., W. Third Street, or Melrose Place,
  
• VIP shopping experience includes a personal greeting by store directors, private dressing rooms, complimentary champagne, celebrity discounts, and special sales attention while shopping with Aly,
  
• A goody bag filled with everything from designer cosmetics to scented candles.

Package reservations may be made for either a weekday or weekend by calling 1-800-HOTEL-411. 48-hour cancellation policy.

Paris

The new film, Paris, Je t’aime, is being billed as stories of love from the city of love. Fall in love 18 times with the little vignettes about Paris that you’ve never seen on a picture postcard. Each director tells a different story in the various neighborhoods that make up this extraordinary city. You leave wishing there were more!

A Contented Guest...

WENDY

OH YES ITS MY PLEASURE GREAT HOTEL..I LOVE THE ROOMS THANKS A LOT
IM COMING BACK ..NEXT WEEK..MAYBE TUESDAY..I’ll LET YOU KNOW ..
THANKS

GORDON (Premier VIP Management, LLC)

Lost and Found

During a Team Meeting last week, I felt something sharp at my left wrist and realized my gold bracelet was missing its charm. Within a second, I gasped which paused the meeting. Fortunately, my astute assistant, Alice, noted that it couldn’t have gone far as she had just noticed it. Sure enough, the 1917 gold coin was in my lap. It was a wedding gift to my grandmother and she had passed it to my Aunt Doris and Doris had given it to me, just as I’m expected to pass it to a niece. Saturday morning I picked up the newly soldered bracelet at the jewelers. All of which made me think of a recent article in the LA Times in which the writer, whose home came perilously close to the Griffith Park fire, was questioning what he would take first should he need to evacuate. What is the stuff in our lives worth? I was lucky and so were all the home owners in Los Feliz.


A Contented Guest...


Thank you Wendy. I had a great time and will certainly consider you all when I'm in the area again.

Josie Seid, Nike

Melrose Place

On Saturday, I visited the new Oscar de la Renta store on Melrose Place. I was delighted to find so many of my friends from Rodeo Drive have relocated, so I asked them for a group photo in the garden. The boutique is worth a visit, serene and elegant with lots of natural light. If you’re in the area on Tuesday, shop ‘til you drop to benefit MOCA’s Contemporary Art Start Program takes place Tuesday, May 22nd from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Drinks, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction await you. 10% of your purchases at any of 17 participating boutiques will be donated to MOCA’s arts education program for public schools.

In the photo:

Elisa Gonzalez, Store Manager at Oscar de la Renta

Saturday night a former sales manager from the Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd. was celebrating her engagement on Sunset Plaza. Congratulations, Michelle.

Sunday I stopped at a coffee shop for breakfast, dawdled over a magazine and watched the other patrons. I overheard an elderly man say ‘If you were a bus, I would have been in serious trouble”, as a young couple hurriedly paid their bill and rushed out the door. How often had I done this? Not paid attention to where I was going? Fortunately, this Sunday I hadn’t knocked anyone over. It was 3:00 PM and I was having scrambled eggs and coffee.

Los Angeles Confidential

Slipped quietly into the Los Angeles Confidential magazine’s Stoli Hotel last night in Hollywood. They built an entire hotel with guestrooms and a spa representing the various Stoli vodkas in their line. I distinctly remember orange, red, blue and clear were vibrant options in a maze of bars and lounges. Connected with a few friends and walked back to the Arclight parking structure, in order to avoid the crowds. Jack in the Box was looking pretty good.

LA Confidential, current issue with Luke Wilson on the cover, notes the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive penthouse in the column “Out & About”, page 102. The hotel boasts a fabulous penthouse and terrace overlooking Rodeo Drive. It’s perfect for intimate receptions, 250-of-your-best-friend parties and showrooms.

In the photos:
Carla Thomas, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce (right)
Me and Karen Lewis Farrelly, High Concept Media Group (above)

Speed Bump

Lambertson Truex

Dashed over to the opening of Lambertson Truex on Melrose Place (at La Cienega Blvd) last evening. The crowd was clearly excited about this first-ever stand-alone store where you can accessorize to your heart’s content. From May 16th through May 26th, a percentage of all sales will be donated to Children’s Action Network. Just another good reason to going shopping!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is doing a centennial tribute to Barbara Stanwyck. So that was my next stop, the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Wilshire Blvd, hosted by Robert Osborne. Twelve clips were shown from Stanwyck’s extensive career. Her wicked sense of humor and glamorous sex appeal were palpable in Ball of Fire. Billy Wilder gave new meaning to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! No one sizzled like she did. And no one threw a pair of scissors better. For tickets to any of the eighteen films in the series, “A Lady to Talk About”, look at http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/. Films are shown at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.

Chloe and Maclaren

Of course I'm a proud Aunt Wendy. So it made my heart happy to hear that my youngest niece took advantage of a warm rainy Wisconsin day. After she came off the bus, she doned her rain boots and umbrella for a full rendition of "Singin' in the Rain" on the front sidewalk. Bless her five-year-old theatrical spirit.

In the photo:

Chloe in her pink raincoat (right);

Maclaren in her blue raincoat (left)

MOCA Pacific Design Center

The Avenues of Art and Design are only 1.5 miles from the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive and home to some of the best design stores on the west coast. Showcased on San Vicente Blvd and PDC Drive, is MOCA Pacific Design Center, the compact museum which is currently showing, Some Assembly Required: Contemporary Prefabricated Houses until May 20th. The modern modular dwellings challenge common preconceptions about prefab homes and highlight a new generation of architects who are pushing the boundaries of home construction and imagination.

I had the pleasure of meeting Lynn Frangos (pictured), Annual Fund Officer for The Museum of Contemporary Art, for a tour. We served together on the MOCA Contemporaries years ago and met up at the associates’ reception for The Art of Richard Tuttle at the MOCA Grand Avenue last month. Call for MOCA memberships at 213/633-5344 or www.moca.org. They have a host of great activities and exhibitions.