Hosting Hollywood

Two days after The Oscars, I filmed a segment for StyleHaul right in front of The Kodak. I spoke about the uncertain future of the theatre and the Academy, about the history of the Babylonian Arch, and referred, tongue-in-cheek, to my pursuit of a career in acting.

Filming at Hollywood and Highland filled me with a sense of pride for the place where I live, and made me feel even further attached to it, because now I've spoken on camera about my passion for it, and I've had a crowd gathered round, watching and listening. Made up mostly of tourists, they now know that Kodak is removing its name from the theatre, and that the arch is a reference to the history of the site.

I have no intention of becoming a tour guide or docent for Hollywood, but I would so love to host a local Globe Trekker-type show. Maybe I'll become the next generation Huell Howser.

That'd be the dream.

VIP Oscar Party

I have never been to the Oscars.  Nor have I been to a pre-Oscar industry party.  I want, badly, to attend both such things.  In the meantime, though, I enjoy being a resident of Hollywood during awards season, and witnessing, if only peripherally, the excitement.

Last Saturday night, Joseph and I went for one of our typical evening strolls through Hollywood.  We got dinner at Stout, each of us savoring their signature Stout burger, and jauntily sipping a few ales.

Then, we went to Musso and Frank (Charlie Chaplin's old haunt, if you didn't already know) for a good old Martini.  The bar was, of course, packed and we propped ourselves up on the divider wall between the bar and the restaurant while we sipped our cocktails.  We noticed that a group of people at the bar were in formal attire, and we assumed they'd just come from a pre-Oscar party.  They were also trashed. Bow ties hanging half undone, spaghetti straps slipping, updo's falling down.  Finally, with much drunken drama, they left and we took their seats, which were littered with wrappings from their swag bags.  At first, I pushed it all aside, but then I got to looking. They'd left not just the wrappings, but the swag.  The program revealed that they'd been to a fundraiser for cardiovascular disease research, honoring Larry King. I dug up  a handful of teas, a sample green tea toner, a sample moisturizer, a sample suncreen, a candle, a $100 gift certificate to a spa, and a certificate for a free facial peel from a different spa.

I felt . . . treated.  I love Oscar weekend.