Parties You Will Never Get Into

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations, a company that’s goal is to produce innovative health products, and Erchonia, a laser distributor, recently participated in the Microsoft Founder’s Gala on Nov. 18 in Bellevue, Wash.

The event, held in association with the Bill and Mellinda Gates Foundation, celebrated members of the Microsoft community who deserve special recognition for their work on behalf of people in need around the world.

Rowland Hanson, chairman of Santa Barbara Medical Innovations and Global Business Development general manager for Erchonia, was the founding and former vice president of corporate communications for Microsoft.

Hanson is widely credited with developing and executing the original branding and marketing strategy for Microsoft, which included the naming and launch of Windows. This strategy laid the foundation for the brand dominance of Microsoft today, according to Santa Barbara Medical Innovations.

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations produces the Zerona laser. Zerona laser is the only proven, non invasive procedure that safely removes fat with zero pain and zero downtime

Through participation in the gala and by the donation of wound healing lasers to healthcare organizations in emerging countries in Africa, Santa Barbara Medical Innovations and Erchonia have furthered its goal of establishing the credibility and use of low level laser technology in healthcare.

The event also recognized leading Zerona physician, Dr. Elizabeth VanderVeer from Portland, Ore. Dr. VanderVeer had the opportunity to meet with both Jeff Raikes (chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation), Bill Gates and Santa Barbara Medical Innovations Chairman, Rowland Hanson.

Variety has announced its lineup for their Third Annual Variety’s Power of Youth event, dubbed in Los Angeles on Dec.5, 2009.

This year’s event, produced in conjunction with Variety’s annual Youth Impact Report, features an exclusive afternoon of festivities and live performances, according to this article on Access Hollywood.

The event will celebrate a select group of outstanding young entertainers, chosen to receive the Variety’s Power of Youth “@15 Award,” presented by Best Buy.

The guest list is comprised of 700 invite-only guests made up of the elites of under-25 actors, actresses, recording artists, and the children and families directly affected by Variety’s two 2009 beneficiaries – Starlight Children’s Foundation and LA’s BEST.

This year’s honorees include “High School Musical’s” Corbin Bleu (for his work on behalf of the Starlight Children’s Foundation), “iCarly’s” Miranda Cosgrove (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), Jesse McCartney (City of Hope), “90210’s” AnnaLynne McCord (The Blind Project) and “True Jackson, VP” star KeKe Palmer (The Boys and Girls Clubs of America).

Starlight is a national in-hospital and outpatient program dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. LA’s BEST, a nationally recognized after school education, enrichment and recreation program, serves more than 28,000 children with the greatest needs and fewest resources throughout the City of Los Angeles.

“Through the amazing support of the entertainment community and our generous sponsors, Variety’s Power of Youth has had the fortunate opportunity of generating more than one million dollars to benefit the several charities this effort has supported over the past three years. It has helped to create a bedrock of social awareness within the next generation of entertainment,” Brian Gott, Publisher of Variety said in a statement issued to Access Hollywood. “With the help of more than 200 young artists who are in a position to influence their peers and fans, we are able to raise real money to support real causes where there is a real need.

In the end, the Devil does indeed wear Prada.

Clothed in Prada Cruise, American Vogue’s deified editor-in-chief Anna Wintour heralded the premiere of The September Issue with close friends and VIPs. The long-gestating documentary played August 19 at an invitations-only screening party hosted by Wintour in New York City.

Moviegoers were a roll call of fashion overlords. Designers Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Jack McCollough, Jason Wu, Lazaro Hernandez, Richard Chai, Georgina Chapman, Zac Posen and Thakoon Panichgul all made sure to attend, lest they enrage fashion’s legendary “Nuclear Wintour.”

Insiders considered the screening party one of the most important dates for fashion in 2009. After all, the R.J. Cutler-directed documentary is a voyeuristic chronicle of Vogue’s September 2007 edition, one of the thickest magazine issues of all time.

A flood of people vied for a ticket to the premiere, which included a private dinner with the Vogue editrix herself. Despite the limited invites, folding chairs had to be hauled in the venue at the Museum of Modern Art for extraneous viewers.

Wintour accorded the September 2007 cover girl her seat of honor at the screening party. Sienna Miller, who graced the cover in a now-iconic shot by Mario Testino, calmly sat front-row as Wintour impaled her onscreen with icy putdowns.

Indeed, this is the film where Wintour famously dismissed Miller as being “too toothy” for Vogue.

If there were any acrimony between the two, nothing of the sort was seen at the premiere. Arriving with daughter Bee Shaffer, Wintour closely accompanied Miller on the red carpet, the actress clad in a sky-blue mini-dress by Thakoon.

Renée Zellweger, who was also a Vogue cover girl, was included in Wintour’s guest list, along with P. Diddy, Cassie, and Alexa Chung. Models Karlie Kloss, Chanel Iman and Caroline Trentini also came.

Not to be missed at the party were Wintour’s famous Vogue subordinates, Andre Leon Talley and Grace Coddington.

With the opening of a W Hotel nearby, The White House has effectively extended its corridors of power—suites. Its new neighbor, reckoning with the world’s most powerful environs, in turn mounted a party of presidential proportions.

W Hotel officially opened its Washington DC branch Oct. 8 with an extravagant fete unseen since the Barack Obama inaugural balls. Over 500 invitees, including a few White House staffers, partied in the American capital’s hottest new hotel.

Locals surely could not miss where party central was that night. Awash in purple lights, the hotel glaringly stood out at its address in 515 15th Street.

Outside the building, a carpet of the same color rolled out for the stellar guests. Presidential speechwriter Cody Keenen walked the purple carpet, along with Obama Presidential Aide Reggie Love; Associate Social Secretary Samantha Tubman; POTUS Secretary Katie Johnson; and Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass.

Also in the District of Columbia that night were Hollywood actors Emmy Rossum, Tatyana Ali and Anthony Mackie. They breathed the same air as ambassadors (Stuart Holliday, Gilles Noghès), lobbyists (Jack Quinn, Lyndon Boozer) and many other politicos.

One serious time warp ushered guests inside. Men and women, dressed in 18th century costumes, were paid to traipse around the party.

For his part, W Hotel’s resident restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten cloyed attendees with bite-sized burgers, spring rolls, mini chicken samosas, oysters on half shells, and crab fritters. From the open bar, guests could guzzle mojitos, Circoc vodka cocktails, and other tippler’s delights.

So many sports deities came to savor these treats. Wizards DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood were spotted at the party, and so were Capitol’s Jose Theodore, Brooks Laich, and Nicklas Backstrom. Blue Mercury founders Barry Jon Beck and Marla Malcolm Beck also came to party.

Grammy-winning artist John Legend served as the musical guest. In a rare feat for a party entertainer, the “Ordinary People” singer managed to play for nearly an hour.

Here is a recipe we found online that would be a great addition to YOUR exclusive party.

Bacardi Coconut Eggnog Pie.

Essentials:

9 inch pie pan

Large mixing bowl

Electric mixer

4 cups flaked coconut

1/3 cup butter, melted ( substitute margarine )

2 pkgs (4-serving size)vanilla instant pudding and pie filling

1-1/4 cups milk

½ cup good quality rum, such as Bacardi

1/8 tsp nutmeg

3-1/2 cups whipped topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300

Combine 2-2/3 cups of the coconut with butter. Press evenly into ungreased pan.

Bake at 300 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown (This will depend on your oven temperature.). Set aside to cool.

Combine pudding mix, milk, rum and nutmeg in bowl. Beat at lowest speed of electric mixer for 1 minute.

Fold in whipped topping and 2/3 cup of the coconut. Spoon into shell. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Chill at least 2 hours.

For more holiday Bacardi recipes, such as Rum Cake and cocktails, go here.

Country superstar Taylor Swift, 19, and the late King of Pop Michael Jackson were among the big winners at Sunday night’s American Music Awards.

Swift won five awards including Artist of the Year, while Jackson was honored with four. Swift walked away with Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

Jackson was named Favorite Male Artist.

See great photos of the event here.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show will be broadcast Dec. 1, 2009. Heidi Klum, of course, led the parade with her post-baby body at the annual event Thursday, Nov. 19.

Klum gave birth five weeks ago to a daughter.

Here is a slideshow of the girls preparing for the taping.

See more pictures and coverage here.

Outfits were centered around four themes that included Star Trooper, Pink Planet, Enchanted Forest and Romantic Journey.

London Fashion Week ran its course in 2009 with a bang. A day before it concluded, British luxury brand Burberry put on a homecoming fashion show to top all others.

Burberry—which had chosen to mount its shows in Milan for the last eight years—was home in London on Sept. 22. Such message resonated well among stars and socialites, many of whom had come from both sides of the Atlantic to see the show.

Burberry’s return to UK was enough to induce frisson among the U.S.’ fashion-forward British expatriates. American Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour led uprooted countrymen—like Harry Potter witch Emma Watson, Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and New York-based model Agyness Deyn—back to their motherland for the rare engagement.

Showcased in the show was Burberry’s highly anticipated spring/summer 2010 Prorsum collection. Chief designer Christopher Bailey commanded everyone’s attention with show-stopping pieces, including stylized revisions of the brand’s iconic trench coat.

More than 1,000 guests saw the show, which was timed with London Fashion Week’s 25th anniversary. Lucky witnesses included the editors of French Vogue and American Harper’s Bazaar, Carine Roitfeld and Glenda Bailey, respectively. Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Erin O’Connor, and Hannah Marshall also viewed the collection.

Yankee fashionistas like Mary-Kate Olsen and Liv Tyler jetted to the English capital especially for the event. Gwyneth Paltrow, one of Britain’s famous American expats, was another estimable presence, along with UK-bred aristocrats Sir Philip Green, Lady Victoria Hervey, Lord Peter Mandelson, and Samantha Cameron. Read more here.

Once silver confetti poured unto the catwalks in the Chelsea College of Art & Design, attendees moved to Horseferry House, Burberry’s new London headquarters. Inside, Bailey and company had cooked up a party for the ages.

One of the first things that greeted guests, which included movie magnate Harvey Weinstein and photographer Mario Testino, was a high-tech light show in the atrium. Nearby, somewhere in the ground floor, online terminals invited guests to update their Twitter and Facebook statuses.

There were other diversions as well. Burberry had tapped The Kooks for entertainment, but others could dance to tunes by amateur DJs Agyness Deyn and MTV hostess Alexa Chung. Meanwhile, everyone had Snow Leopard cocktails and Moët champagnes.

Future movie megastars and pop icons bonded together for Teen Vogue’s 7th Annual Young Hollywood Party at the Milk Studios in Los Angeles.

No one in attendance at the Sept. 25 soiree was more successful than Nicole Kidman or Britney Spears. But the promise and vigor of youth was clearly on their side. On that evening, 400 precocious faces from film, TV, music and fashion congregated for a night of music and margaritas.

Supervised by Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief Amy Astley, the starlet-studded crowd included a few superstar seeds or so. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis’ youngest daughter Tallulah Belle was there. So was Kelly Osbourne, who came with model-boyfriend Luke Worrall.

No Young Hollywood Party would be complete without Disney Channel celebrities. The bash was attended by High School Musical alumna Ashley Tisdale and Wizards of Waverly Place’s Selena Gomez. In the same way, Miranda Cosgrove held Nickelodeon’s banner high.

Leighton Meester and Blake Lively weren’t around but their 90210 counterparts AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Stroup and Jessica Lowndes came in full force. “Leavin’” singer Jesse McCartney also attended.

Like last year, the 7th Young Hollywood Party vaunted a Twilight actor. Fresh from shooting Eclipse in Canada, Taylor Lautner became one of the party’s strongest chick magnets, attracting the likes of Kiki Palmer and Lily Collins. Even the party’s pretty models were glued to the onscreen werewolf.

Those models were more or less part of the D&G entourage, which sparked off the party with a fashion show. After their show, the Noisettes invaded the stage and put such names as Aly Michalka, Andrea Bowen, Asher Brook, Ashley Benson, Bobby Campo, Brittany Curran, Camille Winbush, Sterling Knight, Taylor Spreitler, Teresa Palmer, Tyler James Williams, Vanessa Lengies, Victoria Justice, Willa Holland, and Zoe Myers on the dancefloor.

Vanity was the order of Simon Cowell’s £1 million birthday party on Oct. 3, 2009. The famed American Idol judge, who officially turned 50, spent the night testing the limits of bacchanalian gatherings.

Topshop owner Philip Green teamed with party organizers Banana Split to give Cowell a cheekily narcissistic milestone. Subsequently, 30-foot laser projections of Cowell’s likeness welcomed invitees like Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Kevin Spacey to the venue in Hertfordshire. His image was ubiquitous even in the toilets, where aquariums showed off infant sharks.

Some of Cowell’s 400 well-wishers included his cohorts at shows American Idol and X Factor. Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson were present, and so were Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue. David Hasselhoff of America’s Got Talent also attended, as did Kara DioGuardi, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.

Even former judges, American Idol’s Paula Abdul and X Factor’s Sharon Osbourne, came to greet Cowell.

Waiters — wearing Simon Cowell masks — served guests with fish fingers and shepherd’s pie, among many others. Over the chicken soup, alphabet spaghetti spelt out “Simon.” Cristal champagne flowed freely the whole night long.

Nevertheless, Cowell spread enough limelight to showcase entertainers Westlife, Leona Lewis and Earth, Wind and Fire. Cowell, a huge Frank Sinatra fan, was treated to Rat Pack impersonators and a life-size hologram of his idol singing “New York, New York.”

Serving as the party center for all these was Wrotham Park, an opulent 18th century manor. Ferried to the mansion, aboard £50,000 worth of hired limousines, were such names as Olivia Newton-John, Gordon Ramsay, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss. Three of Simon’s ex-lovers, Sinitta, Terri Seymour and Jackie St Claire, also attended.

Other well-wishers included Simon Fuller, Michael Grade, Myleene Klass, Paul Potts, Shayne Ward, Dermot O’Leary, and Nick and Christian Candy.

Mariah Carey, a visibly absent invitee, had an £850 bottle of Angel champagne delivered to Cowell’s table, where his mother Julie had a seat of honor. Others just played around the night’s theme, bringing him mirrors for gifts.

Simon received a £25,000 Dent watch from his brother Nicholas and an £80,000 microscopic sculpture of Frank Sinatra from publicist Max Clifford. Frank Sinatra’s family even gave Simon some of the late singer’s prized belongings. Other guests chose to donate to Cowell’s pet nonprofits.