Parties You Will Never Get Into

Some of the biggest names in music gathered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts last week, Oct. 29 and 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The two concerts included performances by U2, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Simon and Garfunkel, Metallica, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills Nash and Friends, Eric Clapton and many more.

BACARDI, one of the most internationally recognized rums and official spirit sponsor of the concert, showed its support for the program by asking the performers to sign commemorative bottles of BACARDI Reserva Limitada rum, an ultra-premium rum aged between 10 and 16 years.

Twenty-five bottles were auctioned off for charity in recognition of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary. Proceeds from the auction went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and Museum.

In honor of these groundbreaking concerts, BACARDI has created a signature cocktail, the BACARDI “Center Stage,” a delicious mix of BACARDI® Superior Rum, fresh lime juice, strawberry puree, cranberry juice and citrus soda. To provide additional support, BACARDI will sponsor events, including the official after party surrounding the 25th Anniversary celebration.

“BACARDI has a long-standing connection and dedication to music,” said Billy Melnyk, senior experiential marketing manager, BACARDI rums. “This unique collaboration of some of music’s greatest legends is an experience that embodies the spirit of BACARDI and one we are proud to be a part of.”

Though her father has stepped down from the presidency, Jenna Bush Hager has not toned down her goal ofchanging the world. The former U.S. First Daughter headlined the bash launching her volunteer team with UNICEF on July 24, 2009.

UNICEF Next Generation is a group that works to improve the plight of impoverished children around the world. Hager, who is a Young Leadership Ambassador, chairs the nonprofit.

Held at hip nightspot Gates, the party doubled as a fundraiser for the group’s inaugural initiative, which required $175,000. By the wee hours of July 25, the event had raised around $45,000.

For their first project, the group is eyeing Guatemala’s malnourished children. This fall, the group will fly there to enact its initiative Project Sprinkles.

Project Sprinkles involves the distribution of the eponymous sachets to Guatemalan children. Sprinkles, which look like pouches of sugar, contain the daily recommended amount of micronutrients for children.

Gate’s partygoers had their fill of nutrition through tasty cupcakes called Crumbs. They feasted on Sprinkle Spritzers and cocktails from Grey Goose, while gyrating to DJ Josh Madden’s energetic tunes.

Onstage, Next Generation members raffled gift certificates to plush eateries at the Hotel Griffou, Waverly Inn, and Kingswood. Members also sold UNICEF Inspired Gifts, including a toolkit called School-in-a-Box. The kit offers tools for a provisional school for more than 40 children anytime, anywhere.

US Fund for UNICEF President Caryl Stern partied with the Next Generation youngsters. Members Lauren and Barbara Bush were standouts at the party, along with sisters Maggie and Jessica Betts.

Next Generation is also composed of Danielle Abraham, Mia Baxter, Gretchen Bylow, Clementine Crawford, Arielle Diskin, Megan Ferguson, Randolph Frazier II, Jillian Gumbel, Gillian Hearst Simonds, Louise Hooff, Geoff Johnston, Anika Kreider, David Lauren, Brian Lee, Melissa McGhie, Gloria Marie Moncrief, Purvi Padia, Caroline Polisi, Meredith Ross, Jason Rotter, Maya Samuelsson, Anna Schwab, Krystal Shanahan, Ashley Irvin Weaver, Candice Wolfswinkel and Brooke Worthington.

Winners and losers alike plied the boulevards towards New York City’s happening nightspots following the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Musicians, new and old, interrupted in their acceptance speeches or not, kept the fun all night last September 13, 2009.

Probably expecting the scene would match her hedonistic songs, the industry’s biggest names converged at Lady GaGa’s afterparty at Avenue. The gathering, thrown by her record label Interscope, lured everyone from Nicky Hilton to Perez Hilton.

GaGa’s party nature easily revealed itself when she arrived at the celebration looking like a bride. Wearing Jean Paul Gaultier threads and a Minnie Mouse-inspired hat, she was reportedly in the seventh of costume changes that included head-to-toe laces, blood-soaked leotards, and birds’ nests.

GaGa departed from the ceremonies at Radio City as Best New Artist. In addition to the said award, her eccentric music video for “Paparazzi” won the VMAs for art direction and special effects.

VMA host Russell Brand celebrated with GaGa after the show. At the party, he was seen cozying up to Katy Perry, who was accompanied by Markus Molinari. Perry’s fellow hit-makers Akon, Keri Hilson, Polow Da Don and Soulja Boy Tell’em were also in attendance. Other partygoers included Kristin Cavallari, Melody Thornton, Teyana Taylor and Julie Henderson. Lorenzo Martone and Jon Gosselin came, too, sans their lovers Marc Jacobs and Hailey Glassman.

Tequila and champagne loosened the Interscope party atmosphere. Managing to catch the merriment was Justin Timberlake, who came from Jay-Z’s party at 1 Oak in the meatpacking district.

Sighted with him at 1 Oak were VIPs like Rihanna, Djimon Hounsou, Kimora Lee Simmons and Cassie. Jay-Z had thrown another party at his club 40/40.

Not to be outdone, Warner Music Group staged its own merrymaking, spotlighting DJ D-Nice on the sets. Abe & Arthur’s was the site; Green Day, DJ Premier, Sean Garrett, Maino and Gabrielle Union came.

Diddy was present at the GaGa, Jay-Z and WMG affairs. His ex-flame Jennifer Lopez dined with husband Marc Anthony at Waverly Inn, where Kim Kardashian was also dining. In the meantime, Pete Wentz threw an afterparty at the bar Angels & Kings, which he owns.

With celebrities dominating magazines nowadays, one feels nostalgic for times when real models graced their covers. In honor of fashion’s most inspiring faces and bodies, The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art has dedicated their spring exhibition to models.

Titled “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion,” the exhibition runs from May 6 through August 9, 2009. It formally opened May 4 with a gala benefit attended by a large throng.

Marc Jacobs served as the gala’s Honorary Chair. His co-chairs were Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour; singer Justin Timberlake; and supermodel Kate Moss.

Ninety-six of Moss’ peers, including current supermodel Gisele Bundchen and model-turned-host Heidi Klum, gushed forth into the museum’s Tisch Galleries for the exhibition. “Muse” exhibits around 80 fashion creations dating as far back as 1947 and as recent as 1997. It features such models as Twiggy, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta, Lauren Hutton, Suzy Parker, Shalom Harlow, Jean Shrimpton, Veruschka, Nadja Auermann, Lisa Fonssagrives, Peggy Moffitt, Janice Dickinson, Beverly Johnson, Jerry Hall, Helena Christensen, Sunny Harnett, Brooke Shields, and Dorian Leigh.

Moss wore a golden turban and a high-hemmed Marc Jacobs lamé toga to the event, while Bundchen donned a blue sequined Versace. Designers like Carolina Herrera, Jason Wu, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, and Donatella Versace also walked the red carpet.

Still, mainstream celebrities studded the event. Renée Zellweger, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Liv Tyler, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry, Victoria Beckham, Blake Lively, Ashley Olsen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Eva Mendes, Kate Bosworth, and Rachel Bilson all enjoyed their model turns on the carpet. On the unconventional hand, Madonna stopped museum traffic with thigh-high boots, blue barmaid dress, and towering bunny headgear by Louis Vuitton, while Rihanna cross-dressed in a Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo.

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson enjoyed her 18th birthday with a magical night-out April 19, 2008 in London. Celebrating unprecedented freedom, the onscreen sorceress reveled well beyond the witching hour.

Garbed in a tailored black silk dress, the debutante was surrounded by a coven of well-wishers, including some of her Harry Potter co-stars. Her onscreen chums Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the titular character, and Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, were visibly absent that evening. Tom Felton, a.k.a. the villainous Draco Malfoy; Katie Leung a.k.a. Cho Chang; Evanna Lynch a.k.a. Luna Lovegood; and Bonnie Wright a.k.a. Ginny Weasley made up for the duo’s absence.

From kindred came Alex, her 15-year old brother. Emma’s banker-boyfriend Jay Barrymore, 25, also showed up.

Ms Watson only set for home in Oxfordshire at four in the morning. Her father brought the rear with a mountain range of presents, including a tree.

Of all the gifts, the most important was probably the full access to her £10-million fortune. Emma accumulated these riches from portraying Hermione Granger in five film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels since 2001. According to reports, Watson would receive £2.5million more for starring in the newest Harry Potter film.

Emma Watson’s wealth lies in Coutts, the same bank as Queen Elizabeth II and Daniel Radcliffe. For her to withdraw money freely, Ms Watson first had to undergo a crash course on managing wealth. She underwent three days of lessons alongside Tom Felton and other young Harry Potter actors.

Even so, Emma Watson could not pull a Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, or Lindsay Lohan just yet. Her contract with Warner Brothers, Harry Potter’s studio, clearly stipulates a provision regarding good behavior.

She plays Hermione Granger yet again in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which launches in July 2009.

On its 95th outing, the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was characteristically festooned with stars. This year marks a milestone however, as it welcomes a new, historic administration.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle took center stage at this year’s WHCA dinner May 9 at the Washington Hilton hotel. Politics, movies, music, media, and fashion bonded together that night to make an indistinguishable mélange.

Delivering the night’s most important remarks, Obama managed to tickle the glittery assemblage with light, hilarious quips. Comedienne Wanda Sykes, in comparison, worked up guests with a more politically charged speech.

Politics’ new guard that evening included White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Attorney General Eric Holder, Senior Advisor David Axelrod, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, and White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, among many other government leaders, was also in attendance.

Not everyone was a Democrat. Spotted briefly at the bash was former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Sen. John McCain’s daughter Meghan partied the evening away; so did Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court Justice.

Entertainers from all alphabets of the list freely mingled among such movers and shakers. The entertainment world’s ambassadors included Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Glenn Close, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Owen Wilson, Mike Myers, Eva Longoria, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Jon Bon Jovi, Elizabeth Banks, Kerry Washington, Jon Hamm, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Denis Leary, Matthew Settle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Rachel Leigh Cook. Donatella Versace and newfangled designer Jason Wu attended the dinner in behalf of fashion.

Covering the festivity and attracting mileage themselves were media personalities like Katie Couric, Christopher Hitchens, Dee Dee Myers, Steve Kroft, Jim Kelly, Jennet Conant, David Gregory, Ana Marie Cox, Lara Logan, David Brooks, Bianna Golodryga, Chris Matthews, David Carr, Julia Allison, Mort Zuckerman, John King and Dana Bash.

Modern heroes Chesley Sullenberger and Richard Phillips were accorded due esteem with the best of these stars.

Holdovers of the dinner trickled to the opulent mansion of the French ambassador for the after-party sponsored by Vanity Fair and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Reinstituting Britannia on American soil, Prince Harry of Wales mounted his steed for a special polo engagement May 30 in New York City. The game highlights His Royal Highness’ two-day visit to America, only his second time ever.

New Yorkers, from the well-heeled to the ordinary, filed on ferries bound for Governors Island to gawk at the royal. His Royal Highness, 24, last visited America when he was just a child.

Prince Harry, playing in Nick Roldan’s team, floored Black Watch, which was led by Argentine polo champ/Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras.

While the game had princely overtones, everybody was welcome. Commoners, many of whom had never seen a prince before, watched the game for free west of the gargantuan pitch. The polo match raised funds for Sentebale, Prince Harry’s nonprofit group benefiting Lesotho.

Saturday’s game was far from classless though. While dressed-down spectators enjoyed the game from bleachers, a different scene was at play across the pitch.

Swilling founts of Veuve Clicquot, aristocrats lunched inside air-conditioned tents, where table seats cost $50,000 each. Organizers also indulged guests with blankets and lawn chairs for some leisurely sprawling on the lawn.

Moët Hennessy USA chief executive Mark Cornell was on hand to take care of drinkers. St. Regis’ star chef Sandro Micheli concocted the fare, which included cream tea, asparagus salads, gourmet cookies, and other pastries.

Deferring to tradition, guests donned their best summer finery, the women donning hats of all shapes. LL Cool J even traded rapper’s wear for a waspier ensemble. Meanwhile, Polo Ralph Lauren’s David Lauren witnessed his company’s logo come to life.

New York First Lady Michelle Page Patterson did the match’s throw-in. Later, during the halftime breather, flat-shoed guests ceremonially trod on the horse-made divots.

Pop royal Madonna, escorted by shutterbug Steven Klein and her two sons, breezed in around this time, amid commotion. Louis Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs sat beside the singer, some distance away from fellow designer Donna Karan. Models Hilary Rhoda and Alek Wek strutted around the tent.

Now on its second year, the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic gathering also drew Vikram Chatwal, Veronica Webb, Byrdie Bell, Joann Pailey, Rachel Roy, Dustin Yellin, Sophia Hesketh, Peter Brant, Samantha Boardman Rosen, Lucy Sykes Rellie, Cornelia Guest, Amy Sacco, Matt Lauer, Kate Hudson, and Chloë Sevigny.

Teen Vogue Magazine rounded up tomorrow’s biggest stars at LA’s County Museum of Art for the Sixth Annual Young Hollywood Party. Up-and-coming names as well as their more popular contemporaries trooped to the publication’s biggest shindig on Sept.18, 2008.

Disney was well represented in the crowd; High School Musical love-team Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens partied that night. Curiously missing however, was the teen queen herself, Miley Cyrus. But her alleged rival Selena Gomez was present, and so was Hannah Montana co-star Matt Prokop. Another Disney Channel talent, Brenda Song, also attended.

From the competition, Nickelodeon vaunted Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly. ABC also had Shawn Pyfrom of Desperate Housewives.

Not a few in the crowd were proxies of their more established parents. Tallulah, Scout, and Rumer Willis — offspring of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis — were present. Emma Roberts was also around to channel the superstar wattage of aunt Julia Roberts. Then again, Frances Bean Cobain bore the legacy of her father Kurt Cobain.

Siblings banded together at the affair, too. Singing sisters Aly and AJ came in identical dresses. Dylan and Cole Sprouse posed together at the red carpet. Also to be found were Danielle Panabaker and her sis Kay.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s other half, the tall looker Bar Refaeli, glowed in a gilded dress. Fellow model Erin Wasson opted to seduce onlookers with a sheer dress.

One of these ravishing partygoers could be the next screen legend: Sara Paxton, Jessica Lowndes, Nikki Reed, Keke Palmer, Victoria Justice, Brea Grant, Emilie de Ravin, Zelda Williams, Hayley Hasselhoff, Alexa Vega, Nora Zehetner, Shailene Woodley, Harley Viera-Newton, and Lily Cole.

There were dashing studs as well: Travis van Winkle, Justin Martin, Jackson Rathbone, Drew Seeley, Michael Steger, Ryan Eggold, and David Henrie.

In full force that evening was the Twilight entourage of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.

Amy Astley, Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief, moved around to check on the teen stars. She was accompanied by peers Jane Keltner, Fashion News Director; Aya Kanai, Senior Fashion Editor; and Jennifer Petrisko, Public Relations Director.

In honor of three of Britain’s successful Formula 1 drivers, TAG Heuer threw a highbrow bash at The Mall in London on Sept. 15, 2008.

The event doubled as the opening to a photo exhibit commemorating more than half a century of British competitors in Formula 1 racing. Jean-Christophe Babin, TAG Heuer CEO and President, witnessed “Britain’s three motor racing greats” take center stage at the event.

Top racer Lewis Hamilton, currently the F1 championship leader, was the man of the moment. His older compatriots, Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Damon Hill OBE, also joined him in the limelight, where the three shared memories about the sport. At one point, Moss metaphorically advised Hamilton, “When it rains, the road shines and the grass doesn’t. Stay on the shiny thing.”

Lewis Hamilton is a spokesperson for the watch brand. Presently, TAG Heuer has aligned itself with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Hamilton’s winning team.

But TAG Heuer has been sponsoring Formula 1 long before Hamilton was born. In fact, the brand has a separate TAG Heuer Formula 1 range of timekeepers.

More than 400 were invited to give homage to the racers. Amidst a sea of F1 enthusiasts, there were the likes of model Natalia Vodianova, who came with husband Justin Portman, and Scream actress Neve Campbell.

Fashion’s glitterati also went to celebrate, like Welsh designer Julien Macdonald. Olivia Inge and Jade Parfitt, presenters at VogueTV, also mingled with the glamorous set.

Chronicles of Narnia heartthrob William Moseley kept the median age lower that day, in contrast with legendary Pink Floyd member Nick Mason. Kirsty Gallacher, Danny Cipriani, Tamara Beckwith, and Giorgio Veroni all sidled up to the party, too.

Proceeds from the TAG Heuer fête went to Save The Children, a nonprofit group dedicated to improving the lots of children the world over.

TAG Heuer has been making watches and chronographs since its founding in 1860 by Edouard Heuer.

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Divas, rappers, rockers, and most other musicians kept the night alive long after the 51st Grammy Awards winded down last Feb.8, 2009. Music makers, invited to the Awards or not, hopped around the vast party circuit in Los Angeles after Sunday’s ceremony.

Of the numerous after-parties, the official shindig was the one that transpired at the L.A. Convention Center, where Robin Thicke sang her soulful ditties. Patterned after Woodstock, the affair had celebrated Chef Wolfgang Puck in charge of the gastronomic feast, while hippies and fire-breathing dancers entertained guests.

But a different after party was taking place at Wolfgang Puck’s own restaurant in Beverly Hills. House of Hype/Island Def Jam and L.A. Reid invited Lionel Richie, Kanye West, Ryan Phillippe, Jesse McCartney, Young Jeezy, Benji Madden, and newfound Grammy winners Duffy and Estelle, over to the famous steakhouse.

Partygoers ran around in circles into the wee hours of February 9. Perennial partygoer Paris Hilton dropped by the Stand Up for a Cure affair hosted by EMI at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Joining her were the likes of Josh Madden, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, JC Chasez, Hilary Duff, Chris Tucker, and Kate Bosworth. Urban’s wife Nicole Kidman was also there.

Sony BMG had its own revelry at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, Clive Davis, Adele, Anthony Hamilton, T-Pain, and Sara Bareilles mingled with each other at the said party. As for the Universal Motown Records Group, Katharine McPhee, Lil Jon, Akon, and Colbie Caillat showed up at their affair at Whiskey Blue.

Grammy parties were not reserved for the record labels though. Ne-Yo organized his own affair at Social Hollywood, while Radiohead threw theirs at a mansion in Hollywood Hills. Maroon 5 attended the latter.

Neither could compare, however, with the star-studded function by Kings of Leon at the watering hole Teddy’s. Justin Timberlake and Ryan Reynolds, with their respective flames Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson, lent their presence to the party. Katy Perry arrived late while Slash chitchatted with Timberlake.