Remember when people use to say “let’s do lunch” … ? Well, I think tonight I heard the replacement phrase for that while at an after party for the Foundation Polo Challenge played today in Santa Barbara. The after party was held in Room 64 at the Chateau, more commonly known as the penthouse even though it’s not the top floor.  ON his way out, a friend I’d not seen in ages came flying by at the elevators, without stopping, grabbed me, kissed me, pointed his finger and said “I am SO calling you tomorrow” …

The party was hosted by the Duke of Argyll - the social ambassador for Royal Salute Whiskey who throws international glitzy after parties for the brand’s polo team – aptly called Team Royal Salut. Team Royal Salut won 5 to 3 on Saturday afternoon with the players comprised of Prince William who has been in town on a royal visit, Glen Holden Jr, Andy Busch of the Anheuser Busch family, and Santi Trotz. Prince William scored 4 out of the 5 goals that brought the team to victory which led to an on-going topic of conversation at the after party: “I wonder which teammate tossed the Gentleman’s Agreement to let Will get ALL the goals  …”

Spotted at the party … Brent Bolthouse who DJed, Grace Fernandez, Tamsin Lonsdale, Brett Gursky, Matt Donnelly, Rachel Krupa, Angie Banicki, Lauren Conrad, Tracy Bjelland, Dylan Otto, Dylan McDermott, Anya Varda of the Chateau Marmont, Lane Garrison, Beau Swayze, Julia Verdin, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Rosario Dawson, Jayson Blair, Joe Jonas & Kevin Jonas, Sam Waterston, Lawrence Bender, and Billy Zane.

I saw mini hamburgers, mini cupcakes, bite-size beef wellingtons, mini grilled cheese and 2 bars with Royal Salut and Pierre Jouet champagne. Brent Bolthouse had a very interesting playlist going full of 50s songs including tracks from Dirty Dancing (“Stay”) and Grease (“Summer lovin”). He then moved on to the time wrap song from Rocky Horror picture show and threw in a little Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline”) and The Stokes (“Last Night”). Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd (and I believe Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann) came to the Chateau after party dressed in tuxedos from the BAFTA Brits to Watch event which was held earlier this eve downtown.

Ladies and Gentleman ... DJ Brent Bolthouse

LA Native Jonah Hill who went to Crossroads and is Max Winkler's writing partner wore a Hugo Boss tuxedo to the BAFTA Brits to Watch event and the Chateau Marmont after party

Chateau Marmont Room 64

Royal Salut team winning today in Santa Barbara today

The BAFTA Brits to Watch event held downtown was sponsored by our friends over at Grey Goose and Audi … Chef Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant Group catered with party with a 3-course menu and 280 other guests including Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Barbra Streisand, Jack Black, Zooey Deschanel, James Gandolfini, Quentin Tarantino, Jennifer Garner, Juno Temple, Paul Rudd, Mary Louise-Parker, Blake Lively, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Elizabeth Moss, Gordon Ramsay, Ed Westwick, Chris Evans, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Nigel Lythgoe, Piers Morgan,Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and tennis star Anna Kournikova who were all in attendance at the BAFTA event to meet and talk to Prince William & Kate and the following industry royalty:

• Producer Judd Apatow
• Producer Harvey Weinstein
• Producer Brian Grazer
• Director Brett Ratner
• Director Bill Condon (“Twilight”, “Dreamgirls”)
• Director Quentin Tarantino
• Sony Corporation Chairman, CEO and President Sir Howard Stringer
• Co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment Tom Rothman
• Chernin Entertainment’s Peter Chernin, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht
• Co-chairman-CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment Jim Gianopulos & Ann Gianopulos
• Fox Networks Group Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice & Megan Rice
• President of HBO programming Michael Lombardo
• Co-president of HBO Richard Pepler
• Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios Rich Ross, CBS President and CEO Les Moonves
• CEO of Showtime Matthew Blank
• Co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney/ABC Television Group Anne Sweeney

BAFTA aka the British Academy of Film and Television Arts planned this event to promote up-and-coming British talent in the industry. Prince William is president of BAFTA  and Nigel Lythgoe is the BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman. A couple of the BAFTA Brits to Watch showed up at the Chateau after party including Gugu Mbatha-Raw(“Larry Crowne”).

Seated at the royal table were Nicole Kidman, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin and Donna Langley co-chairman of Universal Pictures, Duncan Kenworthy as well as the prince’s private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, diplomat Sir David Manning and British consul-general Dame Barbara Hay, who hosted a private party for the royals at her Hancock Park home on Friday evening.

Prince William and Kate at the BAFTA event downtown sponsored by Audi and Grey Goose

Prince William talking with Palisades and Malibu dwellers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson at the BAFTA event downtown sponsored by Audi and Grey Goose

Jack Black and Tanya Haden

Brit Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass aka my future husband

Juno Temple in a custom MIU MIU navy cady silk heart-neckline peplum-waist dress enriched with micro-sequin 'dandelion' embroidery. Shoes and clutch from PRADA.

Harvery Weinstein and Chris Evans at the BAFTA event

Piers Morgan, producer Brian Grazser and Sony Corporation Chairman, CEO and President Sir Howard Stringer

Dana Delany, Co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment Tom Rothman and the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa

Zach Galifianakis, Jason Bateman and Ed Helms attend the champagne reception at the 2011 BAFTA Brits To Watch Event at the Belasco Theatre on July 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California

Our friends at the Patina Group sent over the menu for the BAFTA event (below) and told us Patina Catering plans to repurpose the ‘BAFTA Brits to Watch’ menu as a “Royal Menu” for special events and weddings throughout the country in the coming weeks. For additional information, please contact Nichole Van Allen at Patina Catering at 213.814.3051 or visit www.patinacatering.com.

~ First Course ~

Courgette and mint tian with a lemon and pine nut gremolata

and shaved manchego, garnished with a courgette blossom flower

~ Entrée ~

Filet of beef with creamed leeks, pickled spring garlic, asparagus, turnip,

baby onions, potato fondant, and a red wine sauce

~ Dessert ~

Eton Mess

English rose meringue served with fresh picked strawberries and cream

Petit Four

Opera chocolate cake with a touch of gold leaf

~ Wines ~

Champagne Taittinger

Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Evian Water

Patina Catering at BAFTA event

The next morning – Sunday, July 10, 2011 – Prince William and Kate were over at producer Steve Tisch‘ house for a reception to mark the launch of the US Patrons Circle of Tusk, an African wildlife conservation charity which strives to preserve Africa’s natural heritage and culture, of which Prince William has been Royal Patron since 2005. Tusk’s US donors, Reese Witherspoon, Catherine Keener, Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife, LA Huff Post editor Willow Bay, Kristin Gore (daughter of Al Gore), Peter Morton & Linda Evangelista, asset manager Willy & Eileen Ma, Tusk CEO Charlie Mayhew MBE, TUSK USA Director Meredith Ogilvie-Thompson and President of Jaguar Land Rover Andy Goss. Jaguar Land Rover sponsored the event and donated a new Land Rover Defender to the charity to help with its work in Africa.

Willow Bary, Bob Iger, Kate Middleton

Peter Morton, Linda Evangelista and Princess Kate

Last night we spied Tamsin Lonsdale, Reeve Collins, Carly Steel, Tracy Bjelland, Alex Hitz, Adolfo Suaya and Walter Canas on the Food Network’s Private Chefs of  Beverly Hills special Supper Club event!

The show featured two chefs who cooked a roaring 20s themed dinner party for the Supper Club Los Angeles, a traveling dinner party club owned by friend of the Truffle, Tamsin Lonsdale. The chefs were asked to make changes to the menu like “his and her” sized bites for the deviled eggs which offends the chefs but is really just good thinking.

So who is in the Supper Club fold? Tamsin’s assistant Walter Canas as well as her membership director Tracy Bjelland, an heiress to a Norwegian food export empire and Harvard grad who has been spotted doing a modeling job or two as favors to friends (like us! last year Tracy modeled for our Church Boutique shoot, she is also a guest contributer to the DT). These are the ones you’ll have to get through in order to make headway into the club.

Other guest on the episode last night were Coca Cola heir Alex Hitz, also a friend of the Truffle and a haute cuisine comfort food chef who is indeed Cordon Bleu trained, Reeve Collins, owner of an online ad agency whom I first met in Coachella last year when we stayed at his house and he was driving a Maserati dirty from the dessert sand and 15 freeway drive from L.A. (we at the DT love a man who is willing to get his super car dirty – rugged yet fancy), and Los Angeles restaurateur Adolfo Suaya who has had a hand in opening Gaucho Grill, Dolce, Lodge, Boho, Surly Goat and soon to come Osaka.

Read more about Cordon Bleu trained chef Alex Hitz:
Comfort Food Haute Cuisine from Alex Hitz

Read more about Tamsin’s parties:
Supper Club Mad Hatter’s Easter Tea at The Charlie hotel
Wildlife Waystation Safari

Some recent posts from guest contributor Tracy Bjelland:
Harvard Yale Game 2010
Casino Jack Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival

Tracy Bjelland and Kitson Barry at Tamsin's Wildlife Waystation Safari

Ever wondered what an invite to the Oscars looks like? Ever wondered about the other 472 Oscar events that surround the annual ceremonies? Well we got it all here on The Daily Truffle:

The 82nd Academy Awards invitation

Vanity Fair party at new location: Sunset Towers

Vanity Fair party invitation

Tuesday:

• Angeleno / Supper Club party (Tracy Bjelland, Tamsin Lonsdale, Jeanie Lim, Carly Steel, Alan Klien, Nancy Kane)
• Manifesting Equality (Cisco Adler, Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei, Lisa Love, Yosi Sergant)

Manifesting Equality Oscar party

Wednesday:

• Indi spirit awards party at White House Black Market
• Nick Berggruen‘s annual party at Chauteau (Stephanie Chao, Rick Heller, Aura Cercel, Jay Luchs, Carly Steel, Tamsin Lonsdale, Patrick McMullen)
• Vanity Fair and Brioni host Artists for Peace and Justice at NINETEEN12 inside the Beverly Hills Hotel (hosted by Director Paul Haggis with co-hosts Gerard Butler and Lee Daniels – attendees included Hayden Panatierre, Ben Stiller, John Hamm, Olivia Wilde)
• Global Green party at Bardot (James Cameron, Madden bros, Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Alba)
• Vera Wang/Vogue dinner (Reese Witherspoon, Renee Zellweger, Lisa Love, Vera Wang, Rick, Kathy and Nicky Hilton)

Nick Berggruen's annual party at Chauteau

Thursday:

• Black Women in Hollywood Essense Luncheon, hosted by Time Inc. at the BHH (Alfre Woodard, Anika Noni Rose, Gabourey Sidibe, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mary J. Blige, Paula Patton, Queen Latifah, Serena Williams, Tracee Ellis Ross, Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Zoe Saldana)
• Hollywood Reporter party for the Oscar Nominees at the Mayor’s house (Jeremy Renner, Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Eva Longoria Parker and Ryan Seacrest) sponsored by Bing
• Art of Elysium party at Palihouse (Scott Caan, Topher Grace, Amy Smart)
• Gagosian Gallery re-opens after Richard Meier expansion/Mr. Chow dinner (Adrien Brody, Steve Martin, Brian Grazer, Harvery Weinstein, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lisa Love, Brandon Davis, Tracy Bjelland, George Hickenlooper, Magda Berliner, Paula Froelich, Emily Smith, Eugenia Silva, John Water, Larry Gagosian)
• Women In Film Oscar Reception honors female Oscar nominees hosted by Perrier-Jouet champagne for the third year in a row, held at a private home in Bel Air (Camilla Belle, Mena Suvari, Michelle Rodriguez, Gabourey Sidibe, Nancy O’Dell).
• Dior dinner/party at Chateau Marmont (Lucy Hale, Odette Yustman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Ronson, Hayden Panatierre, Angie Harmon)
• Susan Sarandon & Spin New York host ping pong party at the Mondrian (FYI – Susan Sarandon and her bf are investors in Spin NY)
• Louis Vuitton party (Amanda Seyfried, Emma Roberts, Anna Kendrick, Zoe Saldana)

Hollywood Reporter party at the Mayor's house

Friday:

• OK! magazine Oscar Party (Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi)
• Jeremy Corbell’s ICON exhibit behind the Chateau Marmont
• 25th Independent Spirit Awards ~ (usually held on a Saturday in a tented parking lot in Santa Monica ~ this marks the first year the event is on a Friday and held at LA LIVE – the newly built recreational facility next to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles) hosted by Eddie Izzard,  Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett and Jeff Bridges set to preform a song from “Crazy Heart.” Jameson Irish Whiskey, the official spirit  host will serve  Jameson & Gingers on the red carpet. (on the blue carpet: Adrien Brody, Beastie Boys, Carey Mulligan, Chazz Palminteri, Colin Firth, David Spade, Emile Hirsch, Emmy Rossum, Ethan Hawke, Gabourey Sidibe, Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges, Jeremy Renner, Jodie Foster, John Waters, Johnny Weir, Laura Dern, Lenny Kravitz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Matt Dillon, Mena Suvari, Mo’Nique, Monet Mazur, Morgan Spurlock, Natalie Press, Olivia Wilde, Peter Sarsgaard, Pierce Brosnan, Roger Ebert, Rosario Dawson)

• QVC Red Carpet Style on Friday, March 5 at Four Seasons Hotel on Doheny Drive ~  TUNE-IN to QVC on March 5 at 6PM (PT) to watch a live broadcast from the party (Joan Collins, AnnaLynne McCord, Cindy Crawford, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mandy Moore, Anna Kendrick, Kellan Lutz, Quinton Aaron, Nikki Reed, Natalie Press, Isaac Mizrahi, Giuliana Rancic, Gabourey Sidibe, Tila Tequila, Denise Richards)
• CAA’s Bryan Lourd‘s annual event at his house
• Alice in Wonderland comes out
• Party for Barry Diller the BH hotel
• William Morris Endeavor party in Bel-Air

Saturday:

• Prism exhibit
• Moet and Chandon present a party for Tom Munro‘s book of celeb portraits
• Weinstein company event at Soho House
• Madonna & Demi Moore‘s 3rd annual oscars party at Guy O’seary’s house (interesting tid-bit … Demi and Madonna are both investors in Vita Coco and will be serving a drink called Caipirinha ~ a specialty drink with Vita Coco that Demi created)
• The 8th annual “Night Before” at the Beverly Hills hotel hosted by DreamWorks SKG, known as “THE” party of the season, benefiting the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation (they have the old people homes in the valley where actors who never made the big bucks can safely retire on the good graces of those who did – interesting! Right?!)
• Elton John AIDS Foundation party held here in the Polo Private Room

Sunday:

• Us Weekly party
• TV Guide party
• Elton Johns‘ annual Oscar Night Party – Grace Jones preforms
• Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin host, Joel Madden Djs the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre
• 20th Annual Night of 100 Stars at the Beverly Hills Hotel (this is the party many past Oscar winners attend)
• 2nd Annual Vanity Fair party at The Sunset Towers ~ interesting new space will mean different guest since Graydon Carter will have to expand his guest list to include hotel owner, Jeff Klein’s, favorite regulars.
• E! Oscar party at Drai’s Hollywood on the roof of the new W Hollywood
• Governors’ Ball (this is the one right at the Oscars, that is the stop off point between the Oscars and after parties)

More:

• Soho House houses private events all Oscar week as usual
• Trousdale - the new bar from Brent Bolthouse and Guy Starkman – opens March 9th
• Drai’s opens March 11th
• Betty “Ball of Fire” Rowland fundraiser and benefit screening hosted by Liz Goldwyn – more info here

Ever wondered who makes up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences?? Much like getting a good table at Madeo’s or decent seats at a Laker’s game, it’a game of noteriety and waiting – spots become available every year and the Academy then suggests the various departments to invite more – last year they made room for 166 more members tho only 134 artists and executives were asked to join its roster – they 2009 additions are:

Actors - Casey Affleck, Emily Blunt, Michael Cera, Viola Davis, James Franco, Brendan Gleeson, Anne Hathaway, Taraji P. Henson, Emile Hirsch, Hugh Jackman, Melissa Leo, Jane Lynch, Eddie Marsan, James McAvoy, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Amy Ryan, Michael Shannon, Michelle Williams, Jeffrey Wright

Animators - J.J. Blumenkranz, Konstantin Bronzit, Kendal Cronkhite, Rodolphe Guenoden, Byron Howard, Kunio Kato, Doug Sweetland, Chris Williams

Art Directors - Andrew Ackland-Snow

At-Large - Matthew D. Loeb, Redmond Morris

Casting Directors - John Papsidera, Bernie Telsey

Cinematographers - Russ T. Alsobrook, Anthony Dod Mantle, Henner Hofmann, Claudio Miranda, Rodney Taylor, Mandy Walker

Costume Designers - Deborah Hopper, Louise Mingenbach, Michael O’Connor, Michael Wilkinson

Directors - Rachid Bouchareb, Danny Boyle, David Frankel, Rod Lurie, Thomas McCarthy, Tyler Perry, Henry Selick

Documentary - William Gazecki, Rachel Grady, Rory Kennedy, Scott Hamilton Kennedy, James Marsh, Megan Mylan, Doug Pray

Executives - Daniel D.A. Battsek, Steve Beeks, Graham W. Burke, Joe Drake, Erik Feig, Paul Hanneman, Donald P. Harris, Claudia Lewis

Film Editors - Roger Barton, Hank Corwin, Chris Dickens, Elliot Graham, Kathryn Himoff, Leo Trombetta, Brent White, Pam Wise

Live Action Short Films
Reto Caffi - Jochen Alexander Freydank, F. Carter Pilcher

Makeup and Hairstylists - Howard Berger, Mike Elizalde, Louis Lazzara, Gerald Quist

Music - Jeff Danna, Andrew Dorfman, Peter Gabriel, Clint Mansell, A.R. Rahman

Producers - Mark Ciardi, Christian Colson, Gordon Gray, Broderick Johnson, Cathy Konrad, Andrew Kosove, James Lassiter, Russell Smith, Paula Wagner

Production Designers - Donald Graham Burt, Michael Carlin, Jane Ann Stewart, Kevin Thompson

Public Relations - Michael D. Camp, Marc Cohen, Megan Colligan, James C. Gallagher, David Kaminow, Sal Ladestro, Maria Pekurovskaya, Elizabeth Petit

Set Decorators - Rebecca Alleway, Peter Lando, Barbara Munch-Cameron

Scenic Artists - Robert Topol

Sound - Michael Barry, Derek Casari, Aaron Glascock, Ren Klyce, Peter F. Kurland, Karen Baker Landers, Hamilton Sterling, Deborah Wallach, Kim Waugh

Visual Effects - Christopher Bond, Matthew Butler, Chris Corbould
Rob Engle, Scott Gordon, Hal Hickel, Van Ling, Shane Mahan, Steve Preeg, Tim Webber, Edson Williams

Writers – John August, Dustin Lance Black, Courtney Hunt, Howard A. Rodman

Bar 210 opens in the Beverly Hilton hotel with DJ Caroline d’Amore (l.a. native) which follows the opening of adjacent club Plush (name change please) inside the hotel.

bar 210
9876 wilshire blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 887-6060

Elan Atias (Beverly) plays this Wednesday at Nic Alder’s The Roxy.http://www.elanmusic.com/

The Roxy
9009 Sunset Blvd.
City/Town:
West Hollywood, CA
310 278 9457 Box Office

Warners Bros. and Bevan Borissova invite you to experience the world of PUCCA at Curve (BEST STORE EVER) on Robertson with DJ Harley Viera-Newton. Featuring exclusive pieces from Erickson Beamon, Genetic Denim, Iro, Mark Fast, Not Rational. Preen, Raquel Allegra, Scatola, Unconditional.

Marc-Edouard Leon throws his annual birthday bash tonight in Silverlake with friend Adarsha Benjamin … this years theme? Future gangs. The event dress code reads, come dressed like you belong to a 2210 street gang of Future-LA!

According to EaterLA: “Johnny Zander, a Hollywood nightlife aficionado who has had a hand in places like Green Door, Teddy’s, Tropicana Bar, among others, shared news with an Eater operative that he has claimed a vacant establishment next to Cinespace on Hollywood Blvd. Upon investigating the street situation, we came across the above plywood situation which conveniently happens to be just next door to the aforementioned. The rumored name for his next uber exclusive lounge? The Hemingway.”

We also hear La Bar Boutique will be opened soon under a new name and there are some interesting surprise partners involved! Stay tuned …

Bardot’s Alexi Yulish, Jason Scoppa and lovely wife (also his publicist!) Stephanie Fessler Scoppa, continue their sucsessful Thursday Sessions and Saturday LoFi events. Last Saturday, they threw a birthday for actor Ashton Holmes, who somehow is like besties with everyone I know.

Saturday February 2oth @ 10pm
LoHiFi at Bardot
L.P. & The Fox Hunt

Chris Breed (Green Door) newest restaurant lounge venture in it’s second week
LA VIDA, 1448 N GOWER ST HOLLYWOOD CA 90028

Elliot Hans Johnson, L.A. native and designer of Literature Noir, with wife Kaya leaving Maestro's in Beverly Hills - Alexander 'Silver Fox' Davis

Elliot Hans Johnson

 
Occupation: Owner of Literature Noir
Birth Place: Turlock, CA, grew up in Los Angeles
Living in: West Hollywood
High school: West Mark, Los Angeles
Favorite accessory: Gloves
Fashion influences: Film noir

Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: Camel colored wool pea coat by Doir Homme with black leather driving gloves

Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Nov 27 09, Doir Homme, for MOCA 30th anniversary party

Q: Favorite designers?
A: Hedi Slimane (old designer for Doir Homme)

Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Church

Q: Favorite magazine?
A: French vogue

Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: MOCA 30th anniversary party

Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: Ed Hardy

Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Leather driving gloves from Causse in Paris, same place Karl Lagerfeld gets his gloves custom made.

Editor’s note: Elliot is my cousin by marriage. His father’s sister is married to my dad. But that is not how I know him. I met him through several different avenues before realizing the relation and now I am excited to be able to call him my cousin. Elliot’s world is like a photo shoot, every time I see him I get sooo excited because he always has so much cool stuff. Recently he had his birthday at a REAL castle, and he had a magician! I was over at his house recently and I also saw his latter on wheels he built from mahogany for his library. His house, thanks to his equally amazing wife, has one room they call the orange room that must have at least 400 Hermes boxes in it – in every shape and size!! Their pool out back has a smoke machine next to it to make it look like we are in a snowy palace in Gstaad and there is steam rising from the pool! Most importantly!, his bathroom floors are crocodile! Yah! He is MY cousin and You Cant Have Him!

Darren Romanelli, Dr Romanelli aka DRx

Darren Romanelli
Occupation: Dr Romanelli aka DRx
Birth Place: San Francisco, CA, grew up in LA
Living in: Beachwood Cyn
High school: Brentwood and Montclair Prep
Favorite accessory: IWC Portuguese
Fashion influences: Vintage Americana
Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: My wedding …Prada

Q: Favorite designers?
A: Junya Watanabe : Comme Des Garcons

Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Free and Easy : Japan

Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Dodgers World Series Victory 1988

Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Visvim boots

Editor’s Note: I grew up in Los Angeles with the great Dr. Romanelli, who first made waves when he rehab-ed the Looney Tune’s characters. Darren makes incredibly thoughtful new designs for old brands. You can see his latest invention for Fraggle Rock right now; we will have a full report from his launch party this Wednesday at Kitson. Stay tuned …

Duncan Quinn

Duncan Quinn
Occupation: Recovering attorney/ Owner of Duncan Quinn boutiques in NY, LA, Dallas, Miami and Chicago soon…
Birth Place: London
Living in: London & West Hollywood
Favorite accessory: Ducati
Fashion influences: Life, the universe and everything. Right now: Get Carter, Mona Lisa, Long Good Friday, Gangster No.1 and Eastern Promises.

Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: Our new gangster tattoo ties…they are an amazing combination of elegance and edginess.

Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Every day

Q: Favorite designers?
A: Leonardo da Vinci, Mother nature
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: The Economist

Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Our new 6,000sf pop-up experience in Miami’s Design District

Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Henry Hargreaves exploding a bottle of champagne all over Lucien Etori in a £5,000 bespoke suit the first time they ever met face to face at the afterparty to our LA opening on the terrace of the penthouse at Chateau. The containment of rage and the look on Lucien’s face was quite incredible.

Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: the Pee-wee Herman suit

Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: A belt hand made for me as I watched and discussed by an Italian artisan named Roberto in the south of France. All he does all day every day is cut and hand make belts.

New gangster ties from Duncan Quinn

Editor’s note: I met Duncan through my darling friend Tracy Bjelland while he was opening up the new location of his L.A. store on 3rd street. I was sooo taken by his Duccatis sitting inside the store, and the cool helmets for sale along side the bespoke suits and gangster ties. I was just sold! I wanted to bring my brother to the store right then and there and dress him up in everything! I was so excited to have such a habadasherie on little 3rd street right here in L.A. It reminded me of the Duncan Hill house in London or The Shave in Beverly Hills and I thought to myself – some people just make life so much better to live. Duncan also has an amazing blog I pull from sometimes that is truly luxury at it’s most knowledgeable. He also started a mini Gumball Rally with his friends in New York with amazing cars. What I would give to be a guy in this group of friends!!

Maxime Jacquet

Maxime Jacquet

Occupation: Interior designer for celebrity home and store, just started personnal ligne of clothes, design for parties, personal shopper

Matt Donnelly

Matt Donnelly

Occupation: Writer, The Los Angeles Times
Birth Place: Philadelphia, Pa.
Living in: Bronson Canyon, Hollywood
High school: Strict and catholic but the ties were good

Favorite accessory: Band of Outsiders cable knit bow tie
Fashion influences: JFK Jr.

Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: Jason & Stephanie Scoppa’s wedding, Thom Brown seersucker
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Alexander McQueen, Scott Sternberg
Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Vanity Fair, V Man
Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: Chanel Cruise Show 07/08 at Santa Monica Airport
Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: Steven Alan mohair cardigan
Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: Right now, Steven Alan Outpost in Los Feliz, Mister Freedom
Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: I’m over the headband
Editor’s note: I met Matt while we were both working at E! Network, I as a story producer assistant, and he as Mark Malkin’s attache. Before Matt, I had never thought of celebrity news as honorable reporting, but what Audrey Hepburn did for the little black dress, what Valentino does for elegance, and what Grace Kelly did for Celebutantes, is what Matt does for celebrity news. I was so happy to have someone like this in this industry and in L.A.
Hillel Aron
Occupation: USC grad student, Journalism
Birth Place: Los Angeles
Living in: Los Angeles
High school: Oakwood
Favorite accessory: Sunglasses
Fashion influences: Old men, hipsters, Jacques Brautbar

Q: What are you currently most excited about for fall/winter?
A: I hope to buy another white American Apparel t-shirt, my last one got stained blue from the laundry detergent, how the f*ck does that happen anyway?

Q: When was the last time you wore a suit – and who made it?
A: I wore a suit to some wedding I went to, and it was made by Valentino. I bought it at Barney’s warehouse sale for 75 percent off ($800). It’s brown, and I wear it with a pink tie and all-white Nikes.

Q: Favorite store in the world?
A: I guess I’m more of a book store kind of guy, if anything. That giant used book store in New York called called Strand

Q: Favorite magazine?
A: Slate. It’s online. Does that count? If not, I guess the New Yorker.

Q: Favorite L.A. memory/moment?
A: I love seeing people I know from my car, when we’re both driving.

Q: Worst fashion trend right now?
A: Ponchos. I’ve seen a few hipsters wearing ponchos, and it makes me want to cry. I mean, what happened?

Q: Most recent clothing or accessory purchases?
A: I bought a black sweatshirt at American Apparel; I wanted to go with gray but my buddy Jaqcues already had one, and I didn’t want us both to be wearing them at the same time, you know how that is.

 

I have a rare education in exotic animal training management from Moorpark in Thousand Oaks, the Harvard of animal behavior training. I have traveled the world working with animals and have worked here in L.A. at the Eco Star Station, a program which takes animals to elementary schools to teach students about animals and the conservation of them with a hands on experience. I am currently developing a wildlife travel TV/web show called Morgan the Mermaid (you can see a promo vid at the bottom).

Last night, I went with Tamsin Lonsdale’s Supper Club to the Wildlife Waystation in Tujunga located north of Pasedena off the 210 freeway. Tucked away in the mountains, surrounded by horse ranches and rolling hills …. this 160 acre facility acts as an animal sanctuary and rehabilitation center for wild and exotic wildlife such as Tigers, Ligers, Zebra, Hyena, Binturong (never heard of those , have you), Coyotes, Jaguars, Canines, Grizzly Bears, Mountain Lions, American Black Bear, Llama, Deer, Parrots and Raccoons.

The best part about the night were all the noises! The chimpanzee were doing raspberries at us, causing a ruckus, shaking their bars, making their monkey talk and screaming really loud. The lions would chuff at us when we would walk up to the cages, which is like a warm greeting. The tour guide encouraged us to chuff back. Supper Club guests desperately tried to impersonate a chuff (think of a chuff like huffing air out your mouth). It was beautiful the way one lion would start a roar, or call, and the rest would chime in. The sounds reverberated through the mountains around the reserve. Guest were unhappily sprayed at one point when the lions, in their natural way to display dominance, raised their tales and sprayed the group.

Supper Club attendee Tracy Bjelland (left) holds a yellow python and wears Michael kors boots, Lily Pulitzer khakis (never worn, found in the closet), Hermes belt and scarf, Ralph Lauren button down and a Burberry jacket. We hear from other Safari attendees …

Andrea Kelley (pictured left)

Occupation: Development Assistant at ITV Studios and an animal handler/trainer at the Wildlife Waystation.

Q: Favorite food, drink, Hors d’œuvre at dinner, ?
A: Loved the halibut and cheesy potatoes; The Bombay Sapphire Apple Martini was amazing.

Q: Favorite part of the tour/favorite animal/favorite story about an animal at the facilty?
A: I enjoyed seeing everyone on the tour having a great time. You have the opportunity to see the animals up close and to hear their life stories at the Waystation. It’s a much more personal experience than a zoo. The animals that have an extra special place in my heart are Drifter & Mungar.

Drifter is a 12 year old Siberian tiger that was owned by drug dealers in Chicago as a pet. When the police raided them they found a baby tiger. He was the first tiger I worked with and raised.

Mungar, the Bengal tiger we brought out Saturday night is 5 years old and came to us from Virginia. A small zoo had purchased him as a baby for the public to take pictures with; once he started to get too big to hold for pictures they decided they no longer wanted him.

Q: How did u hear about The Supper Club?
A: I met Tamsin through Carly Steel at Carly’s Black Dahliance Birthday party hosted by The Supper Club.

Next attendee … Kitson

Occupation: Event manager at The Supper Club

Q: How would you describe the day?
A: Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! The Supper Club Members enjoyed a private tour and feast at The Wildlife Waystation in Angeles National Forest above the city Sylmar outside L.A. this past Saturday. Members got up close and personal with the likes of Leopards, Bears, Tigers, Lions and an array of other exotic game making the night truly special.

After members toured The Wildlife Waystation, they found themselves surrounded by waterfalls, alligators, Bombay Sapphire specialty cocktails, fine wines and canapés. Dinner was served under a star clad sky against the sounds of the animals roaring and cooing in the distance. The feast included beef tenderloin, halibut, garlic shrimp, and fired choked vegetables… all fit for a king, of the jungle.

Overall, all the guests loved the cocktails so much, we decided to include some fun recipes you can make at home or for your next safari. Who else, but Tamsin, brings her French 75 mix to Sylmar?

Wild Hibiscus French 75

Bombay Sapphire, Fresh Lemon Juice,

Drizzle of Wild Hibiscus Syrup, Top with Prosecco

Sapphire Pomegranate Gimlet

Bombay Sapphire, Fresh Lime Juice,

Pomegranate Juice, Dash of Simple Syrup

Apple Elderflower Martini

Bombay Sapphire, St Germain Liqueur

Pressed Apple Juice, Pinch of Cinnamon

More information on The Supper Club can be found on Tami’s website

http://www.thesupperclubinc.com/

Morgan the Mermaid teaser video

Snake tamers and masks turned Jane’s House on Hollywood Boulevard into a Vaudeville affair with some of the tastiest tastemakers in town this past Halloween eve … Thanks to Tamsin Lonsdale and her merry band of well-dressed socials, Los Angeles has another worthy Halloween party to look forward to again next year. Thank you Miss Lonsdale!

The Food Matters catered a wonderfully decadent feast, of Halloween inspired foods. At 10pm as dessert was served. Karis, the hula hoop dancing sensation kicked the nights partying off with a bang, followed by Karina, the stunning snake lady, who did a dance routine with a giant yellow python wrapped around her body. Last, Molly D’Amour did a wonderful burlesque act, with live music and a fully masked band.

Notables include: Lynn Collins (Wolverine) and husband Steven Strait (actor, came in a full gorilla outfit), Will Kopelman, looking dashing in a tux and also sporting a gorilla mask, Dany Levy (founder of Daily Candy), Carly Steel (TV host), Sean Stone (director, son of Oliver Stone), Nathalie Walker (actress), Gary Baseman (artist), Madison Mary Walls (actress), Roberto de Villacis (designer), Adam DiVello (creator, The Hills). Guest Chivas, Cabana Cachaca and Charles Smith wines.

Stay tuned for more on Tam’s next event, “Guy Fawkes Celebration Party” this Thursday at the Avalon.

Will Kopelman / Tamsin Lonsdale

Alexandra Lynn Gaudiani, Tracy Alexandra Bjelland and Caroline Roman

Carly Steel / Guests

Will Kopelman / Guest

Lynn Collins and Steven Strait

Guests

Tava Smiley and Lauder Robinson / Guests

Carly Steel/Tamsin Lonsdale

Tamsin Lonsdale, Kristin Ess, Oive Lykins, Marina Gravani

Artist Gary Baseman and guest

Alexandra Lynn Gaudiani / Scarlett Taylor and Kevin Goldfein

Tamsin (right), Beau Swayze (left)

It’s not often I get to meet a real life celebrity in L.A. but last week I had the good fortune to be seated next to Joan McNamara (of Joan’s on Third) when I sat down to dinner at Tamsin Lonsdale’s “Food Fight” party, in honor of the award winning documentary on world hunger, also called “Food Fight.”

Pepperlicious and Celery Spice (ri)1 whisky cocktails certainly helped to get conversation flowing – along with the punchy Charles Smith wines: “Eve” and the “Velvet Devil.” The dinner table overflowed with seasonal organic foods, and meats like charcuterie and shortribs.

Caroline Roman (left) Tyson Park (right)

Joan sat to my right, and Tyson Park sat to my left. Beside him was Tracy Bjelland, my friend and newly appointed Supper Club membership director (best be nice to her!). Tamsin’s friend, Darius Danesh (a Scottish musician and runner up in Pop Idol a couple of years back in the UK), made the traditional toast, thanking Tami for her on-going hostess jobs over the years and then she rose to thank new and old faces for joining. Next to her, Eddi Gathegi (who plays “Laurence” in Twilight) began to eat, breaking his IZO Cleanse three week detox.

Then I turned to get the scoop on my absolute favorite restaurant in all of L.A. So! Joan! Tell me everything! I exclaimed. She laughed modestly but I know she is use to this. She had brought her daughter with her to dinner, who runs their catering division – Carol. Her second daughter runs the marketplace.

Daniel Seidner (Buckley), Ophir Stern (Beverly)

Once we got to talking, Joan finally remembered me from my weekly trips to her 3rd street restaurant that opened in 1994, and recently expanded. The gorgeous marketplace is a toss-back to her native New York and is often described as “Balducci’s in L.A.” Joan gives out cupcakes when the lines grow too long.

I reminded her I am the one who always orders her Rex sole and the baratta prosciutto and I told her about the day my mother and I were recipients of two yellow cupcakes during a Christmas rush. Joan told me how she hates to see her customer wait and feels awful if they come and it’s not easy. She also said they have hung Halloween decorations and are gearing up for Halloween. How does she get those all her cute & charming ideas anyway? “I knew from the time I was 15 … I just knew!” she explained …

Once dinner was over, Tamsin rose again to announce hot chocolate and desserts served in the kitchen!

The Kitchen? Hmmm … what’s that mean? Well, I soon found out. Tamsin had choosen Eve on Nemo for this party – an event-only space behind Dan Tana’s on a tiny one block street called Nemo. “Eve on Nemo” will cater for you, or you can provide your own chefs to use their gourmet kitchen. “Eve on Nemo” also offers cooking classes during the week!

We wandered into the kitchen where hot chocolate and marshmellows were indeed being served. We stood around the stoves like we were snowed in for the winter and ate all the yummy desserts made by Tamsin’s chef duo Jerry and Chris Baker of The Food Matters.

In these photos: Joan McNamara, Carol McNamara, me, Daniel Siedner, Ophir Stern, Tyson Park, Tracy Bjelland, Matt Wise, Jerry Baker, JB Moresco, Katja Decker, Chris Baker.

I go to parties with mermaids – that basically makes me better than you. But don’t get too riled up – as of last week – I had never been to a mermaid party either!! Last Thursday, Scarlett Taylor and I rolled up to Tamsin Lonsdale’s “Secret Garden” party held at the home of Young, Fabulous & Broke creator, Heidi Cornell. The Tarot readers, Meg’s BBQ, Jack Wines and (ri)1 whiskey, guitar players and pretty people could not distract me from the pool. “Scarlett,” I said, “there is a mermaid in the pool.” Scarlett looks at the girl swimming around half naked and said “I want to go in. How cool. Wait, what is she wearing? What’s that in the water with her?!” And with that, we had our first mermaid sighting. She jumped up and dove backwards into the water, showing off her seashell brasserie. In dove the arms and head, followed by her bare midriff and sexy butt, and then we saw it – the long, muscular, golden tail of mermaid flipped up splashing water on the guests like a fish and then sank back down under the surface! Scarlett and I starred in shock and both agreed that mermaids are WAY cooler than vampires. Like a scene out of Peter Pan, the crowd watched mesmerized as the pretty mermaid tossed smiles at the guests, splashed around and let all the boys touch her tail!

Mermaid Mesha Kussman, creator of the Aqualillies

We were finally ushered away to have our Tarot Cards read and met the rest of the party guests which included friend, LA Native, and creator of YoungHollywood.com, RJ Williams, my good friend Carly Steel (pictured right) who you may have seen this weekend hosting the Emmys for CW and making cameos at the ET, People and HBO parties, Alexandra Lynn Gaudiani, the former power publicist from 42 West, PMK and Paramount Pictures, Nzinga Blake, a Current TV host and Sierra Leonean native, and Alexander Purcell (pictured left) owner of design firm APRRO, in Los Angeles.

Other interesting Supper Club members include Sebastian Mathews, Cori Diamond, Monika Jakisic (pictured left), a Croatian model who use to date George Clooney, and my latest favorite transplant you will be hearing a lot about from now on – Tracy Bjelland (pictured right). Tracy refers to herself as an “Ice-Cube” – half Norwegian, half Cuban, she hails from Olso, via London and Harvard University in Boston where she was a member of “The Hasty Pudding Club.” The newly launch Supper Club website allows members to view photos from the events and reconnect with guests they met at the parties. http://www.thesupperclubinc.com/

Zachary Serebrenik and friend, Miles Fisher, Tamsin Lonsdale with Alex Purcell

About The Aqualillies:
The synchronized swim troop books private parties all over LA. They told me over the holidays they we will be creating a cute new red and white themed costume for their shows. They train at various Olympic pools in Orange County and starting in November – they are going to be holding workshops! Information about the workshops will be on their website soon! www.Aqualillies.com.

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