Thursday, March 11, 2010

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"Benjamin Netanyahu accidentally broke the glass on Tuesday, but that was just the beginning -- and only the lesser Israeli disaster in a day that marked a new low point for Netanyahu's rocky relationship with the current U.S. administration. The Israeli prime minister's team prepared a symbolic gift for visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden: a framed document announcing that several trees were planted in Jerusalem in memory of Biden's mother, a loyal supporter of Israel. But Netanyahu leaned on the present by mistake and shattered the glass frame. 'I have one thing to offer you right now, and it's broken glass,' the prime minister said, trying to improvise a joke during a joint news conference. It got worse. Biden arrived in Israel, the third and most-senior U.S. official to do so in less than three weeks, mainly to talk about Iran. President Barack Obama's administration is worried that Israel might interfere with the U.S. plan to initiate international sanctions against the regime in Tehran by launching a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. But apart from issuing restraining orders against Israeli F-16s, the Americans were also hoping to show progress on the Palestinian track. After many attempts, and many mistakes, it seemed by early March that both sides were willing to resume negotiations, though indirectly, mediated by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell. This was hardly a cause for celebration because everybody involved in the talks assumes there is only a slight chance of significant achievement in the near future. Yet Netanyahu managed to ruin even that." (Foreignpolicy)



"Sumner Redstone has been sharing almost as many meals with Tom Cruise as he has with his girlfriend Christine Peters, and now all three are dining together. The Viacom/CBS boss broke up with Peters shortly before he married Paula Fortunato in 2002, and fired Cruise after he jumped on Oprah Winfrey's couch in 2006. But now Peters is dating Redstone again since his divorce last year, and Cruise will star in 'Mission: Impossible 4' for Redstone's Paramount. The three dined last week at Il Piccolino in Beverly Hills. Maybe a new project is in the works under Peters' banner, CFP Productions, which had a big hit with 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.'" (PageSix)



"When I got to Soho House I ran right into a trio of socialites and wannabe celebrities being photographed. My first instinct was to turn around and walk out. Instead I sat down and watched the room full of fashionites mingle before the show. I couldn’t help but notice how many women were carrying enormous handbags. I wondered what they could possibly need to require such humongous 'purses.' Were they all Avon ladies toting merchandise for sale? Surely none of them contained any works of fiction, encyclopedias, life-saving equipment, or even gym clothes. So what is it with these bags that are not dinky purses but carry-ons that could only ever be filled by someone taking a long-distance trip? I suppose Birkins are a status symbol no fashionable person wants to live without. Every so-called stylish woman has one. But who are we kidding, Birkins are an obnoxious display of wealth, which is neither stylish nor elegant." (Mandolyna Theodoracopulos)



"Maastricht, the Netherlands. Very cold here and quite surprising after leaving the early Spring-like temperatures of New York. Our flight left New York at about 10:30 pm on Tuesday night, arriving in Amsterdam late morning on Wednesday. By the time we arrived at our hotel in Maastricht it was close to three in the afternoon (9 am New York time) sleepless. Despite the fact that I am never enthusiastic about the idea of traveling (leaving my dogs especially) I do look forward to this trip because the Fair is extraordinary, and the city of Maastricht gives the American traveler a most charming and alluring look at what we think of as European." (NYSD)



"Meanwhile, over at the annual Vanity Fair after-party, the winners were arriving for their victory lap, golden new additions in tow. Don't feel too sorry for the empty-handed—they got the consolation of wearing gorgeous new dresses for the evening's second act. The hems got higher, naturally: Nominee Anna Kendrick traded in her blush pink Elie Saab Haute Couture from the ceremony for a shorter, white Saab confection, and presenter Amanda Seyfried swapped her Armani PrivĂ© for cocktail-length Valentino Haute Couture. VF draws from ranks wider than just Hollywood, and Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, figure skater Evan Lysacek (with his ardent admirer and costume designer, Vera Wang), and snowboarder Shaun White were on hand to hobnob, too. The Flying Tomato was still celebrating his own victory—on the slopes of Vancouver, not the stages of the Kodak—with a patriotic outfit of red, white, and blue." (Style)



"Elle! Bar! Laetitia! Adriana! Alessandra! Karolina! It’s safe to say that the Fall 2010 Louis Vuitton spectacle wasn’t about the front row at all; rather, it was about an all-star cast of supermodels who flew from practically every inch of the world to be part of the Marc Jacobs extravaganza. The show started at 2:30, as promised, and guests included Corinne Bailey Rae, Natalia Vodianova (the only super in the house not walking), Alexa Chung, Robert Duffy, Pixie Geldof, and Daisy Lowe." (Fashionweekdaily)



"Gstaad. A lovely liquid lunch in a mountain hut with my friend Nicola Anouilh after two hard runs. Blue skies, gentle winds, a few puffs of white cloud, and the sound of bells from the nearby cow shed. If there’s a better way of communing with nature, I haven’t come across it yet. The natural beauty of the Alps is unspoiled and majestically alluring. White wine helps one dream and feel at peace with the world, until, that is, we’re back on skis and losing altitude fast. The bumps come up fast and in a blur, and turning uphill in order to avoid them one feels he’s about to ski off a crest and into the valley couple of miles below. But it’s only the wine doing its work on one’s head and legs. Weaving through the pine trees toward the bottom, past wooden huts and beginner skiers, we finally reach the parking lot—as unromantic a finish after the stupendous scenery as I can think of." (Takimag)



"'It’s like every kid is cuter than the last!' one guest exclaimed last night during The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s 19th Annual Bunny Hop. The beloved Fifth Avenue FAO Schwarz was transformed into a fantasy carnival land, attracting children and adults alike including Melania Trump, Kelly Rutherford and Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss. Sponsored by Papo D’Anjo, all proceeds from the evening will benefit the Pediatric Family Housing Endowment. The springtime celebration fell fittingly on one of the warmest days of the year so far, getting everyone into the spirit. A firm supporter, Tina Fey served as the honorary chair. She laughed and motioned towards her Derek Lam frock, 'I didn’t have the guts to go bare legged. I thought, it’s almost spring! Then I thought, nope, too pale.'" (Fashionweekdaily)

No comments: