September 4th, 2008

1. Cut-out booties

I know I mentioned them before. In case you were sleeping…these shoes rock. They are ladylike, but edgier and updated version of the ankle bootie. Rihanna rocks the new look.

2. Rich Colors

Fall is always toned down from the bright spring and summer looks. But this fall’s vivid colors reek sophisticated, palette in shades of purple, magenta and plum. Check out Kim Kardashian and Emily Deschanel.

3. Tuxedo Inspired Looks

No, I am not talking about the ugly man suit on woman or the 80s. The new, creative, fashionable and classic look is so for women. Men shouldn’t get to have all the fun. Check out Anne Hathaway’s Dolce & Gabbana jacket with Elise Overland leggings, Put me in a tux! Elisha Cuthbert looks stunning, sophisticated and trendy in her take on the tux.

4. Ladylike Bags

Leave the oversized totes for the beach.  Polish your fall looks with a frame bag for a chic, vintage feel. This fall is about classic and traditional looks.

5. Lace

No, not your nightgown. Bags, shoes, dresses, tops- it’s all for fall ladies, so lace up! Charlize Theron shows us how it’s done, she sizzles in this Prada dress.

Forget your viewing glasses and black and white refinery at home; this is a different kind of Opera. 

Another David Judaken production and formerly known as Mood, this venue is an upscale destination located on Hollywood Boulevard and Schrader on Los Angeles. 

Most recently, the celeb-heavy club was featured on MTV phenomenon show, The Hills. 

Lauren Conrad and her cohorts aren’t the only hot Hollywood figures to hit this venue; Paris Hilton, Travis Barker, Britney Spears, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Connelly and Tyson Beckford, all pack a star-powered punch on any given night of the week. 

Expect to encounter the paparazzi gauntlet on your way to the velvet rope.

True to it’s theme, Opera serves up signature drinks like The Fat Lady Sings and The Phantom. Average drink prices are about $12.

Opera also shares an entrance with its next-door neighbor, the more rock-and-roll Crimson. Together, these venues can be hired for private parties to accommodate a combined 700 partygoers. Opera was host of this year’s US Weekly’s annual Hot Hollywood awards.

OPERA 

1650 Schrader Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

323-960-3300

Righteous Kill finds legendary actors, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, on the same side of the fence playing two New York City Detectives tracking a serial killer. This is quite a contrast since we last saw these two legends on screen in Michael Mann’s epic thriller, Heat.

Heat (one of the best movies of the nineties), was a classic cat and mouse thriller, Pacino playing good guy, DeNiro a lifelong criminal on the brink of a massive heist. The two legends go head to head in a masterful face off between good cop just doing his job and a criminal steadfast in his forbidden ways.

Thirteen years later we get to see this dynamic duo on the same side, an intriguing development if there ever was one. The script offers the scenario of two cops tracking a killer, who has struck again after several years causing cops to question whether they put the wrong suspect behind bars. The film also stars rapper 50 cent (Curtis Jackson), John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg.

Righteous Kill serves up the capital I in intrigue and the mere mention of all these actors sharing the screen together is enough to put my rear in the seat. Who’s with me? We’ll surely find out when this film opens September 12.

Hey there Upper Eastsiders!  Gossip Girl season two premiered on The CW Monday night and thank God. After being glued to my couch over the holiday weekend catching up on season one, I was ready for season two.

The season opener had everything fans were looking for: sex, drama, alcohol, backstabbing and killer fashion.  

Season one ended with Nate and S. walking off into the sunset and discussing their laid back summers in the Hamptons.  Well, it was laid back for Nate…but less in a relaxing sense and more in an affair with a married next door neighbor-sense.  

S. did have a laid back summer, apparently doing nothing but covering for Nate and his affair.  

A jilted B. was flying solo in Europe sans Chuck Bass, who was spending his time in usual a usual Chuck manner.  Never fear, she found someone to fill a Bass shaped void in her heart for the time being.

And as for our Lonely Boy Dan?  He was trying to get over Serena with every literary maven in the five boroughs.

Little J was hard at work all summer for Eleanor Waldorf but managed to make her own garments that would make Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia proud.

The biggest shocker of the night though was not the ridiculous amounts of product placement for Vitamin Water (who apparently in addition to sponsoring the premiere party in the Hamptons, also sponsored the annual White Party featured in this episode) but that S.’s grandmother apparently turned the other check.  

Last season, she was a force to be reckoned with. Faking cancer so her granddaughter will go to her debutante ball?  That’s low.  But this season her delicious mean-streak was nowhere to be seen.  I think she may have something up her well appointed sleeve.  Stay tuned.

XOXO…M

Stevie Wonder, who certainly needs no introduction, will be honored by The Library of Congress with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Winners are recognized for their lifetime achievement, while transcending musical styles which promote expression and cultural understanding.

The 58-year-old Wonder, a self-taught prodigy, appeared on American Bandstand at age 12, and music hasn’t been the same since.

His songs include, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (which has been sung by every B-rated torch singer this side of the Mississippi…just an observation), “My Cherie Amour,” “Superstition,” “Living for the City,” and far too many to mention.

He’s collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned artists, like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Bob Marley, to name just a few; and his music’s been used by Will Smith, Coolio, Warren G, 50 Cent, and others.

The 58-year-old Wonder will receive the Gershwin Award on February 23, 2009.

As rumors continue to swirl around Eva Longoria Parker and whether she is or isn’t pregnant, she helps in feeding the frenzy.

On a weekend outing with friends, while others drank fully-loaded alcoholic drinks, the stunning Longoria didn’t touch the stuff – which doesn’t necessarily mean she’s preggie…maybe she just doesn’t like to drink?

But there were other “baby” clues (yes, the pun is intended), such as her obvious lack of eating from the sushi/raw bars (which wouldn’t be healthy for a growing baby). Then again maybe she just doesn’t like sushi – which makes it even more bizarre that she’d be at the grand opening of the Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant.

Now I can’t swear to it in court, but me thinks there’s a bun in the oven. I’m just saying.

In Harms Way: This weekly, one-hour series follows regular people who risk their lives performing dangerous jobs every single day such as avalanche hunter, oil well capper, Coast Guard rescue swimmer and hurricane chaser. I think “be careful” is an understatement. Premieres September 21 on the CW.

Hole in the Wall: In a nut shell, this is a human stunt version of the video game Tetris. Two teams of two earn points by contorting their bodies to fit through cutouts in a wall or they will get pushed into a pool below them. I hope these contestants have been going to the Yoga classes.  Premieres September 7 on Fox.

Opportunity Knocks: Each week host JD Roth knocks on a family’s front door to engage them in a full blown game show right in their neighborhood.  In front of a live audience consisting of friends and neighbors, they earn money and prizes by answering questions about each other and performing challenges such as “you have 45 seconds to trash your sister’s room and find her diary.”  It looks like family game night has been updated. Premieres September 23 on ABC.

Stylista: Contestants wanting to be fashion editors compete in challenges ranging from assistant-like activities (such as fetching coffee) to high fashion emergences, all to win a mentorship at ELLE magazine, a paid lease on a Manhattan apartment, and a clothing allowance at H&M, which is a prize totaling $100,000. Premieres October 22 on The CW.

Old Favorites Coming Back:

• America’s Next Top Model – Premieres September 3 on the CW       
• The Biggest Loser: Family edition – Premieres September 16 on NBC.
• Survivor: Gabon – Premieres September 25 on CBS.
• The Amazing Race 13 – Premieres September 28 on CBS.