Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hollywood gathers to raise funds and awareness for Greek NGO, PRAKSIS


October 10, 2013, Los Angeles, CA— On Wednesday October 9th2013, the Philhellenes Fundraiser for Praksis took place at Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel. Hollywood’s “Philhellenes” (a Greek word used to describe ‘admirers of Greece’), came out to support and raise awareness as well as much needed funds for Greek NGO PRAKSIS, which is dedicated to assisting the homeless in Greece, among its many humanitarian focused programs. The main goal for PRAKSIS is to combat the social and economic exclusion of socially vulnerable groups, and to defend their basic civil and social rights. Statistics show that 2 out of 3 Greek households have an annual income lower than 18,000 euros and that currently, 31% of the Greek population is facing the skirts of poverty and social exclusion. PRAKSIS NGO activates all across Greece, not only in the two major urban centers of Athens and Thessaloniki, but also on the island of Lesbos and in the area of Patras as well as in the borders of Greece.

Event Producer Jane Owen was raised in Greece by her Greek mother Catherine Adrianopoulos. She addressed the crowd at the event, telling guests that she felt "it was important for every Greek to give back and support Greece in its time of need". Jane then introduced PRAKSIS Fundraising Director Marie Halaka who gave a moving speech, informing the crowd of the severe Human impact that the crisis in Greece has caused. The current crisis has forced 80% of Greeks to cut back on basic commodities and goods, whilst 1 out of 3 Greek children are currently growing up in households that are living below the poverty line.

The food and drinks for the event were kindly donated by Petros Restaurant, Jimmy Christos (Three Sisters Catering), William Stavropoulos (Sage Beverages), and Mani Imports, and flowers were provided by David Z. of MyBeverlyHillsFlorist.com, andGreekInternationalMarket.com. Silent auction items were donated by the following charitable sponsors: the Hyperion Media Group, Ulysses Voyage Restaurant, Hale Bob Clothing, Rossano Ferreti Hair Salon, Allison Davies Jewelry Designs, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, Serendipity Patmos, Onor Mani, Capri Villas,Locccations.com, Aesara Villa Mykonos, MARE e VISTA Epaminondas hotel Exofab, Mumble Jumble, Kalon Skincare, Ali Larter and Tracy Zahoryin, Variety Cruises, Love Greece Clothing and the LA Lakers.

The guestlist consisted of celebrities and royalty which included Her Majesty The Queen of the Hellenes Anne-Marie of Greece and HRH Princess Theodora of Greece, Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), George Kotsiopoulos (Fashion Police), Ellen Hollman (Spartacus), Antoinette Kalaj (Riddick), Anna Wilding (Buddah), Gianni Capaldi (Blood of Redemption), Ashley Palmer (Paranormal Activity), Branca Ferrazo (Petunia), Max Ryan (Sex and the City 2), Alyssandra Snows (Miss Germany 2003), Saye Yabandeh (5th & Alameda), Jus Riddick (Actor/Comedian), Laura Bryna (Recording Artist), and Sofia Milos (CSI Miami). Many of the attendees were of Greek origin and have strong ties to this organization, and others were there to offer their donations and support to the cause.

Many celebrities have pledged their support to PRAKSIS and this specific cause such as Olympia Dukakis, Melina Kanakaredes, Maria Menounos and Cat Cora who are already starting social media outreach and will be continuing their support for the future.

Her Majesty The Queen of the Hellenes Anne-Marie of Greece and HRH Princess Theodora of Greece said "We were delighted to attend such a wonderful event for such a worthy cause, and we hope more light can be shed on the issues that so many Greeks are having to face at the moment."

This is the first of many events planned in the future, intending to unite West Coast Greeks and “Philhellenes” to the common goal of supporting all Greeks effected and suffering due to the financial crisis. Donations of 4$ and more to support PRAKSIS specific antipoverty program against homeless are possible via credit card through: https://www.ammado.com/nonprofit/praksis. The success of this event has already triggered the interest of many sponsors, influencers and international brands that would like to link their activities to such an honorable cause. 




Songs of Hope for the Somaly Mam Foundation at Warwick


Sponsored by Belvedere, Red O Restaurant, Tagine Restaurant, Pet Head and The One Group
Los Angeles, CA - Special guest CNN Woman of the Year Somaly Mam was honored at charity gala and musical event Songs of Hope on Thursday, October 17th at new Hollywood lounge Warwick.
The event benefitted the Somaly Mam Foundation, a nonprofit charity committed to ending the horror of modern slavery and empowering its survivors. Various artists including Dez Duron, Diego Val and George Bajon, Jr., of Sons of Mariel and Lili Haydn performed renditions of their favorite inspiring songs in an intimate, press-free setting to help support the movement against the multi-million dollar human trafficking industry.
Somaly Mam, a human trafficking survivor herself, shared her personal story in a moving address, detailing her experiences as a sex slave and her ambition to bring empowerment to other survivors. Her dedication to rescuing women and children in Southeast Asia from exploitation and assisting them on their journey to heath, hope and economic independence inspired guests to donate to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
Among the key supporters attending the event were Kat Graham, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Russell Simmons and Matthew Morrison. Jessica Sczohr and Ed Westwick arrived separately to share their support for the Somaly Mam Foundation, and Emile Hirsch was spotted at event later in the evening.
Guests enjoyed appetizers courtesy of RED O Restaurant and Tagine Restaurant as well as cocktails made with Belvedere premium vodka. Silent auction items donated were vintage limited edition Havila cup set, original Marc Jacobs handbag, signed Jack Nicholson merchandise and tennis lessons with former tennis professional Mark Philippoussis.
Guests included: Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage), Russell Simmons (Def Jam), Matthew Morrison (Glee), Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries), Lyndsy Fonseca (Nikita), Serinda Swan (TRON: Legacy), Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), Jessica Sczohr (Gossip Girl), Emile Hirsch (Lords of Dogtown), Marianne Jean Baptiste (Academy Award nominee, Secrets & Lies), Zelda Williams(actress), Cassie Scerbo (Bring It On), Cara Santana (actress), Dawn Olivieri (whatever), Dez Duron (singer), Chloe Flower (violinist), Lindsay Huan (actress), Diego Val (vocalist for Sons of Mariel) and George Bajon, Jr. (guitarist for Sons of Mariel), and Lili Haydn (violinist/vocalist).

Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Salute to Old Hollywood – The Launch of Britweek 2013


Wednesday, April 24, Los Angeles, CA – Last night the Britweek Board of Directors hosted an elegant evening, A Salute to Old Hollywood Party to celebrate the launch of BritWeek 2013.

The red carpet at the private residence of the British Consul General of Los Angeles, Dame Barbara Hay, hosted an impressive range of special guests including two former James Bonds', Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby, Mischa Barton, Louise Roe,  Nigel Lythgoe and The American Idol Finalists, Lisa Vanderpump, Bruno Tonioli, Laura Pulver, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Jason Isaacs, Julian Sands and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa.

Another star of the kickoff event was the debut of the Jaguar F-Type, which was stunningly displayed on the British flag themed red carpet. Celebrities and guests were able to take photos against the backdrop of the gleaming new model Jaguar.

Guests mingled over hor d'oeuvres such as fish and chips provided by Fig at Fairmont Miramar Hotel and sipped Broker’s Gin cocktails served in Wedgwood teacups. Old Hollywood style art deco décor inspired attendees as they captured memories in the Boots photo booth with fun props. Partygoers also enjoyed dancing to a 1920’s-esque live band to kick off the two weeks of festivities celebrating creative fusion between the United Kingdom and California. 

The event was sponsored by Wedgwood, Jaguar, BBC Worldwide Productions and Boots.

Attendees included: Timothy Dalton (James Bond), George Lazenby (James Bond; On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Maxwell Caulfield (Empire Records), Juliet Mills (Passions), Mischa Barton (The OC), Lisa Vanderpump (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Lady Victoria Harvey (Socialite), Andrew Howard (Limitless), Martyn Lawrence Bullard (Million Dollar Decorators), Judi Shekoni (Twilight), Samantha Mumba (Grammy Award Winning Singer), Angie Miller (American Idol), Vinnie Jones (Snatch), Tony Curran (Gladiator), Amber Holcomb (American Idol), Candice Glover (American Idol), Ian Callum (Jaguar - Director of Design), Judge Alex, Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead), Sir Ken Robinson (Author), Ken Todd (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Kree Harrison (American Idol), Lara Pulver (Da Vinci's Demons), Razza Jaffry (Smash), Lord Frederick Windsor (British Royal Family), Mark 'Rhino' Smith (Gladiators), Michael Greco (EastEnders), Patrick Muldoon (Days of our Lives), Rhea Bailey (The Mentalist), Sarah Essex (Luster), Sean Yazbeck (The Apprentice), Sebastian Knapp (The Bible), Nigel Lythgoe (American Idol & SYTYCD Producer and BritWeek Co-Founder), Julian Sands (Room with a View), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Downtown Julie Brown (Actress), Skeet Ulrich (Law and Order), Tony Curran (Gladiator), Vijay Amritraj (Sports Commentator), Will Kemp (Step-Up 2), Xander Berkeley (24), Antonio Villaraigosa (Mayor of Los Angeles), Gary Love (London's Burning), Sophie Winkleman (Two and a Half Men), Louise Roe (Fashion Star), Bob Peirce (Britweek Founding Director), Sharon Harroun Peirce (Britweek Founding Director) and other Britweek committee and board members.

BritWeek is a non–profit organization that hosts a program of events every Spring to promote British creativity, innovation and excellence across multiple categories including, film & television, music, art, fashion, design, retail, sport, philanthropy, business, and more.   The events take place throughout Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, and now also Miami!  For more information visit www.britweek.org


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Fire & Ice Gala hosted by Candy Ice Jewelry


Last Thursday (March 28th), Candy Ice Jewelry hosted the Fire and Ice gala at the Lexington Social House in Hollywood benefiting Fresh2o, a UK based charity that raises funds to provide access to fresh water by building water wells in struggling communities globally.

Special guests of the gala included Vivica Fox, Audrina Patridge, Ellen Hollman and Stephen Dunlevy from Spartacus, Briana Evigan, Nadia Bjorlin, Singer Laura Bryna and Mischa Barton.

Guests were able to preview the sparkling one-of-a-kind pieces by Candy Ice Jewelry, magnificently displayed in a beautiful white cabinet in the center of the main room. This fine jewelry line has been worn on the red carpet by many top celebrities, including Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton, among others. Stars flock to designer Lucy Kilislian’s glamorous creations for their beauty and functionality. Candy Ice Jewelry features a unique blend of interchangeable charms consisting of different shapes, colors, and sizes, allowing Kilislian to build jewelry on the spot, for any client.

Celebrity DJ Brynn Taylor got the party going with high energy mash-ups  next to an amazing interactive game created specifically for the event by media artist Esteban Rey. Partygoers delighted in being able to move pink fire and water and fling diamonds from their fingers through images displayed on the walls.

Additionally guests enjoyed pink cocktails made with ginger flavored Yazi vodka and a massive candy display by Hollywood Candy Girls. Guests seeking treats made themselves goody bags to take home filled with gourmet candy of all kinds.

Because everyone likes to arrive in style, motorbike driven carriages from Seven Wheel Wonders were on site to bring guests to and from the event with both an Old Hollywood style carriage and a black winged vampire inspired carriage. Handsome men in tuxedos helped guests in and out of the seats and took them on city rides around Hollywood.

Fresh2o have yet to announce how many water wells they are now able to build with the proceeds from the night but we have been told it is at least five named for the celebrities who supported them including Vivica Fox, Mischa Barton, Ellen Hollman, Briana Evigan and Audrina Patridge!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Joni Mitchell attends "Interior Stories" Alexander Yulish's Art Show Opening in Los Angeles produced by Jane Owen PR at Gallery Brown LA

Joni Mitchell, Rory Cochrane (Argo), Sammi Rotibi (Django) and Eric Balfour were amongst guests at "Interior Stories" Alexander Yulish Art Show Opening in Los Angeles on Saturday at Gallery Brown in West Hollywood

New York native, Alexander Yulish unveiled his new art exhibition ‘Interior Stories’, about intimacy and the molding of real-time emotion at a private event held Sat Jan 19th at Gallery Brown on Orlando Avenue in West Hollywood. Alexander's work, which has been described by many as a combination of Marc Chagall and Francis Bacon, has become a hot commodity amongst the 'Who's Who' of both the serious art collectors and Hollywood Celebrities with an eye for the Arts.


DOMINGO ZAPATA UNVEILS DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS FOR ART BASEL AT HYDE BEACH AT SLS HOTEL SOUTH BEACH


Miami, Florida —On Friday, December 7th, 2012 at The Hyde Beach at SLS Hotel South Beach, located at 1701 Collins Ave, in Miami, internationally established artist Domingo Zapata, will be showcasing his new digital art installation, “The Love of My Life is in Paris,” at the oceanfront beach retreat. From 10:00pm to 1:00am, The SLS Hyde South Beach will unveil a display of 20 flat screen TVs, of Zapata’s digital paintings, as well as a heard of life size tiger sculptures and projection installation. This event will be the culmination of an incredible year of work for Zapata, who has made headline news around the globe.

The Hyde Beach at SLS Hotel South Beach opened in June 2012, and is the last historic Art Deco building of its kind on coveted Collins Avenue. The exclusive roster of The SLS Hotel’s partners includes Philippe Starck and Chef Jose Andres, along with key collaborators Lenny Kravitz and Chef Katsuya Yechi.

Not only will guests enjoy the oceanfront beach getaway, but also they will be able to enjoy the digital paintings while enjoying music by DJ CASH and DJ KATZ. Before the big event, Ferrari, Hublot Boutique, and Haute Living will be hosting a dinner for Zapata and VIPs.

Also featured in the night will be an introduction of the work of artist Livia Romide Vaccaro, as well artist Jordi Molla.

Zapata, who is represented by HUS Gallery, is a visual artist who the New York Post just named, “The New Andy Warhol.” His captivating style has attracted the world’s most prestigious collectors, including, George Soros, Johnny Depp, the Chazen Family, the Cipriani Group, and Joel Robuchon, amongst others. Zapata’s sold out show, “Dangerous Things,” held at the Delano Hotel during last year’s Art Basel Miami, attracted over 1,000 people eager to celebrate his works.

In October 2012, Zapata unveiled his Gotham-Themed mixed medium collages with source materials obtained from the streets of New York City. Zapata has been supported by many, including Sofia Vergara, Eva Longoria, Jason Segel, Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, and Stephen Dorff, to name a few.

Zapata’s show at The Hyde Beach at SLS Hotel South Beach will be the biggest of his events at Art Basel and will surprise and delight consumers and critics alike. The theme of Zapata’s show will remain a mystery until the event however as always Zapata is sure to break his boundaries within the exciting new medium of digital art in his uniquely fun and trendsetting way.

Zapata will be teaming up with the The Premiere Motor Sports Private Club in the United States, Monticello Motor Club for the night. Also sponsoring the evening is Hublot Boutique, who has had artistic achievement with their unusual lines, sharp angles, and the mysterious cut of diamonds in their watches. Haute Time, a media group that operates HauteTime.com and Haute Time State of Mind, will also be teaming up with Zapata and The SLS Hotel South Beach.

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90210 Stars Tiffany Hines and Tristan Wilds host ‘Toys for Tots’ Fundraiser


Christmas was in the air at the Lexington Social House in Hollywood on Saturday night for the Toys for Tots fundraiser, "Under the Mistletoe" produced by Jane Owen PR and hosted by 90210 stars Tiffany Hines and Tristan Wilds. The event was attended by a variety of celebrity guests including The Blind Side’s Quinton Aaron, Precious star Chyna Layne, Girlfriends actress Jill Marie Jones, producer Printz Board, Lab Rat’s Spencer Boldman among others.

The night kicked off with music by DJ Brynn Taylor as guests placed their gifts under the twinkling Christmas tree, bringing over 200 toys for children in need.

This message of hope and holiday fever was in full force with guests wearing appropriately themed colors while Tiffany Hines stole the show in a bold, flowing red dress. Tristan Wilds entered fashionably late carrying armfuls of toys for the children.

Guests enjoyed signature cocktails provided by Chivas and a percentage of proceeds made by the Lexington Social House benefitted Toys for Tots.  Sweet! Hollywood provided a beautiful candy display and guests indulged their sweet tooth like children. 

The ‘Toys for Tots’ Foundation is committed to helping children in less fortunate communities throughout America. To find out more about how you can contribute visit www.toysfortots.org







Photo Credits: Vivien Killea

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