Barabra Davis carousel clutch from Judith Leiber

Every year, Barbara Davis gets our her carousel-shaped bag by Judith Leiber for one of Beverly Hills‘ best known charity events, now 32 years in the running. You may know Barbara as the grandmother of LA natives/TMZ favs, Brandon and Jason Davis, or the other half of the power couple Barbara and Marvin Davis, who’s name is written across Cedars Sinai‘s largest building and many others around the city …

But those know her best, know her as a mother of 5, Gregg, Patricia, John, Nancy and Dana and that Barbara’s life mission has been to give Dana, who had diabetes as a very young girl, a fair shot at life.

Barbara founded this charity for sometimes designer Dana Davis, who had a pop-up store on Melrose Place last Spring, in 1978 after learning there was no cure and held the first ball in Denver, Colorado where the family lived at that time. Today it is commonly known to be held at the Beverly Hilton and hosts more than 1,000 guests – all in Black Tie.

Barbara picked the carousel motif for several reasons: a.) to coax Dana into sitting still for her daily insulin shots, b.) Mrs. Davis bought her a white pony, c.) Barbara also said the name referred to “children riding the carousel of life.”

She has raised 75$ million over the years for The Barbara Davis Cener for Childhood Diabetes in Auroro, Colorado, and for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.

This has been a family event, ever since I can remember. Included among the hundreds who have joined the COH Committee are: Tony Bennett, Adrien Brody, Norman and Marguerite Brokaw, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood, Jerry & Linda Bruckheimer, Jerry Buss, Shakira & Michael Caine, Megan & Peter Chernin, Jackie Collins, Joan Collins & Percy Gibson, Cindy Crawford & Rande Gerber, Carole & Bob Daly, Kristin Davis, Neil Diamond, Harrison Ford, Sandy Gallin, David Geffen, Berry Gordy, Brian Grazer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Cheryl & Ron Howard, Anjelica Huston & Robert Graham, Ghadi & Ray Irani, B.B. King, Arnold & Anne Kopelson, Cindra & Alan Ladd, Sherry Lansing & Billy Friedkin, Ed Limato, Barry Manilow, Tamar & Robert Manoukian, Nathalie & Maurice Marciano, Paul Marciano, Julie Chen & Les Moonves, Ginny & Bob Newhart, Priscilla Presley, Barbara & Don Rickles, Ed & Danna Ruscha, Jane Seymour & James Keach, Dr. & Mrs. P.K. Shah, Nicollette Sheridan, Brooke Shields & Chris Henchy, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Florence & Harry Sloan, Suzanne Somers & Alan Hamel, Kevin Spacey, Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Sting & Trudie Styler, Barbra Streisand & James Brolin, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Raquel Welch, Clive Davis, Serena Williams, Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks, Arda & Alex Yemenidjian, Lili & Dick Zanuck and many more leaders in business, medicine and entertainment.

It’s time for the 32nd year of the Carousel !

My drama from 2008…Fortunately, this year there was no drama !

Shout out to our favorite BHPD Finn McClafferty, who is always around and prepared for everyones safety.

The deets:

Location: The Beverly Hilton

Emcee: Jay Leno

Brass Ring recipient: Maria Schriver

Performers: J.Lo and Marc Anthony, Gladys Knight, and last minute, Akon

Protocol: Guests meander around three rooms of silent auctions, while having a drink at any of the bars.  There is a smaller room that you get to from the first room which is a Vip reception for Barbara’s close family and friends.  Once this is all over, guests head to the main ball room for awards, presentations, performances, and three course meal.  Once finished, guests go to collect their goody gift bags and head home.

Live auction items: Hawaii and Tibet trip worth 64 thousand dollars (sold), Mercedes Benz 63 AMG worth 90 thousand dollars (sold for 170 thousand), and a European trip worth 35 thousand dollars (sold)

People I have seen perform in past years: Elton John, Usher, Faith Hill, The Jonas Brothers, Whitney Houston, BB King, etc

VIP room goodies: Moet and Chandon had their own kiosk in the Vip Reception room

So who was there? Davis Clan Barbara with kids Nancy, Dana, John, Gregg, and Patty with their spouses, Marty, Jordan, Ken, Elena, and Barbara’s grandkids such as Brandon, Jason, 6 year old twins Mariella and Isabelle, Whitney, Chad, Nicholas, Matthew, Ashley, Jack, Catherine, Jensen, Harry, Julia, and Hudson. (Jason brought Rachel Uchitel … they sat next to each other?)

Family friends, Actors, Commediens, OBE recipients, and one adulterer included:Don Rickles, Sherri Lansing (husband Billy Friedkin is shooting a movie in the South), Barry Gordy with girlfriend Escadar, George and Jolene Schlatter, Ricky and Karen Minor, Clive Davis with son Mitch and his wife Clare, Diane Warren, Nicole David with husband Bryan and assistant April, Ken and Ellen Ziffrin, Les Moonves and Julie Chen, Nancy Davis and Ken Rickel, Nikki Haskell with Beverly Johnson, Buzz and Lois Aldrin, Bob Newhart, Donna Mills, Halle Berry with Olivier Martinez, Sumner Redstone, Jane Fonda and husband, Randy Jackson, Joan and Jackie Collins with their husbands, Sela Ward, Susan Lucci, Cheryl Tiegs, Nigel Lythgoe, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Sidney Poitier and wife Joanna, Rod Stewart with Penny Lancaster, Akon, Kyle Massey, Don Johnson, Suzanne de Passe with Nick Chavez, Alanna Stewart, Ben Verene, Kathy and Rick Hilton, Paris Hilton with boyfriend Cy Waits, Nicky Hilton, Farrah Aldjufrie, Gladys Knight, Raquel Welch, Vanna White, Kathy Griffin, Grey Davis, and Paul Sorvino, who sang for me Marilyn Mccoo and I.

Cha Cha Changess (from the last COHB):

• Registration was done on computers this year, a first
• Photo booth in room 1
• Tom Arnold was not leading the silent auction as usual
• Barbara did not wear her usual ahhmazing pink sequin and tule dress, however she did have her Judith Leiber Carousel clutch
• Silent Auction bidding has always been manual on clipboards in front of desired item, this year it all went digital
• David Foster is usually on stage a lot, this year I did not see him
• Family friend, Ricky Minor, was the band leader this year
• The waiters were very rude and impatient… ie. two of them were very rude to Mitch and Clare Davis as we chatted
• There were a few unexpected and random guests, but what’s wrong with being entertained
• No carousel horses on the table center pieces
• There have always been Barbies in the gift bags, from sponsor Mattel, this year, none

My favorite room - the fashion auction table !

Daddyyy in the Vip Reception

J.Lo and Marc

Real Housewives of BH offspring

Dessert !

The famed gift bags - I think we might have 30 of these

Gone are the days when you’d sneak out, meet your dealer and head for the desert on an empty tank of gas. The new Coachella trend this year is the family plan. En vogue are the those who share a ride from home (Carpoolchella!!!), put it all on one credit card and keep it in the family. Celebrities and LA people seen as families at the festival this year:

• Melanie Griffith with children Dakota and Jesse
• Beyonce Knowles with sister to Solange watching husband Jay Z
• Maria Shriver + daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger
• Atlanta de Cadenet with her sister
• Nicky Hitlon + sister Paris Hitlon and her bf David Katzenberg
• Michael Wayans, Damon Wayans and Shawn Wayans at Music Loves Fashion
• Brothers Sam & Ben Keywanfar throw Music Love Fashion party at the Riviera
• Bolthouse keeps it in the family with 944 as a sponsor (he is the mag’s publisher)
• Lou Adler brought along 5 year old son Oscar Adler and his older son Cisco Adler was there as well
• Steve Birkhold, President and CEO of Lacoste USA, brought along his wife Nicole Birkhold to the Lacoste pool parties
• Jamie Kantrowitz (Harvard-Westlake, Oakwood ’95) & Chris Kantrowitz (Buckley ’92) came as a pair – best looking and coolest brother sister team around
• Designer Magda Berliner & photographer Alex Berliner brought their teenage daughter & her besties
• The Winklevoss Twins rolled into Neon Carnival with friends on break from Oxford ~ Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss will be portrayed in the upcoming Facebook movie as the initial brains behind Facebook
• Danny Masterson with brother Jordy + sister Alana
• Kelly Osbourne attended the festival + brother Jack Osbourne was at Neon Carnival
• DJ Jon Alagem + sister Alexis Alagem
• Harley Viera-Newton (Crossroads School ’06) drove out to the desert with Rio Viera-Newton (Crossroads School ’12)
• Haley & David Hasslehoff went on the slides at Neon Carnival – and the ferris wheel
• Half brother-sister Lily Waronker & Joey Waronker - Joey played on stage with Thom Yorke’s new band Coachella!

To add to the family experience parties were being extra sensative to the needs required for desert survival!

• Lacoste gave plenty of sunblock to guests coming into the pool party, and flashlights on the way out. They also stocked the party full of food and fruit popsicles for vitamins and anti-oxidants replenishment!
• Brent Bolthouse had walls of Brita water coolers and cups lining the entire entrance & exit to his air hanger carnival along with tons of food from Chipotle, Fatburger & Moose munch.
• Bing shuttles took inebriated and tired guests back to their hotels from the midnight oasis in the desert.

Talk about conscientious  party planning! Other cool ppl & celebs at Coachella this weekend??

Neon Carnival – ***Prize for LA Native attendance – not in any order –  David Katzenberg Nicky Hilton, Paris hilton, Josh Hartnet, Haley and David Hasslehoff, Chanel Iman, Mikey Appel, Reeve Collins, Rick Heller (birthday boy), Brent Seals, Angie Baniki, Roxy Olin, Stacy Keibler, Lauren Brokaw, DJ Politik (spinning), Rome Apple Shadanloo & Asher Levin, Tamsin Lonsdale, Meghan Rochelle Runstetler, Vail Bloom, Beau Baker, Priscila Martinez, Carolyn Zweifel, Carlos lopez, Brent Bolthouse, Devon Aoki, Jeff Beacher, Mike Baruch, Jamie Kantrowitz, Chris Kantrowitz, Sabrina Yadegar, Genie Fitzgerald, Jon Shokrian, Jon Neman, Drew Meyers, Spencer Guilbert, Med Abrous, Jack Osbourne, Jimmy Debello, Kevin Hayes, Teddy Hirsch, Alex Kelman, Chris O’Neil, Mickey Church, Ori Prince, Jessica Craig, Addy Tesfai, Dj Paul Purman, Taylor Russel, Brandon Davis, Brian Diamond, Nes Saban, Mike Moonves, Sam Plouchart, Devendra Banhart, Lily Waronoker, Katya Staretski, Alexis Alagem, Harley V Newton, Elan Ruspoli, Chris Bruno, Cisco Adler, Andrew Freston, Jared Najjar, Alessandra, Xander, Jeff Gold, Alana, Jordy + Danny Masterson, Mike Moonves, Camille Bell, Lauren Hastings, Ryan Rabin, Allie Ruddy, Kristom Parson, Evan Rudin, Ryan Scott, Park Daniel, Evan Weiss, Kim Jordan, Mike Mcguiness, Hayden Panettiere, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Kellan Lutz, Abbie Cornish, Xander Tarigo + whole crowd, Tyler Parker, Lauren Brittney, Ishowmyself, Brandon Allen, Oliver Trevena, Grant Shapiro, Roxy Olin with Alex Lobel and Ali Fartouchi w Harry Morton, Tommy Sobel, Caroline d’Amore, Cory Nita.

Lacoste pool party – Alexa Chung, Rachel Bilson, Lake Bell, Camila Belle, Emile Hirsch, Har Mar, Jesse Metcalfe, DJ Daisy O’Dell, Steve Birkhold & Nicole Birkhold,  Paul Walker, Dj Ana Calderon and Daniel Kovic, Harley viera newton with brother Rio and Devendra Banhart was DJing the party, Kristen Stewart, Noah Wallace (formerly of S’chool Girls), Jesse Metcalfe, Bryan Greenberg.

If you have been reading the Daily Truffle for a few months, you know that the subject of art in LA (or lack of it) is very important to us.

Spending a lot of my childhood in NYC, and being exposed to museums and amazing exhibits, I developed a liking for anything art related at a very early age.

I am now pleased to say that within the past few months, LA has progressed significantly.  Saturday night alone there were 2 shows focused on photographers; however we still want moreeee!

One of the forces that has helped LA’s progression is Prism Gallery on Sunset Blvd. You may remember Prism Gallery, as it played host to the after party for Moca’s 30th Anniversary Gala.

Another thing I like about is Prism is that it is the product of young minds.  The space is perfect, and I really love that in LA you can go to an exhibit opening and see a diverse crowd of young adults, heavily interested in the works.

In case you don’t already know (where have you been?), here is some info on Prism:

Located on Sunset Boulevard, Prism is housed in a three story architectural space on the western end of the Sunset Strip. The mission of the project space is to become a cornerstone of artistic experimentation, carving a new niche for the arts here in Southern California. The long-term exhibition program, featuring national and international artists, promises to be vibrant and thought-provoking as it works with creative minds to cultivate a challenging and diverse aesthetic experience for the public. The space will also look to integrate lectures and film viewings to create a well-rounded multidisciplinary venue. Alongside the exhibition space, the project space will also house a bookshop with a curated selection of texts and products.

Saturday night, before the nights festivities, including The Weinstein Company‘s party, at the new Soho House, and 2nd night of Trousdale Lounge, my friend, Rachel Chapnik, and I went to check out Nobuyoshi Araki‘s new exhibit at Prism Gallery on Sunset Blvd (put on by Nadine Johnson and Associates).

Nobuyoshi Araki’s: A Perspective, is a veryyyy interesting and thought provoking exhibit of 70 photographs spread across 2 floors.  While the subject of these photos may be too risque, others will thoroughly enjoy them and take a lot away from the experience.

Nobuyoshi is Japan’s most controversial and well known photographer, who has recently shot Lady Gaga in his signature bondage style for Vogue Homme, and counts singer, Bjork, as one of his biggest fans.

I like how Araki took something that is “taboo” and made it so artistic, real, and in some cases beautiful, as if to say not everything of this nature is wrong or perverse, etc.  Yes, there were some images that were hard to look at, but I appreciated the work, detail, and thought that went into all of them.

I say real because most of the pictures were not airbrushed, so stretch marks, cellulite, veins, and other imperfections were visible.

The photos that were in color were amazing, in both bright and vibrant and soft and pale colors.  It became clear that Araki paid very close attention to shadows and highlights.

Guests drank white white, beer, Coco Vita, and other refreshments.

LA natives, friends, and art enthusiasts included: Jared Najjar (owner) with his sister, two brothers, and parents, Stavros Niachros, P.C. Valmorbida with family, Nellee Hooper, Guinevere van Seenus, Andrea and Pietro Clemente, Nur Kahn, Seth Berman, Adrien Brody, Mac Hadar, Zac Hall, Sasha Filsi, Marissa Tomei with Liz Goldwyn, Lapo Elkann, Avril Lavigne with Brandon Davis, Brian Cook, Jay Harris with Ramez Tohme and Matt Kornberg, Devin Aoki, Ben Watts with Jeanann Williams, Andre Balazs, Sky Peters, Marco Perego, Jason Swartz, Aj English, Minnie Mortimer and Stephan Gaghan, Stryder Bartow, Michelle Laine and Yves Berlin, Kelli McKee, Guy Starkman and Darren Dzienciol, Calvin Chan, Eamon Kelly, Jeremy Piven, Kaycee Flinn, Sarah Howard, Cedric Benaroch, and many more.

After, most of us headed to Trousdale, where I saw a lot of friends, and everyone drank and danced the night away !

A few on going trends Rachel and I noticed throughout the night:

Most people wore all black

5 or 10 attendants sported a 90s grunge look

About 15 percent of the chic guests had their jeans/pants rolled up in a 50s sort of flood pant style

Right side of the 1st floor

This intriguing large glass structure had hundreds of small pictures spaced evenly in the middle of the 1st floor of the gallery.  The presence of the photo mural as a whole was strong but when you got in closer, each picture was so different and very detailed.  The photos were of all different genres,I’m guessing an accumulation of Araki’s work over time.

Atmosphere on the 1st floor

Atmosphere of the 2nd floor

The picture above is what I was refering to when I said I like the realness of his shots…. I like how her flaws are not airbrushed.

GAGA photos shot by Araki for Vogue Homme

Based on some of the self portraits and others things Araki, I imagine him to have an amazing sense of humor!

Interested in Mr. Araki? Watch his documentary

The pictures above were taken by myself or PMC

Bardot celebrates one year anniversary with Perry Farrell Performaing “Jane Says” to intimate group. Congratulations to our friends at Bardot – Alexi Yulish, Stephanie Fessler and Jason Scoppa.