NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!!!
This blog has moved to a new location! You can now find it at www.la-story.com.
I haven't left Fashiontribes.com. I am still part of the staff. It was to streamline the blogs.
Why the move?
So you can find it easier and the pages will load faster.
There's a ton of new podcasts and features waiting to go up. So check out the new location and let me know what you think!
Stevie Wilson
2nd Annual Night of Spirits Event Benefits the LA Chapter, Muscular Dystrophy Association
For MORE information on this event, please check out
www.LA-STORY.com for all the details.
NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!!!
This blog has moved to a new location! You can now find it at www.la-story.com.
Diet Coke just got friendlier-- with Diet Coke Plus! This tweak on the original formula includes vitamins and minerals -- including vitamin B 6 & 12, Niacin and 10% zinc and magnesium! Definitely for those concerned with making sure they get a balanced healthy diet but still have some soda too!
It's definitely new and different--without a loss of taste or fizz!
Stevie Wilson
¡BAJA! COOKING ON THE EDGE By Deborah M. Schneider
“the reigning queen of San Diego chefs.” – Bon Appétit
Photographs by Maren Caruso
Winner of the 2006 IACP Award for Best Photography for CHOCOLATE OBSESSION
If you have been to Rubios, Baja Fresh or actually been to Baja Mexico, there's nothing like an authentic BAJA style taco. It's a taste that is rarely duplicated here in the US and typically not well-- till now when you have Deb Schneider giving you the step by step hints, tips and ingredients to put together not only the most killer tacos but the most incredible recipes for an amazing BAJA style menu.
YUM is all I can say. It made me want to COOK-- and trust me that's no easy feat these day.
She covers categories like:
This book includes the secret sauce for those amazing fish tacos, terrific salsa recipes and tons more things that are EASILY prepared.
Available at Amazon.com
All I can say is YUMMY!! I love Baja style cooking!
Want a taste test? Here's a pretty easy to do recipe for a cheese-cake like flan that's to die for.
Cream Cheese Flan with Orange Sage Honey
Traditional flan is a heavy combination of sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and runny caramel. I much prefer this version, which despite the name is more like a light delicious cheesecake. The finished, chilled flans will pop right out of nonstick muffin pans or a soft silicone mold, or you can bake and serve in 6-ounce porcelain ramekins. Sara Polczynski developed the basic recipe, which I have adapted.
Makes 10 individual flans.
Orange Honey Syrup
1⁄2 cup mesquite honey or other dark honey (see note below)
1 fresh sage leaf
1 large orange
Flan
1 pound cream cheese
7 large eggs
2 cups sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Fresh berries or peaches (optional)
Make the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the honey and sage. Remove long strips of zest from the orange with a vegetable peeler and add to the honey (reserve the rest of the orange for another use). Place over medium-low heat until warm. Let steep, off the heat, for several hours or overnight. Remove and discard the zest and sage.
Make the flan: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set 10 (6-ounce) straight-sided soufflé dishes in a roasting pan just large enough to hold them.
In a blender, combine the cream cheese, eggs, condensed milk, milk, and vanilla; process until very smooth. Divide the mixture evenly among the dishes.
Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it comes halfway up the sides of the dishes.
Bake the flans for 40 to 50 minutes, or until they are no longer liquid, feel barely firm in the center, and jiggle only slightly when moved. Remove from the water bath, cool, and chill.
If you wish to turn out the flans, hold a dessert plate firmly over each mold and quickly turn upside down. Drizzle the tops with the honey and garnish with the fruit.
Note: The flan may be baked in one large dish, instead of individually. Increase the baking time to 1 1⁄2 hours. Agave syrup (available at health food stores) may be substituted for the honey. The syrup is agave sap boiled down to a honey-like consistency, with a unique, gently herby flavor.
Recipe from ¡BAJA! COOKING ON THE EDGE By Deborah M. Schneider, photographs by Maren Caruso (Rodale; June 2006).
Stevie Wilson
XUXU -- a new beverage/spirit on the market is just launching and it's hot! Maybe cool is the better term to use but it's definitely special. This luscious drink is made with 10% vodka and about 45% pureed strawberries making it a perfect addition to ANY cocktail that you might think of.
With Mother's day and bridal events on the calendar, this can be used to create desserts by pouring it over ice cream or using it like a sauce for cheesecake or even strawberry shortcake to "juice up" those desserts.
XUXU Royale can be mixed with champagne for a juicy drink that has that unusual flavor. You can add the cassis but it's not necessary.
Here are two recipes that could be used for parties--whether for a crowd or for a party of two!
Xubana Ingredients:
2 oz XUXU,
4 oz banana juice
Instructions:
Pour the banana juice into a long drink glass, add 2 cubes of ice.\
Slowly pour 2 oz XUXU into the glass so that it does not blend with the banana juice.
Garnish the rim of the glass with a fresh strawberry and add two straws.
For those who want something with a little more kick and a little more balance (less sweetness), here's a great one though it does require a bit more effort It's also a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
THE RHUBE
2 oz XUXU
1 oz Gran Centenario Reposado Tequila
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz Simple Syrup
Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top with a splash of house-made rhubarb soda.* Garnish with a fanned strawberry.
*For Rhubarb Soda:
To make rhubarb syrup, combine 6 cups chopped rhubarb stalks with 1 ½ cups of sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain the syrup and refrigerate (for up to one week). Makes 20 oz.
Combine equal parts rhubarb syrup with chilled club soda for Rhubarb Soda.
Currently it's available at www.xuxu.de, but will roll out nationally in June. Hit your local spirit retailer and ask them to order this. It's an ideal SUMMER mixer!
Happy Mixing!
Hitting the spring scene in the nick of time, fashion production house, Fashion Elements (fem) is hosting another FAB day of shopping-- sample sale style. fem will host "Spring Glam" on--
Saturday, May 12th
11:00am-5:00pm
Barker Hangar in Santa Monica
for shoppers to enjoy buying the fem way.
"Spring Glam" is a 70 designer sample sale featuring fashion, jewelry and accessories for men & women from high profile and emerging designers that sell at uber chic boutiques like Fred Segal, Lisa Kline, Kitson, American Rag, and Planet Blue.
Confirmed Featured Designers
T-Bags,
True Religion,
Yoga Army,
Onna Ehrlich,
Splendid,
Female,
Aaneta,
Odabash,
Hudson,
Single,
Louis Verdad,
Wendy Glez,
Ella Moss,
Yummi Glass,
Meaghan Fabulous,
J & Co.,
Jaime Pressly and many more.
By providing alternative platforms for designers to showcase their collections to local "fashionistas", fem "Spring Glam" includes two ticket options open to the public.
VIP Preview Access is $15 and includes, VIP Lounge hosted by LA.com with cocktails and hors d oeuvres
provided by Cocktails by jenn ,
Hint Water
and ZONE Diet.
Also featured is a runway show of the emerging designers key styles beginning about 1pm along with 3 hours of VIP-Only shopping.
From 2:00pm-5:00pm, "Spring Glam" will have general admission shopping for $5.
Anyone can become a fem VIP by buying a $15 ticket to shop. With sample sale prices, you can have the designer fashions you crave but usually can't afford. Shop from an entire airplane hangar of your favorite designers at "Spring Glam".
For more information and to buy tickets, please log on to www.gotofem.com .
Fashion Elements (fem) presents "Spring Glam"
Saturday, May 12th, 11:00am-5:00pm, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA
3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, 90405
11am-2pm VIP Preview $15
2pm-5pm Open to Public $5
On-site parking $3
AMEX, VISA, MC, Cash all accepted.
Stevie Wilson
Sources say that BOULEVARD3 was THE place to be during LAFW. I mean THE PLACE to be. 944 Magazine was there and snapping photos -- and the photo credit definitely goes to them for sticking around and taking photos of the guests. You won't find me and the bffs there-- we weren't "anyone" that they recognized.
What was funny was that good friend and PR extraordinare AVO YERMAGYAN of Gaudy PR was hosting an event at BOULEVARD3 on Thursday, March 26 which was a SMASH!
Yermagyan' s Pinque Cirque featured BLOKE by Jerell Scott and House of Doll by Brett Bailey was building such a buzz during the week that people were calling offering bribes to get tickets to attend this "must see and be seen at" event.
I was assured by Avo that I would be in VIP section-- so I made sure I got a couple of friends to go too and it was LINES out the door and around the block to get into the club.
Parking was a freaking nightmare. By the time we got to the door. and got waved in (the checker was just wiped out. She only asked if Avo invited us. *big duh)-- so we were in.
Avo Yermagyan/Gaudy PR and Kim Kardashian (in order of appearance) Thanks to Kevin Parry, photographer! (big hugs)
Inside was a courtyard with a fountain and right smack in the middle of it, a 20 foot woman in a room-filling black gown. It was an incredible sight. She did have a companion – an equally tall man in gray pants – but he was mobile, while she was confined to the wading pool.
On the edges of the pool stood male models in scruffy couture. Sort of contemporary grunge mixed with some couture effects-- I think one of my friends described it as “Derelique”-- a la Zoolander. Since we missed the first runway show, we weren't sure whose designs they were but we figured they were Bloke designs.
To the left, was a cotton candy machine which Jennifer could not resist! Girls with trays strapped around their necks were handing out energy drinks which we passed on those items. There were also little cubbies or niches where people could sit. These were occupied by models and artwork, the most notable of which was a religious scene with a gorgeous male model meant to resemble Jesus, sitting on a throne. (Comment reserved here because we don't want to offend, but the guy was gorgeous. I gotta stop there.)
Since the first show was over and the second one had yet to start, the room was filled with peopl--there was no longer any room to get into the VIP section--there was no longer any room to move!
It was PACKED. P _A_C_K_E_D!!! I knew that it was going to be about a thousand people, I knew I could find Avo out of a 1000.. that's not hard. But THREE THOUSAND? NOT A CHANCE IN HELL could I find him. So my promise of showing up was for nothing (and I missed out on a goody bag too)
I left my bff's -- "the Jalapeno" and her friend -- there to party on and enjoy the show. ( I was driving just over an hour each way so it was not worth hassling the crowds), So the description that follows is based on a detailed note and more questions from me to the Jalapeno about what happened.
We made our way inside, which felt like Charlie’s first view of the Chocolate Room in Willy Wonka. There were three enormous chocolate fountains – one brown, one white, and the largest one pink! There were marshmallows, pretzels and juicy strawberries to dip. There were also big bowls of red licorice, hot tamales, jelly beans, all kinds of candy. It was a nightmare (only because I’m dieting!)-- or it was a candylovers dream.. which now makes me (Stevie) sorry I left).
The main room was a long rectangle with a second floor balcony all the way around--shaped like a huge U. The runway jutted out into the middle of the room. The VIP area was upstairs in the balcony. The only celebrity I am sure I saw was the guy from Borat (Ken Davitian). My friend thinks she saw Maria Conchita Alonso, but we're not sure (and I could not verify--Stevie).
We paid for our cosmos and looked around for goodie bags. I saw one pink bag and snuck a look inside but it was empty. I’m not sure what we missed out on there. Sad -huh!!
Almost right on time, the House of Doll show started. All I can say is: WOW.The show featured Cirque de Soleil dancers which were amazing. First, two impossibly gorgeous male models walked to the end of the runway. Then a ballerina came out, which would have been interesting enough, but was made more so by the mouse (or pig?) nose taped to her face. She moved in a way that suggested she was a “wind-up” doll from a jewelry box.
Suddenly a slew of scantily clad dancers came running onto the stage. I could never describe the way they danced, you’d have to see it. It was almost violent. They were like angry muses-- all dressed in black, thrashing and kicking. Their hair and makeup lent to this perception: they had enormous black eyelashes and huge hair that resembled black or blond flames (think 1980's but not cheesy, more artsy).
When they retreated backstage, the ballerina who had been watching all along, opened the huge runway door and the models appeared one by one, which made the ballerina look very pleased.
The models were stunning, with enormous eyelashes and fussy hair – most had their hair fashioned into huge bows! (I am sure the hair-bows were hair extensions but they looked very real.) Their makeup was very bold, very pink. They wore tags on their wrists that said Doll.
I’m sure you want to know about the designs, but unfortunately, most have escaped my memory. They were beautiful, interesting and artistic but wearable pretty much for parties or red carpet only. There were a lot of unfinished seams, heart-shaped appliqués, intricate straps. One dress that stuck with me was a blue and yellow striped gown that was almost like an upside-down daffodil.
(the dress was actually a riff on an umbrella upside down--Stevie)
House of Doll Designer Brett Bailey Busses his Muse, Kim Kardashian. Photo by Kevin Parry . (We heart you greatly)
After the show, I (the Jalapeno speaking) saw a flamboyant guy in patent leather platform boots, wearing a t-shirt that said “TOUCH ME, I’M PLASTIC” on the front and “I’M FAKE” on the back. I thought it was Bobby Trendy but can’t be sure. ( It was Bobby Trendy--Stevie) I did try to touch him for a photo but he ignored me.
Before we left, we decided to see if there were goodie bags left in the VIP area. We walked right up the stairs without anyone stopping us, but most of the crowd up there had cleared out. Tons of people were lingering by the fountain though, so we stayed there for a while then headed home.
It was a really great night.
Who was there:
Kim Kardashian,
Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kim (again)
Tracy Bingham,
Bai Ling,
Ken Davitian (Borat),
Phoebe Price,
Bobby Trendy
Missing the photo for: Katherine Bayliss, Matthew Fashion,
Carolina Baccardi--she walked the catwalk for the shows,
Chudney Ross who hosted the Bloke Show,
Alex Quinn
Here's a "photoshopped image" of the Jalapeno-- photoshopped to protect the innocent -- and the guilty. She's really quite stunning
Let's put it this way.. this party was smokin' haute and hot. EVERYONE was talking about it the next day because it had three thousand people.
Food? Was there food? I gather there was food: imported peanuts and Peroni Nastro Azzuro, cotton candy cocktails, cotton candy and chocolate covered confections in several colors. (Who knew there were that many colors? Did Yermagyan leave any for anyone else in LA?)
DJ Splyce had the music cranking so hot that people did not leave till 3AM and it was smoking haute partying in the room. People didn't want to leave because the music was too fabulous.
What was funny was that Paris Hilton walked the 944 Magazine show featuring 2 Be Free on Monday for the opening of LAFW. It was nice party.
However this party closed LAFW and this one exploded into a frenzy of amazing buzz and fun which I gather now blew the lid off the Paris Hilton vs Kim Kardashian friendship which seems to have gone kaput .. since this event.
*Shrug* Who knows why? Could it be that this event where Kardashian walked the runway for Pinque Cirque coupled with the release of her "sexpose' tape" hitting the streets beat Paris at her own game? It seems that Kardashian "out-walked" Hilton on the runway --both for fashion and for PR spin. Thoughts? HMMMMMMMMMMM?
Stevie Wilson
Amidst Monday nights fashion media circus of LA Fashion Week angels waited patiently in the lobby for refreshment…
…while inside the subterranean lit Main Tent the catwalk was being carefully strewn with human bones for the LA Premiere Designer Tara Subkoff’s Imitation of Christ.
Subkoff has returned to her Goth Club roots with a sophisticated spin on club wear now tailored for the more grown-up Brides of Dracula.
Countess Dracula clad models swathed in dagger emblazoned silk frocks talked casually on cell phones perhaps planning an intimate dinner for 100 members of the Armies of Darkness.
Femininity spiced with a hard edge was emphasized all the more by black leather stilettos on every outfit stating that underneath it all that these women meant business.
As the strains of classic Bauhaus serenaded an audience of smiling onlookers we detected a fang or two glinting in the half-light and were pleased with the stylishness of the undead…
Meanwhile, signature black leather swam amidst a parade of beaded white, black and gold dresses, deconstructed blouses and a hooded black cape with high-waisted velvet pants that evoked a grown-up Little Red Riding Hood smiling provocatively through vampire black lips in search of her next “wolf.”
A fitted black sweater framed by a heavy metallic collar worn with high-waisted skinny rocker jeans seemed fit for a fatal attraction.
By far the most provocative pieces were the see-through evening and cocktail dresses highlighted by a gold-beaded cocktail sheath accented by a huge black cross hanging down the model's back and an especially sparkly revealing white gown with “A-N-G-E-L-I-N-A J-O-L-I-E” written all over it.
Front row actress fans included Elisha Cuthbert, Ali Larter, Ginnifer Goodwin and Ione Skye next to musician Ben Lee. Fave gift bag swag was Smashbox’s caviar cream eyeliner with brush for ancient Egyptian eyes a la Queen of the Damned.
Marie Bargas
VH1 SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION AND GIBSON/BALDWIN MUSIC EDUCATION teamed up with some of today's hottest names to create "Music By Design" - a program that asks
designers and boutiques to customize brand-new Gibson guitars and auction them online for charity.
MAC Cosmetics designed guitar
Bidding began at this event at the Gibson/Baldwin Music space in Beverly Hills and continues online at VH1.com until March 30th!
Starbucks Decorated Guitar
It was a hip, young crowd, sprinkled with some oldies musicians and everyone was treated to vodka martinis and cupcakes and an acoustic set by Nelson (who flew in especially from New York City) and Ryan Cabrera who cut his tour short to perform for this charity!
Some of the designer guitars available were designed
by:
Justsweet (creative design by JLo),
Lisa Klein,
MAC Cosmetics,
Kiehl's,
Poleci,
Starbucks,
and Von Dutch.
All bids started at $300. These guitars are pieces of art, designed for display only, they are NOT playable instruments. Visit the website to bid!
LISA KLINE BEVERLY HILLS BOUTIQUE CELEBRATION
Hosted by Lisa Kline, Samantha Harris (E!News) and designer Rachel Pally this was a haute party to hit for the new boutique launch from Lisa Klein.
Rachel Palley and Lisa Kline
A smattering of VIP Guests and an overflow crowd, was packed into this beautiful and hip new space on South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills! Martinis and cocktails were provided by Belvedere and champagne by Chandon flowed with terrific appetizers and cookies provided by
Adonis Catering. The crowd was buying up a storm of Lisa's newest fashions and terrific jewelry line.
A portion of the evening's sales benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Hayden Panettiere and Lisa Kline
Some of the young Hollywood crowd that attended included Hayden Panettiere, Lauren Conrad, Sasha Cohen and Audrina Patridge (The Hills). Lisa Klein's 5th U.S. retail location is at: 315 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.
Reporting by Karina Mediate
Images courtesy of Film Magic
One of the HOTTEST (and Hautest) tickets in town last week (yes.. that's PRE- LA Fashion Week) was to get into Social Hollywood-- the coolest of the sizzling hot venues where celebs come to wine, dine and hangout.
So what was going on that stacked up the cars for the valets to check? MAX FACTOR premiering the BEST of LA's Fashion Designers to a stellar, star-struck, fashion-obsessed crowd of fashionistas, celebs, designers and stylists who were there to see an assemblage of great fashions by designers that haven't been featured together in one room except for perhaps --either an awards show OR Divine Design (and that's just a guess!)
This exclusive event featured Hollywood's hottest young stars working the catwalk, wearing exclusive new couture creations from the hottest new --and established-- designers.
PLUS they were wearing Pat McGrath's trend-setting couture makeup looks
at the coolest location for a GREAT cause-- Clothes Off Our Back-- the charity fundraiser for children started by Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford --ALL for a great cause--an auction of the great clothing worn that night by a "who's who" of actresses.
Hosted by Max Factor "FACE" and Spokesmodel, Carmen Electra, this event was showcasing the fashions of local LA designers Kevan Hall, David Meister, Elsie Katz, Dina Bar-El, Lloyd Klein, Arden B, Trina Turk, Mon Atelier, Louis Verdad, Cosa Nostra (Jeff Sebelia), Rachel Palley,and Sue Wong. Stuart Weitzman donated all the shoes for the event! All donated at least one to three items to be modeled by actresses like
Allison Sweeney
Beau Garrett
Noureen DeWulf
Kristin Cavallari
Kristen Bell
Denise Richards
Nadine Velazquez
Olivia Wilde
Autumn Reeser
Melinda Clarke
Guilana DePandi
and
Carmen Electra!!
We were lucky enough to snag celebrity stylist and costume designer Barbara Palmer to be our "reporter undercover" at this amazing event so we have her "reporters notes" of what was going on at Social Hollywood.
"There were tons of people at this event-- and there were three lines we had to get through. First was the check-in line which wasn't crowded and moved quickly.
The second line was to get into Social Hollywood where everyone was sheparded into the bar area (beautiful but small) and it was packed! Open bar made it easy to wait and I met the father of designer Rachel Palley whose designs were being featured in the fashion show. He introduced me to Rachel who is only 24 and just beautiful .
We were then escorted into the Fashion Show area which was in the back of Social Hollywood. Who would have known it was there?
Max Factor Eye Quad Look
It was a gorgeous very high platform runway done in shiny black. It looked like patent leather. Everything was done in black and white. There were so many people that they added more chairs and even had standing room.
Carmen Electra spoke and introduced Jane Kaczmarek who thanked everyone for coming and participating in this event in support of Clothes Off Our Backs Charity. Ken Paves was also introduced as well.
I was in the second row so was directly across from Rachel Palley, her dad and Kevan Hall. The show finally started at 9:25 and got a bit of a wobbly start because that black "patent" runway really was patent and very slippery. It was so slippery that the actress/models removed their shoes and carried them with them as they walked barefoot down the catwalk and then returned to change into the next outfit.After the fashion show was completed, we were escorted to upstairs to have more drinks and tons of yummy appetizers like sliders (tiny mini hamburgers for which Social Hollywood has a well-earned rep for having the best around), spring rolls and smoked salmon on flatbread. People were there well past 10:30 when I departed.
The goody bag was a lovely bag chock full of Max Factor cosmetics and their new mascara!
There is a sweepstakes going on for the Rule the Runway in conjunction with the launch of the VOLUME COUTURE mascara from MAX FACTOR. You can win a pair of Richard Tyler heels and Max Factor Cosmetics!!!
We would like to thank Max Factor for inviting the LA STORY to this event and also many thanks to Barbara Palmer for being our reporter on the story. This fantastic stylist and costume designer has worked with a slew of celebs from Faye Dunaway to Wendie Malick to Bryce Soderburg/Life House. She's fab!
Image of Carmen Electra on the catwalk in the blue gown, courtesy of Mark Sullivan/ Wire Image
LIVE WEBCAST OF KEATON'S PHILLY SHOW TONIGHT AT www.keatonsimons.com with encore live performance by JOSH KELLEY and chatting Just click on "view keatons shows live online and streaming" on the website. 8:45pm EAST COAST UNITED STATES TIME
5:45pm PACIFIC WEST COAST UNITED STATES TIME
12:45am LONDON TIME
Catch JOSH KELLEY, JENNIFER PAIGE and KEATON SIMONS LIVE through Keatonsimons.com and click the "live online and streaming" on the right side of the page to pull up Stickcam and then you can see and hear them each play live!
Wild times for those who are willing who are on the web right now!
Whether you choose the EP BLINK from Keaton Simons or his double CD, Exes and Whys--featuring the same songs from t
