OSCARS 2010: ALIVE! Expo Green Pavilion/MixMedia Luxury Lounge Recap, Part 1

Popular celeb gifting suite once again featured stars of stage and screen as well as gorgeous green swag, including jewelry box by Michelle Abogado

Event Report Posted by Don Rose

Stars, VIPs and members of the media descended on the posh London Hotel on March 5^th & 6^th , 2010 to indulge in the annual ALIVE! Expo Green Pavilion/MixMedia Luxury Lounge, known worldwide as one of the most prestigious of the Academy Award week celebrity gifting suites. Once again, the various vendors (covered in more detail in Part 2) dazzled and delighted all who were lucky enough to score an invite.

One of the most popular booths featured jewelry designer to the stars, Michelle Abogado. Very much inspired by the natural beauty of the surf and sand in Laguna Beach, jewelry box designer Abogado debuted her brand new collection of magnificent, eco-friendly jewels. It’s her first line and it’s a HIT! The Mulligan Collection features original and imaginative rings, cuffs, and bracelets with bold colored stones such as chalcedony blue, rutilated quartz and pyrite quartz.

Each piece makes a statement, says Michelle. “My philosophy is simple...I hope to bring more beauty into the world through my creations by bringing something unique and timeless to the wearer.”

With barely a moment to catch her breath, Michelle hosted and styled celebrities in some lavish pieces from The Mulligan Collection. Whether a gift to keep or a little something for someone special, everyone was exceptionally impressed with the line.

Some celebrity highlights from the two day event: Diedre Hall opted for a sweet, simple pair of circle hoop earrings. “ I can wear these on the show (Days of Our Lives), they’ll be perfect,” she said. Cutie pie Ariel Winter (Modern Family) was all smiles with her new necklace. She thought it was beautiful. Alan Cummings (we still love him best from "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion") picked out a cool chunky quartz ring set in sterling silver. Comedian Heather McDonald (Chelsea Lately) loved her new necklace, a true statement piece. True Blood stars Ashley Jones and Natasha Alam as well as the delightful and funny Kim Cole and Candice Cameron were looking extra glamorous in their new cocktail rings.

Here are a few photos featuring some of Michelle's unique and beautiful creations up close:

FEB 21: "TAG THE WORLD" TO HOST LA LAUNCH ON OSCAR EVE WITH HOLLYWOOD'S BRIGHTEST STARS

TLR Featured Event - posted by Don Rose

On Saturday, February 21st, 2009, Tag the World will welcome the Oscar crowd to raise money for their latest cause from 9pm until Midnight. Tag the World Charities will be having its official Los Angeles launch at Hollywood’s hottest new nightlife destination, MyHouse (6621 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles). In conjunction with the launch, Tag the World has partnered with the American Humane Film & Television Unit, known by its famous movie end-credit, “No Animals Were Harmed”. American Humane protects the welfare of animals on more than 1,000 productions each year and was on the set of many of this years Oscar-nominated movies including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, The Dark Knight, Revolutionary Road, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man and The Changeling.

Tag the World is a non-profit organization with new innovative charitable concepts. Its mission: to raise awareness and funds for world causes while creating a fashionable way to support charities. Tag the World’s purpose is to help many established charities under several main causes: Cancer, Africa, Global, Green, Children and Animals. Tag the World founder Robert Parks-Valletta has partnered with the exclusive designer Michael Barin to create a set of beautiful sterling silver tag necklaces that help spread the word about their unique cause. The necklace tags are antiqued in finish emphasizing the original handcrafted design. This unique style of jewelry is fashionable, personal, and will catch the eyes of many.

Every time a tag is purchased, the individual gets to choose which charity their proceeds will benefit. By providing this opportunity, that individual is able to help improve the world and feel as of their donation is going towards a charity that may hit close to home.

Proceeds from the event on February 21st go to Tag the World and The American Humane Society. Tag the World is partnering with the American Humane Society’s Film and Television Unit to provide a unique Oscar weekend event that attracts Hollywood’s most exclusive A-list clientele. One of the biggest nights in Hollywood, it will be an evening to celebrate and be fashionable yet also enjoy the ability to help others as role models through their own stories.

Robert Parks-Valletta of Tag the World and the American Humane Film & Television Unit are proud to have this event launch on such an honored weekend -- with event hosts Amber Valletta and Mark Walberg, two big supporters of the charity -- at Hollywood’s most sought after new nightlife venue, MyHouse.

For more information on Tag the World, please go to www.tagtheworld.com.

FEB 20-21: GBK (GBK PRODUCTIONS) TO HOST "CIRCUS OF THE SENSES" OSCARS GIFT SUITE IN HONOR OF 2009 ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINEES AND PRESENTERS

GBK Gift Suite to Give 20% of Proceeds to Its Benefiting Charitable Organizations: Director Antoine Fuqua’s FUQUA FILMS PROGRAM; HOMELESS NOT TOOTHLESS; HOLLYWOOD DREAMZ and WORLDTEAM FOUNDATION

INTRODUCING A NEW WAY TO GIVE: Attending Celebrities Will Also Have Amazing Opportunity to Gift Back Their GBK Gift Bag to The Charity of THEIR Choice

TLR Featured Event - Posted by Don Rose

GBK (http://www.gbkproductions.com/), the luxury lifestyle gift suites and special events company, will honor the 2009 Academy Award Nominees and Presenters with its 4th Annual GBK Academy Award Gift Suite - “Circus of The Senses” - on February 20 & 21, 2009 in Beverly Hills. GBK, the recipient of BizBash’s 2006 Award for Emmy’s “Best Gift Bag,” will offer its exclusive list of invited celebrities, VIPs, and Media an opportunity to experience ‘A Circus of The Senses’ as they touch, feel, see, smell and taste their way through this Academy Awards Themed Gift Suite.

With help from Freshwata (a boutique design company), each gift room will represent a 2009 Academy Awards Nominated Best Film: “Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Reader,” and the décor, drink and surprise elements in each space will be specifically tailored towards each film. Also provided: hors d’oeuvres and sweets from famed chef José Andrés, including homemade Bon-Bon’s topped with “Oscar” Gold Dust. In addition, all the goods and services gifted in this year’s suite will also bring in the 5 Senses in one form or another. With a trendsetting array of products, services and health & beauty treatments, Nominees and Presenters will to walk away with more than $35,000 in gifted luxury.

2009 Academy Award Nominees & Presenters will receive goods & services including:

§ SIX SENSES DESTINATION SPA IN THAILAND: A five night stay + meals + spa services in choice of 2 five star spas in Thailand (Over $10,000 value);

§ MILUS: Gifting elegant watches from their exclusive line ($10,000 value);

§ DR. CHIU’S BEVERLY HILLS PLASTIC SURGERY, INC.: A One Year gift certificate of cosmetic treatments such as facials, chemical or organic peels and microdermabrasion ($3,000 Value);

§ WATERFOD CRYSTAL: Set of 8 Classic Waterford Crystal Glasses;

§ INDULGENT ESCAPES: The finest in luxury travel, select celebrities will receive 5-night vacations at exclusive resorts provided by IndulgentEscapes.com. Some of the vacations options include Raffles Canouan Island, The Crane Resort, Barbados, Beach and Water Club in Puerto Rico, Morritts Grand Cayman as well as other properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.

§ THE SPORTS CLUB/LA: A One Year membership to any of their fitness clubs ($2,000 value);

§ “GOLDEN” TREATMENT: Complimentary gift to the 2009 Oscar Nominees and Presenters: A one-night stay at the Philippe Stark-designed SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, dinner for two at The Bazaar by José Andrés, and any spa treatment of choice at the newly launched Ciel Spa at SLS. ($1,000 Value);

§ TRISPECS: Stylish sunglasses with built in ear buds, capable of switching between voice communication and stereo music with the push of a button ($200 value);

§ LIFE CELL SKIN CARE: Skin care hailed as one of the most potent needle-free skin care treatment available to science, making lines and wrinkles vanish before your eyes ($500 value);

§ REVITALASH: Gifting eyelash conditioner that lengthens and thickens eye lashes, as well as their new hair product called Hair by RevitaLash, a conditioner that gives you thicker and fuller hair ($150 value each).

Other great products include: BARBARA CONNER JEWELRY, Tahitan, South Seas and fresh water jewelry; K-SWISS, their latest model shoes; METROPOLIS high end curling and flat irons, NORDIC NATURALS, the purest in Omega-3 Fish Oils; NOUROT GLASS STUDIO, art glass pieces in the Italian tradition; VERVE! ENERGY DRINKS, a one-years supply of their healthy energy drink.

On the beauty front, invited guests will also be pampered with on-site beauty treatments and beauty products from BODY BEAUTIFUL, slimming body wraps and rejuvenating facials; MISTURA BEAUTY, applying mineral-based multi-functional makeup; 9022 SALON, hair cuts and styling by private boutique salon owners, Patrick Theohar and Merlin Osbourne.

And, lastly, to honor its continued commitment to charitable giving, GBK will donate 20% of its proceeds from this year’s Oscar suite in the name of all celebrities in attendance to these specially chosen charities: FUQUA FILMS PROGRAM, Noted Film Director Antoine Fuqua (The Shooter, “Training Day and this year’s big hit at Sundance “Brooklyn’s Finest)non-profit, HOMELESS NOT TOOTHLESS, an organization dedicated to providing dental care to the homeless; HOLLYWOOD DREAMZ, a charity dedicated to improving children’s lives by providing crucial support for children’s education, arts, and character development programs in the greater Los Angeles area, and WORLDTEAM FOUNDATION committed to the education and prevention of human trafficking.

Additionally, each benefiting charity will be given a GBK Celebrity Gift Bag from this year’s Oscar Suite filled with over $35,000 in goods & services so they’ll be able to auction it off to raise additional funds.

Finally, GBK will give attending celebrities an opportunity to gift back all or part of their GBK Gifted Products & Services TO THE CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE. GBK will also coordinate the delivery.

GBK, formerly GBK Productions, is a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, specializing in entertainment marketing integration. Formed in 2000 by Gavin B. Keilly, the company’s Founder and CEO, GBK consists of five divisions: GBK Celebrity Gifting Lounges; GBK Events; GBK Weddings; GBK Charitable Consulting; and GBK Marketing/PR. Widely known in the entertainment industry for bringing that little extra something into the Gifting Suite environment, GBK offers its clients a full range of marketing services. For more information on Gavin B. Keilly or GBK, please go to gbkproductions.com.

For More Information on FUQUA FILMS PROGRAM, go to fuquafilmsprogram.org.
For More Information on HOLLYWOOD DREAMZ, go to hollywoodreams.org.
For More Information on HOMELESS NOT TOOTHLESS, go to homelessnottoothless.org.
For More Information on WORLD TEAM FOUNDATION, go to world-team-foundation.org.