Month: February 2011

Academy Awards 2011

For Hollywood’s biggest night, it was heels on as the Oscars rolled out the red carpet and the biggest movie stars of the moment strutted out in their borrowed finest. I wasn’t about to stay home on the couch with a pizza, not when my pal Margot was hosting her own red carpet event at the Egyptian Theatre where a few lucky guests were invited to watch the Oscars on the big screen in a room where many stars past and present have themselves sat. I couldn’t think of anyone better to rate the fashions with than my friends from Clever Vintage, Dave and Sabino. So we showed up with potluck offerings in hand to add to the community buffet that spread over SIX banquet tables!

Then it was into the theatre where the room was aglow with laptops and mobile devices as everyone was Facebooking, Tweeting and following the news online. And how much fun was it to watch the entire event from pre-show to awards with a roomful of friends, and friends of friends, who erupted in cheers and jeers over who won and what they were wearing!

Some of my personal observations:

Is it just me or does Jesse Eisenberg look like Paul Westerberg? Really hoping he would be the new youngest winner for best actor but he just couldn’t compete with the crown-worthy Colin Firth. Speaking of rock star look alikes, I loved Joey Ramone-clone Luke Matheny’s acceptance speech for “God of Love,” which incidentally caused the crowd to go wild as most of the film’s crew was in the Egyptian Theatre with us.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyY0KrdpSLk]

I was so pleased “King’s Speech” won best film. I did love it. Not surprising, much of the tech-savvy crowd around me was hoping for “Social Network.” But while I thought that film was good, I didn’t think it was as moving overall. However, I did love that it won for Best Adapted Screenplay because the writing was whip smart, particularly in the portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

But enough about all that – WHO wore WHAT? (Click names to see the photos.)

Best Dressed

Natalie Portman – bless her for pulling off a pregnancy with such grace in a lovely eggplant-colored gown, matching tassel earrings and perfect makeup. You know she probably just wanted to be out of those Jimmy Choo heels and at home in her PJs!

Halle Berry – somebody get me the number of her trainer stat! This woman can’t possibly look bad in anything because her body and posture are so good. Nonetheless she does always pick very elegant gown, and this strapless, frothy-trimmed nude-colored number was no exception.

Michelle Williams – channeling a little ‘60s-era Twiggy. How cute was she!? Loved the ultra simple white gown that flattered her hair.

Worst Dressed

Cate Blanchett – oh my how I love this woman, so elegant, but this dress was risky with its odd, circular front cut-out and splash of yellow around the collar. It just didn’t work for me, not even on her.

Sharon Stone – another risk taker I usually love but this ultra high hair-do was just a bit too much, especially with the sharp black dress with feather accent, she started to lean a little into Cruella de Vil territory.

Scarlett Johansson – she coulda dressed it up a little, I wasn’t crazy about the messy bed-head do or high collar lace dress that did little for her va-va-voom figure. Loved her makeup though!

From the world’s biggest runway,
K.

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Month: February 2011

One night in old Havana

If you ever wanted to spend a decadent night in a classic old school Havana cigar bar, I found just the place. Nestled on the other side of an unmarked door on Western avenue, La Descarga stands at the end of a narrow passageway up the stairs, where some dashing dolls greet you in what looks like somebody’s 1940s apartment flat. These high-heeled dames give you the once over to make sure you meet their approval to be seen in their exclusive establishment. It is then that they reveal the secret doorway behind the antique armoire that leads you down a wrought iron balcony and spiral staircase to a den of decadence where the booze flows freely and court-holding gentlemen rule the roost in the backroom cigar and rum bar.

On this particular Saturday night, I grab an icy mojito – and they make a good one here – and take a seat with my man as he chats it up with the boys to celebrate our friend’s birthday. Now all this smoke and liquor is just the pre-show. The real show starts later, when the band starts up some sultry Latin sounds and all eyes turn upward as a long-legged burlesque dancer begins to slink and seduce her way across the balcony catwalk to gyrate and flirt with the band and make every man in the house drool with desire. After hearty dose of shimmying, she is gone and it’s back to the smokin’ and drinkin’, just like a good secret speakeasy should be!

Take a tour of the place here:

On a side note, if you’re planning to go to La Descarga, be sure to make a reservation through their website ahead of time. This ain’t just any ol’ Hollywood bar, you gotta be expected — and the doorman ain’t playin’ around. And be sure to dress to impress (and why wouldn’t you always?) no hoodies or sneakers (yuk!) as they take the dress code seriously – you gotta make appearances, sport!

Kastle

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