Prior to the Los Angeles Times, Melissa was the west coast fashion market editor at Women’s Wear Daily. We love the fun, playful cover and await it’s impact on the city!

James Franco wanted to make a movie about the making of “Rebel without a Cause” but wound up with a collaborative MOCA exhibit instead. A replica of the famous Chateau Marmont courtyard and Bungalows is the framework for video art, short films and photography projected on the walls inside each bungalow, all designed to harken different themes associated with the film “Rebel without a Cause”, and the making of the film. Participating artists include James Franco, Aaron Young, Terry Richardson, Paul McCarthy, Damon McCarthy, Harmony Korine, Douglas Gordan, Galen Pehrson and Ed Ruscha.

A media preview was held Saturday this past weekend where Jeffrey Deitch, James Franco, Paul McCarthy and Harmony Korine spoke at length about the work, followed by a VIP preview from 6pm to 8pm that night after which the exhibit was opened the public from 8pm to 10pm.

The show is sponsored by MOcA and is produced by Commonwealth Projects, and held at the JF Chen warehouse at 941 N. Highland. The exhibit is open May 15th – June 23rd, 2012.

Emma from MOCA TV (far L)

Max Padilla & Brenne Egan

Lyn Winter, James Franco, Aaron Young

Magda Berliner at the REBEL preview

Filmmaker Harmony Korine with Paul McCarthy at REBEL preview (Aroon Young in stripes behind)

Lyn Winter & James Franco

James Franco discussing REBEL, MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch (R)

JAMES & JEFFREY

David Yurman now re-open on Brighton & Rodeo

On Thursday, May 10th, 2012 David & Sybil Yurman hosted the re-opening of their Rodeo & Brighton Way flagship store which was recently renovated to expand into the former Bang & Olufsen space next door. Kelly Lynch, Emma Roberts, Eugene Sadovoy, and others came out to celebrate.

Overheard at the party was a story that David began his career taking jewelry making classes at Santa Monica college. Now he and his wife live in New York but flew into Los Angeles over a week ago to host the evening and several other events. (Last weekend, David Yurman and P.S. Arts sponsored the opening night of the Los Angeles Modernism show with P.S. Arts, and Wednesday this week, David Yurman hosted a dinner for the Art of Elysium Heaven Gala Host Committee).

Some eye catching jewelry among the crowd of celebrities editors, shoppers, stylists and friends of the Yurmans, included their new candy colored collection of popping pink and blue baby diamond cluster rings, pendants, and bracelets.

Of particular note was a “Tourmaline” ring only found in Brazil, though currently no longer mined, worth $450,000. The one in David Yurman right now is rare, pure in clarity, exotic and flawless.

On the list: Kelly Lynch, Emma Roberts, Perry Reeves (all in David Yurman), shoppers, stylists and friends of David & Sybil including Elizabeth Stewart, Jessica Paster, Cameron Silver, Judy Chang, Dr Gabriel & Christine Chiu (who made off with a pair of star burst earrings), Eugene Sadovoy, Urban Outfitters CEO Glen Senk, Wren designer Melissa Coker, and more.

Across the street the Beverly Hills Education Foundation had their fundraiser atop the Luxe hotel. Some BHEF board members came by the store after the party. Others wandered up the street where filmmaker Paul Haggis was hosting the re-opening of Brioni, another brand well worn in Hollywood.

Across town Dita Von Teese opened her weekend tour at the House of Blues with a friends & family night, Victoria Secret threw their annual What is Sexy party at Mr. C Hotel and POTUS was in town for a fundraiser at George Clooney’s — and kindly stuck to helicopters for the night.

David Yurman's black carpet and wall

Lauren Conrad, Judy Chang, Eugene Sadavoy, Christa Allen (Revenge) -- Stefanie Keenan / Wireimage

"Tourmaline" ring only found in Brazil, though currently no longer mined, worth $450,000.

The one in David Yurman right now is rare, pure in clarity, exotic and flawless.

David Yurman and guest

David Yurman & Kelly Lynch, Sybil Yurman & Perry Reeves -- Stefanie Keenan / Wireimage

New color pop rings

David Yurman staples

David Yurman "Star Bursts"

Black Eye Pea display

DY Jewels

What: Re-election campaign fundraiser for Obama
Where: George Clooney’s basketball court
Who: George Clooney, David Katzenberg, Barbra Streisand, Robert Downey Jr., Tobey Maguire, Eddie Murphy, Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Salma Hayek, Stacy Kiebler, producer/director Rob Reiner, J.J. Abrams, Starz’ Chris Albrecht, Summit’s Rob Friedman, producer Nina Jacobson, Diane Von Furstenberg, ICM’s Chris  Silbermann and CAA’s Bryan Lourd.

#TruffleNotes:

• George Clooney has a Shepard Fairey “Hope” poster in his house
• Wolfgang Puck cooked
• 150 guests paid $40,000 to dine and support Obama’s reelection
• 14 round tables with 10 people each
• Obama spoke around 7 pm thanking George Clooney, David Katzenberg for hosting
• No #Obama motorcades this time — POTUS, his retinue, security detail and press pool took helicopters to Burbank Airport and then a motorcade to GC’s (and Stacy’s). After the dinner, Obama went to the Beverly Hilton and tomorrow am flies to Reno.

PS — We hear Obama will return to LA  June 6, 2012 for another fundraiser at Ryan Murphy’s (Glee).

OBAMA ROAD CLOSURES (posted at 12:20PM):

• 5:00pm: Street closures begin.  Those driving on Laurel Cyn Blvd and connecting streets north of Ventura Blvd should expect delays and road closures between 5pm-8pm.
• Around 6:00pm: President Obama will arrive at LAX.   He will then be transported via motorcade and helicopter to George Clooney’s house.
• 8:00pm-10:00pm: Local access south of Ventura Blvd will be sealed off.  Residents with a local ID will be allowed through.
• The President will spend the night in Beverly Hills (most likely the Beverly Hilton)
• 10:00am – The President will depart LA.

INFO from Presidential pool report, The Hollywood Reporter, and our Little Truffle Hunters

The evening started off with a private dinner at the Roosey’s restaurant, Public Kitchen with friends of Nylon cover girls Britt Robertson and Juno Temple.  Then came the poolside after party at Tropicana (Yes, it is that time of year again!) with a gifting suite on the 2nd floor and DJ sets by NYC’s Becka Diamond.

Cover GIRlzz Britt Robertson and Juno Temple celebrated with Nylon Editor, Marvin Scott Jarrett and Britt’s fellow Secret Circles cast mates Thomas Dekker, Jessica Parker, and Chris Zylka, Francesca Eastwood, Chord Overstreet, Emma Roberts, Nikki Reed, Emily Browning, LA Alum Zelda Williams, Max Winkler, Rumer Willis, and Trevor McFedries aka Skeet Skeet, + Revenge’s Connor Paolo, Christa Allen, and Ashley Madweke, Dreama Walker, Taylor Russell, McLovin, Mike Vargas, David Swartz, Scott Cunha, Matt Donnelly, Priscilla Martinez, and LA photogs Tyler Shields, Ronny Alwin (Ronny’s Photobooth), Steven Meiers (Commes Des Fuck Down), and Mark Hunter (Cobrasnake).

Gifting suite on 2nd floor with swag from Backstage, Onitsuka Tiger, Havaianas, Palladium, DL 1961, Bedhead by Tigi and more.

Sounds like a remake?

“MTV brought you The Hills but Bret and I will bring you The Canyons” — Paul Schrader

Directed by Paul Schrader
Feature film (Thriller)
Produced by Braxton Pope
Production dates Jul 9, 2012 – Jul 31, 2012
Location(s) Los Angeles
Union/Rate: SAG-AFTRA New Media Rate.
Open to non union members as well.

Here is a character breakdown –

Christian is handsome, fit, a power player and major manipulator. He lives off a trust fund which pays for a house on the beach and dabbles in such avocations as film producing. But mainly it pays for his hedonistic life style. Christian enjoys setting up three-ways and filming them. Yet, despite his philandering ways, he is possessive about his current live-in girlfriend, Tara.

Tara, formerly a model, now arm candy, is “beautiful and withdrawn.” She has spirit and intelligence but somewhere along the way she has sold her pride for the material comforts Christian can provide.

Ryan has the All American good looks which characterize so many aspiring young actors. His moment is passing and he knows it. He is currently bartending but has landed a lead role in a horror film Christian is financing, his last chance at the golden ring. He lives with Gina, but remains in love with Tara, whom he sees secretly.

Gina, pretty but not threatening, works for Christian. She’s deeply in love with Ryan and has pressured Christian to cast Ryan in his schlock horror film. She has her shit together and has yet to realize she is in way over her head.

Lindsay, having failed to catch on as an actress, is now a yoga teacher. All that remains of her former career are false breasts and a penchant for melodrama. She fucksChristian in his spare time but also is in love with him.

Bob & Michelle Cohen's 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast

The annual Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance car show kicked off this weekend with a pre-cocktail reception on Saturday night at the Montage for car collectors showing on Sunday. A B17 flyover kicked off the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday at city-owned Greystone Mansion which has long since been preserved and funded by the Friends of Greystone since it’s transfer from private hands to the City of Beverly Hills in 1965.

Spotted in the crowd was Jay Leno, showing his 1917 Fiat Botafogo Special, major LA car collection and Petersen board member David Sydorick (who took home “Best of Show” at the concours for his 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300), Bruce Meyer (who won the Hammer Speed & Design award for his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette), attorney Bob Cohen, who showed his 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, and Winston Goodfellow, a 20 plus year judge at Pebble Beach, an author and photographer.

On Saturday night during the pre-party Loro Piana donated prizes which were raffled off by former Beverly Hills mayor and current councilman Barry Brucker and fellow councilman Dr Julian Gold. Scarpetta catered the cocktail reception with champagne from Moet Chandon. The spectacle of the reception was definitely the red wine table, which was actually a rotating table with a bartender standing in the middle (mindful for the “champagne-table woman” at the opening of the L.A. Opera this year).

Sponsors of the car show include Angeleno mag, Gooding and Company classic car auction, the Auto Gallery, O’Gara Coach, the Petersen Museum, the Dina Collection on South Beverly Drive, and more. Next up is Como …

COMPLETE 2012 WINNER LIST (Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance Final 2012 Awards):

Best of Show Concours d’Elegance
David Sydorick
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 EUROPEAN CLASSICS

Best of Show Concours de Sport
Ron Hein
1964 Alfa Romeo TZ ITALIAN SPORTS

Spirit of Greystone
Aaron & Valerie Weiss
1930 Cadillac 452A PRE-WAR AMERICAN

Mayor’s Choice
Liliane Quon McCain
1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet EUROPEAN CLASSICS

People’s Choice
Jeffrey Meier
1970 Lamborghini Miura “S” ITALIAN SPORTS

Tiffany & Co. Award of Elegance
Petersen Automotive Museum
1939 Bugatti T57C EUROPEAN CLASSICS

Director’s Choice
Tony Shooshani
1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster MERCEDES-BENZ

Friends of Greystone Outstanding Restoration
Barry Connolly
1964 Triumph Spitfire POST-WAR BRITISH

Petersen Perfection
Don Nichols
1925 Hispano Suiza H6B EUROPEAN CLASSICS

Meguiar’s Outstanding Paint
David Green
1969 Ferrari 365 GTC FERRARI

Hammer Speed & Design
Bruce Meyer
1963 Chevrolet Corvette

Brooks Bros. Timeless Classic
Stanley Zimmerman
1936 Packard V-12 Conv. Sedan 1408 PRE-WAR AMERICAN

Dina Collection Diamond Award
Tony Schwartz
1953 Jaguar XK 120 FHC JAGUAR

Doheny Award of Excellence
Craig Ekberg
1915 Stutz Bearcat PRE-WAR AMERICAN

Jesse Alexander Outstanding Sports Car
Kip Kolodzieski
1954 Fiat 8V Zagato ITALIAN SPORTS

FIVA Preservation Award
Peter and Merle Mullin
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Coupe EUROPEAN CLASSICS

BEST OF CAR CLASSES

Mercedes-Benz
William Kling
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

Jaguar
Simon Rubin
1952 Jaguar XK-120

Porsche
Bob Smith
1971 Porsche 911S

Pre-War American
Paul & Pam Friskopp
1928 Packard 526

Post-War American
John Boccardo
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Ferrari
Tomy Drissi
1963 Ferrari 250GTL

Corvette
Jaime Gesundheit
1962 Chevrolet Corvette

Pre-War Rolls-Royce
Raffi and Lauren Cohen
1936 Rolls-Royce Phantom III

European Classics
Bill Pope
1939 Bugatti Galibier 57C

Post-War Rolls-Royce/Bentley
Don Rose
1953 Bentley Continental R

Post-War British
Dennis Glavis
1963 Morgan Plus 4

Italian Sports
Scott & Coco Gauthier
1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Zagato

Ford “Performance”
Adrien Labi
1968 Ford Shelby GT500

MOTORCYCLE

Best of Show
Brad Boyle
1958 MV Grand Sport

Best Antique
Rob Myers / Vinnie Mandzak 1920 Triumph 550H

Best Racer
Shelby Myers
1939 BMW R51 RS

Jay Leno in his 1917 Fiat Botafogo Special - picture from Zalephotoart.com

Winner for Best in Show: David Sydorick's 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 EUROPEAN CLASSICS - pic from Zalephotoart.com

Greystone Mansion on Sunday, May 6, 2012

Winston Goodfellow (L) a 20 plus year judge at Pebble Beach. He is also an author and photographer

2012 Concours d'Elegance

Bruce Meyer winning for his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette

2012 Concours d'Elegance at Greystone Mansion

Loro Piana gift bags at the Saturday evening pre-party

Scarpetta in the gardens at the Saturday evening pre-party

You know there's a car show in town when you see this at the Montage -- at the Saturday evening pre-party

Scarpetta at the Saturday evening pre-party

Barry Brucker and Julien Gold handing out raffle prizes at the Saturday evening pre-party

Raffle winners being announced at the Saturday evening pre-party

Raffle winners being announced at the Saturday evening pre-party

Moet Chandon at the Saturday evening pre-party

Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition of photo-sharing start-up Instagram has shifted the spotlight to the newest phenomenon in mobile apps: uploading personal videos from smartphones. But the fervor in mobile video-sharing apps could be undermined by what these services still don’t have—revenue and a concrete business model. Some of the start-ups, like Viddy Inc., have started charging for extra features like tools that add filters and effects to the videos, though the effort is nascent.

“The biggest issue in mobile is monetizing,” said Dino Decespedes, vice president of Mobli Media Inc., a mobile video app that has signed up more than the three million users since last September and snagged funding from actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Mobile is “not a sexy place to put ads.”

Mobli is also experimenting with charging for certain features, such as overlaying a video with a Disney World-themed frame. But the company is still figuring out the business model.

That may not be an issue if Mobli can find instant riches instead the way Instagram did when Facebook agreed to acquire it last month. Instagram had no revenue but 35 million users after launching just 18 months earlier.

Such a deal is rare in Silicon Valley, however, and some investors question whether video services can reach the same level of ubiquity as photo-sharing, given people tend to share more photos than videos.

So far, the boom in video-sharing apps is being fueled by fast user growth at start-ups such as Viddy. About 26 million people have downloaded the Los Angeles company’s app since it was launched a year ago, and it is currently adding around a million users a day.

Viddy has recently been in talks about a new financing that would value the young start-up at more than $200 million, according to people familiar with the matter. A Viddy spokesman declined to comment.

Last week the app vied with San Francisco-based Socialcam Inc., which spun out of video website Justin.tv last year, for top app in the free section of Apple’s app store. Socialcam, which has pulled ahead in the rankings, has 36 million users since it went live about 14 months ago.

Socialcam CEO Michael Seibel said his company has been considering various business models. Among them: selling the ability for brands to push a video to the phones of everyone who enters a specific location, like Times Square, or sending everyone at a school a movie trailer around lunch time. Still, “less than 1% of our focus is on the business model,” he said.

Some entrepreneurs and investors backing these apps said the bandwidth-hogging nature of video, high wireless data costs from carriers and different mobile video habits suggest their engagement and growth may not be as viral as Instagram.

Videos take longer to produce and consume than pictures, for instance. It is unclear if the video apps will reach a point where they threaten a major player in the near term, much like Instagram frightened Facebook enough to compel it to make a gigantic offer.

Video “does not have that zero friction adoption” that photos have, said Bruce Dunlevie, a general partner at venture capital firm Benchmark Capital, which backed Instagram. “It is a bigger, more gnarly technical problem.”

Still, Benchmark placed a bet on mobile video by leading an $8 million investment into Klip Inc. in November. Mr. Dunlevie said he thinks the market can be valuable because videos can create more lasting memories.

Wireless carriers are paying attention to video-sharing apps too, as they seek to promote services that encourage users to sign up for pricey data plans for fourth-generation wireless networks.

Verizon Wireless announced a deal with Color Labs Inc. on May 7 to preinstall its free live-video sharing application into some Verizon phones that work on its fourth-generation wireless network. The partnership will give Color the opportunity to connect its app, which streams live video to its app and Facebook, to the computer chips in a phone, which could improve the quality of the videos.

But Color, which raised $41 million as a photography app last year, has struggled and said it only has more than one million users. After an unsuccessful launch last spring, the company changed course in December and instead focused the app on streaming bits of live video over a smartphone that could be shared on Facebook. Color co-founder and CEO Bill Nguyen said the new deal would yield apps that “leapfrog current technologies.”

The mobile video push comes amid renewed interest in online video in Silicon Valley. When Google Inc. GOOG +0.86% paid $1.65 billion to acquire YouTube in 2006, venture capitalists started salivating over online video. But many investors got burned as YouTube copycats quickly went out of business, beset by challenges such as making money from amateur content, policing inappropriate content, copyright issues and the ability of wireless networks to support video.

Earlier this year, Viddy was briefly kicked out of Apple’s app store after people posted adult content. A Viddy spokesman said the ban lasted 48 hours and the company worked with investors to implement “one of the most pro-active and effective content moderations systems of any application in the App store.”

But improvements in camera technology, networks and the proliferation of social media have attracted a new wave of investment and entrepreneurs. Napster co-founders Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning will in the coming weeks launch Airtime, a live-video chatting service, said people familiar with the matter. The site—which raised around $8 million last fall—will have a mobile experience as well, one of these people said.

Also, entrepreneurs said YouTube could be doing more on mobile. “The YouTube experience on the iPhone is pretty dreadful,” said Mobli’s Mr. Decespedes. “They have been slow to change.” Users can’t upload videos directly through the YouTube app but can using iPhone’s videocamera.

A YouTube spokesman said “developers bringing more video applications to the Web is good thing for consumers.” He added that the company partners with many app developers to allow them to upload videos to YouTube Apple, which develops the YouTube iPhone app, didn’t immediately have a comment.

via Wall Street Journal

Harvard-Westlake alum and current L.A. city Councilmember and Los Angeles Mayoral Democratic Candidate threw out the ball for the 59th annual season of polo at Will Rogers State Historic Park in the Pacific Palisades for Tamsin Lonsdale, owner of The Supper Club, and real estate developer and polo player Juri Ripinsky who hosted a 40 person lunch for the affair.

Both teams were teams from the Will Rogers polo club organized specifically for this event:

Team 1: Domingo Questal, Torrey Ripinsky, Ebe Sievwright, Anton Lessine
Team 2: Andrew Bossom, Tom Scherman, Billy Davies, Leigh Bretton

The event served as a fundraiser for the councilman who spoke for ten minutes about his background including a cute story about his grandfather who came to this country an immigrant and become a suit-maker to the (then) President of the United States.

Thanks to The Supper Club, Akvinta Vodka, Solsticio Wines, Camacho Cigars, and Smart Water! For information on joining The Supper Club, please visit this link.

Eric

Juri Ripinsky, Tamsin Lonsdale, Torrey Ripinsky - pic from Erik Neldner

Gerhard Heusch (a member of Will Rogers Polo Club and Polo Estancia, a club of his own in Argentina) and his daughter, Eric Garcetti, Juri Ripinsky - pic from Erik Neldner

ambiance - pic from Erik Neldner

Camacho cigars

Puppies

main event - pic from Erik Neldner

"Honest Bloody Mary's", "Honest Screwdrivers", "Lavender Gimlets" from Akvinta vodka

Food

David Yurman x P.S. Arts "Collector's Night" at Barker Hanger

Check-in with the @HLgroup (!!)

Inside Barker Hanger

Lambchops from "Serves You Right"

Thee plane Thee plane! #BarkerHanger

David Yurman #BarkerHanger

#lamodernism #davidyurman #psarts

"Collectors Preview" for the LA Modernism Show

Hats

Mini Lobster Panini's (catering by "Serves You Right"

Wagon for the Home

Thank you Lynda, for the POM tonight! xoxo

Fashion books

Scallops from "Serves You Right" catering

This lovely lady was spotted walking around the vintage book space with SNL's Kevin Nealon

Spotted: Elizabeth Stewart & @MagdaBerliner at #LAmodernism

Spotted: Judy Chang & Kimberly Brooks #LAmodernism #openingnight

Two words: thank you! -- "Serves You Right" catering at the "Collectors Night" preview

Press line at "Collectors Preview" for the LA Modernism Show

"Collectors Preview" for the LA Modernism Show

Thank you 1st Dibs!

The night is not complete until one finds the #giftbag stash #amiright?? #parties

WHAT: P.S. ARTS invited guests to celebrate 20 years with the Los Angeles Modernism Show. The evening featured Los Angeles’ most prominent artists, designers, architects and other influential professionals from the creative community at this elegant cocktail party, courtesy of Ultimat Vodka and Ma(i)sonry Winery, set amongst some of the world’s finest modern art.

WHEN:

Friday, May 4th
Collectors’ VIP Preview, 6 PM – 7PM
Cocktail Party, 7PM- 10PM

Weekend show hours:
Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Weekend admission $15
http://www.dolphinfairs.com/lamodernism

WHERE: Barker Hangar – Santa Monica Air Center

3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405

ADDITIONAL: Los Angeles Modernism is an annual exhibition and sale featuring 60 national and international exhibitors presenting decorative and fine arts from all design movements of the 20th century including furniture, lighting, sculpture, paintings, glass, jewelry, silver, ceramics, photography, textiles, prints, and vintage fashion and accessories. Catering services provided by Serves You Right! and all desserts donated by Bountiful Bakery. All proceeds of the evening will go directly to P.S. ARTS’ visual art, music and theater programs for more than 11,000 children in our community. For more information, please visit: www.psarts.org/modernism.html

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