Parties You Will Never Get Into

Celebrities were all about charity this year and most were found attending parties around the 82nd Academy Awards that celebrated the spirit of giving. The Night Before gala, hosted in Hollywood on the Saturday before the Oscars, was set to raise money for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This organization provides individuals in the Southern California entertainment industry with health and human services needs.

The event was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Guests included Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr., and several other attendees.

On Sunday, Oscar night, the celebrities came around again for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. His organization works to fund educational programs regarding HIV/AIDS prevention as well as striving to eliminate discrimination against individuals with HIV/AIDs. The program also provides tangible services for those affected by the disease.

This event was held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood where guests were entertained by Grace Jones. The party had many guests including Adam Levine, Chace Crawford, Heidi Klum, Jason Mraz, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Tim Allen, Victoria Beckham, and several others.

While the Oscars brought about several surprises, it was the after event Oscar parties where things became incredibly strange.

Tinsley Mortimer, who will soon be starring in her own reality shore, High Society, was seen rubbing elbows with the cast of Jersey Shore. Despite that she’s one of the Park Avenue elite, she was ecstatic about meeting the personalities behind the successful MTV reality show. Mortimer said the cast is “so funny and so themselves”. She also said that she’d love to hang out with the gang on the Upper East Side.

She had previously run into “The Situation” and “Pauly D” while recording a voiceover for her show. It just so happened that the pair of Jersey boys were shooting The Rachael Ray Show in the same studio. More recently, she had the opportunity to work with “J-Woww”, “Snookie”, and “Sammi”.

Mortimer is a graduate of Columbia University and a Dior beauty ambassador. She’s hoping that her new reality show will show the imperfections in her life. She wants people to know that just because she grew up with a privileged lifestyle doesn’t mean that her life is easy.

There are also rumors that the future reality star is dating ex-American Idol contestant, Constantine Maroulis, however she’s not confirming anything.

Life is a cabaret. This goes for all the tastemakers in Germany. No slump in the economy is stopping these people from reveling at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Fashion Week. This year’s Berlin Fashion Week was kicked off by Hugo Boss’ Boss Black runway presentation, which was followed by a post-show soiree at the Hamburger Bahnhof museum.

The likes of Matt Dillon and Hillary Swank gathered inside a massive tent behind the stage. The excitement of the event was mirrored by the ambience of the party. All sorts of beautiful people were impossible to miss as they roamed the L.E.D.-lit dance floors. Apart from that, the place was also filled with high tech digital projections and magnums of champagnes.

Berlin’s merrymaking throng had continued to party their way to Friday at the historic Friedrichstadt Palast Theater, where the second-annual Style Nite was held. The event showcased three of Berlin’s most talked about labels: Kaviar Gauche, Michalsky, and Lala Berlin. The event had taken the conventional flashy display of fashion up a notch. The event, which went on for about four hours, kindled the love for musical theater among these Berlin fashionistas. The event welcomed all 2,000 martini-swigging guests with a presentation of Lala Berlin’s collection for the season.

Right after Lala Berlin presented his final fashion masterpiece, a dancer clad in a Kaviar Gauche mirrored bodysuit took the crowd’s attention as she swiveled under laser beams. What came next was Bella Berlin the Dancer followed by Michalsky’s Heinrich Zille-inspired couture collection. The event, which was far from disappointing, was sealed with a timeless performance from Spandau Ballet.

After showcasing all the creations of Berlin’s biggest names in Fashion, the crowd of revelers moved to a more sedated party scene at the Bebelplatz, where they partied on with pyrotechnics, booze and gossip aplenty.

That night at Horseferry House, the Burberry head-quarters, was flowing with Snow Leopard vodka cocktails and Champagne as the Burberry chief executive officer Angela Ahrendts and creative director Christopher Bailey invited celebrity friends and fashionistas to celebrate its homecoming and end of the London Fashion Week.

Following its glamorous show of color and high fashion outfits, Bailey proposed a toast to 25 years of London Fashion with his invited guests. Some of these include Harry Potter franchise star Emma Watson, Lord of the Rings co-star Liv Tyler, singer-actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Posh Spice aka Victoria Beckham, Agyness Deyn, Alexa Chung, Mary-Kate Olsen and Erin O’Connor. Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel and Freida Pinto were seen being intimate with each other as they held hands entering the party.

The Burberry fashion house went all out as it offered five types of classic cocktails, with bottles of Moet and Chandon champagne filling every empty glass in sight. Aside from having these drinks, the party, which was held in Westminster, London, also had a stream of canapés such as mini Welsh rarebits, fish pies, bite-sized burgers and even little Yorkshire pudding swirls with horseradish and beef.

The live performance of The Kooks kept the crowd on their feet, then Deyn and Chung were taking turns on the DJ’s deck in playing for a dance floor that was jam-packed with prominent figures in the entertainment, film and fashion business. Bailey, who was wearing a white blazer, was even spotted making shapes before the marble dance floor were owned by two models who attempted to do some freestyle break dancing.

When the 80s sound of Take On Me by new wave band A-ha had reached its outro, the crowd disbanded late in the evening, with every event participant on a natural high as the London Fashion Week came to a close.

The second installment of the vampire love story movie called New Moon may be about a love triangle, but on its premiere night after party, it was all about the couples.

After the screening of the sequel to Twilight, cast members from the movie, as well as their fans, headed to Los Angeles, California’s Hammer Museum.

Comedian Jamie Kennedy and singer-Ghost Whisperer star Jennifer Love Hewitt were at the party, which was Italian-themed to signify its affirmation to the New Moon Volturi scenes that were shot in Volterra, Italy.

A fellow attendee of the event said that Kennedy and Hewitt “were holding hands and walking around, they kept to themselves for the most part.”

“They looked like they were having a good time,” added the attendee.

There was also another group of co-stars who were said to be delighted to be part of the event. Cast members of the new musical television series Glee Lea Michele and Mark Salling were reported to have attended the gathering. The two were seen giggling and whispering to each other, and seemed to be flirting despite Michele’s representative reiterating that the two were not in any kind of relationship.

Since the party had an Italian theme, the food served was also Italian. The party served CRUMB Bake Shop Twilight-themed cupcakes, which were served by caterers who wore red cloaks. The venue’s outside terrace was designed with extra plant decorations and red lanterns that were hung from tree branches, mimicking the Forks forests where the movie was shot.

The main stars of the movie, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, were said to have gone to the VIP area right after Pattinson and Stewart tried to avoid discussing the current status of their relationship. However, according to another source, the two young celebrities “didn’t hang out at the party.”

The Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) after party is a gathering and an awards ceremony for the best performing actors in the entertainment business. Its after party was sponsored this year by Grey Goose Vodka and People Magazine, which took pride in the lineup of celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who came to the affair.

However, the couple did not stay too long as they needed to attend to their kids. Speaking of kids, Ireland, the daughter of Best Actor Alec Baldwin, was also there. Baldwin and his daughter were at the party tent that was next to the Shrine Auditorium and they were giggling and whispering to each other.

Meryl Streep was also there with her daughter and son, leaving them once for a brief moment to greet former Saturday Night Live cast member and 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey with a big hug. The award winning actresses of 30 Rock and Doubt fussed over each other for a few minutes. Amy Poehler, Fey’s fellow SNL cast member and a co-star in the movie Baby Mama, attended the party together with her husband Will Arnett.

Cast members from other television shows and award-winning flicks such as Slumdog Millionoaire, The Office and Entourage were at the event, enjoying the party and the company of fellow actors.

Couples Jon Hamm (from Mad Men) and Jennifer Westfeld were at the SAG awards ceremony, but Westfeld was nowhere to be found at the party. Insiders said Hamm was looking a little bit aloof and spent his night smoking and drinking alone.

Other celebrity pairs who showed up at the after party were Jerry Ferrera (co-star of the TV series Entourage) and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Ryan Pier Williams and America Ferrera (star of Ugly Betty) and Claire Danes and partner Hugh Dancy.

Harvey Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman, and Jeremy Piven (the “Ari Gold” of Entourage) and a younger blond, also made their way to the celebration.

The premiere after party of the comedy movie Bruno was definitely a night to remember as there were many celebrities who attended the event in their most fashionable suits and cocktail dresses.

The guests were composed of the funniest figures in entertainment, like David Arquette, who was with his wife and former F.R.I.E.N.D.S. star, Courtney Cox-Arquette. Jonah Hill, one of the associate producers of Bruno, Matt Stone, creator of the hit adult cartoon show South Park, Aziz Ansari, Andy Samberg and Christopher Mintz-Plasse also made their presence felt. Former Guns ‘n Roses guitar player Slash Hudson, actor Gary Shandling and Borat’s Ed Helms and Ken Davitian attended the party as well. The homecoming king and host of the event was none other than the man behind Bruno and Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen, who was with his fiancé and “Confessions of a Shopaholic” star Isla Fisher.

Although some of the guests were in cocktail dresses and suits, it was largely a dress down event. The man of the hour, Sacha Baron Cohen, wore a blazer and a baseball cap while Andy Samberg was in a hipster flannel. Ed Helms was dressed in a sweater and Matt Stone was only wearing shirt and jeans.

The party was surrounded by the sounds of the late legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson, with the DJ spinning “I Want You Back” and “PYT”, but it was the song “Wanna Be Starting Something” that made the guest rush down to the dance floor.

And of course, the food served was simply delicious. There were sushi in cups, a hotdog bar with a large selection of mustard, a big bowl of sauerkraut and chocolate mousse pies. These finger foods were then matched with the usual beer and cocktails that were poured endlessly for all the guests.

The year 2009 has been a great one for most people. A few even threw a couple of shindigs as proof. One of the biggest parties for this year was the Hamptons Housewarming weekend party. Although it’s no longer new to most people, since it has become customary that something big is expected to come out from the Hamptons each year, each party at the Hamptons has never failed to impress.

This year’s Hamptons Housewarming event for once has been something most people won’t find easy to forget since it was held in several places including the Montauk Yacht Club, the Surf Lodge, and the East Hampton club Lily Pond to name a few. And as typical Hamptons parties go, the guest list for this certain event included several of the entertainment industry’s biggest names such as Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Legend, Sean Avery, Stavros Niarchos, and more.

Apart from the Hamptons Housewarming event, the Monaco Mixer was also one of the highlights of 2009. The Monaco Grand Prix and royal gala dinner, which was all about F1 racing of course was a mixture of all things fast and glamorous. The event wouldn’t have been complete without the presence of Jenson Button, the formula one winner for 2009. Aside from him, Prince Albert and his girlfriend Charlene Wittstock as well as Princess Beatrice, James Blunt and Peaches Geldof were also spotted at the event.

In addition to the Hamptons Housewarming event and the adrenaline infused F1 mixer in Monaco, the Celebrity Soccer Six charity tournament also topped this year’s biggest events; everyone loves British football after all. The so-called British “Balling” had taken place in Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium in London. Enthusiasts of the game including the Babyshambles team, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe were seen balling out in the event and so were Michelle Heaton, and Bianca Gascoigne.

And of course what football event would be complete without the sport’s royal couple, Victoria and David Beckham?

Hilton hotel heiress Paris Hilton sure seems to be on top of things as far as relationships are concerned, as she turned up with boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, who wore the same costume she did, at Heidi Klum’s exclusive Halloween Party. Hilton and Reinhardt wore white tulle dresses with white tops and fairy wings.

Apparently, this was not the only time Reinhardt copied his girlfriend’s costume as the night before, the The Simple Life star held her own Halloween party dressed as The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy, and Reinhardt wore the same outfit.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Hiltons, including Paris’ mom Kathy, who dressed up as a police officer, and her dad Rick, who went out as Hugh Hefner in a robe and slippers, partied at PURE nightclub. Paris’ sister Nicky Hilton was also at the club dressed as Breakfast at Tiffany’s star Audrey Hepburn, complete with Christian Louboutin pumps and a Chanel handbag.

However, Reinhardt and Hilton were not the only couple who had matching costumes at Klum’s party. The hosts of the party, Heidi and her husband Seal wore all black as they were dressed as crows with long beaks and feathers. Since their faces were also painted black, they were nearly unrecognizable. Kelly Osbourne, daughter of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, and DJ Luke Worrall, her fiancé, went as bacon and eggs, while Rick Fox and Eliza Dushku were gangster vampires.

And Sacha Baron Cohen, the man behind the famous characters Ali G/Borat/Bruno, went to the party wearing a Hillary Clinton mask, while trying to keep a low profile through the evening.

Other stars seen at the party were Jessica Alba who dressed as Dora the Explorer and her husband Cash Warren was Diego. Queen Latifah was also there, wearing a Japanese sensei costume.

Honoree Martha Stewart with SNL comedian Seth Meyers. Photos by Douglas Harrington

Courtney Sale Ross, founder of the innovative Ross School, hosted a charity ball in East Hampton to benefit the school. Celebrities were everywhere to enjoy the 2009 Starlight Ball, an evening of music, comedy, and haute cuisine to raise money for the Steven J. Ross Scholarship fund. The scholarship, named for the media mogul and late husband of Courtney Sale Ross, allows 25% of the students attending the Ross School to receive sorely needed financial aid.

This year, the 2009 Starlight Ball Honoree was none other than Martha Stewart, the domestic superstar and author who has served as an inspiration for Courtney Sale Ross. “Martha’s accomplishments have been an inspiration to so many of us. She leads people through a process of creative discovery that is keenly characteristic of her work as an educator,” said Courtney Sale Ross. “She has been a dear friend and an on-going supporter of our school for many years and we are thrilled to pay her tribute.”

Stars that entertained the crowd included Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live, music stars James Ingram and Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley. Two years ago, Brinkley launched a scholarship of her own to support deserving students who wish to attend the Ross School. “Right now, with today’s economy, the scholarship fund is more important than ever. The Ross School has always had a great, very diverse group of students, despite its reputation of being a rich kid’s school, it is not. It is really, really important that we come out to support the school,” Christie Brinkley said.

The night’s events were MC’d by Generation X writer Jay McInerney and his wife Anne Hearst McInerney, who is a Ross student parent. The stars of the upcoming film “Trophy Kids”, including Tania Raymonde, Ryan Egghold, Tahyna Tozzi, David Gallagher, and Nathan Lee Graham were on hand as well.

Ross School’s Sixth Annual “Live at Club Starlight” is dedicated to raising funds for the School’s programs and for the Steven J. Ross Scholarship Fund, which has been in place since the School’s founding in 1991. Created by Courtney and Steven J. Ross, the Steven J. Ross Scholarship fund ensures that deserving children have the opportunity to receive an outstanding, world-class education at the Ross School. Every year, the Starlight Ball celebrates its students with special celebrity performances, student ambassadors, and live and silent auction items donated by committed parents, trustees, friends, and local and national organizations.