academy awards

'Black Swan' Good for Ballet Ticket Sales

Filed under: Events

Darren Aronofsky's hit film, "Black Swan," may do more for the arts than earn Natalie Portman a slew of best-actress awards. It may in fact have helped to boost professional dance companies - at least the ones performing the ballet "Swan Lake," which the film is centered around.

To prepare for the film, Portman trained with former New York City Ballet dancer Mary Helen Bowers. That company performs "Swan Lake" each year and this year its two-week run (which will end on Saturday, Feb. 26) sold extremely well, according to City Ballet spokesman Rob Daniels. The company sold out tickets to all nine of its performances in the 2,500-seat David A. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center.

Tags: academy awards, ballet, city ballet, culture, dance, film, natalie portman, new york city ballet, oscars, oscars 2011

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Academy Awards-Inspired Cocktails from Grey Goose

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

Academy Awards-Inspired Cocktails from Grey Goose

Grey Goose, the super-premium vodka blended and bottled in the celebrated Cognac region of Western France, has come up with some entertaining cocktails inspired by this year's Best Picture nominees at the Academy Awards (aka the Oscars). The drinks have been cleverly concocted to reflect the films for which they're named and the stars themselves – don't orchids remind you of Natalie Portman? Bottoms up and may the best man win....:

Tags: Academy Awards, Academy Awards 2011, Black Swan, cocktails, entertainment, Grey Goose, movies, Natalie Portman, Oscars, Oscars 2011, Social Network, The Kings Speech, vodka

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Vivienne Westwood Red Label Show and Collaboration with Chivas Regal Unveiled (exclusive with video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Design

Vivienne Westwood is a busy Dame. Dame Vivienne, that is. The iconic London-based fashion designer is one of the rare few who shows her collections in various cities, including Milan, London and Paris. When Luxist had the opportunity to experience her work up-close on Sunday evening when she unveiled her Red Label Fall/Winter 2011 collection, it was on the third day of London Fashion Week. Earlier that day, her Austrian-born husband, Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne Westwood's Creative Director, noted, they did a fitting with Helena Bonham Carter for the Academy Awards. A busy day, indeed.

Vivienne West's show was larger than life (see video below). It was presented at the grand Royal Courts of Justice at London's Strand, a gothic cathedral-like setting that was befitting for a designer of Dame Vivienne's stature. The inspiration behind her "Red Label" collection show was Lewis Carroll's "Alice through the looking glass" which evoked a feeling of British society and change. Models wore tartan prints, dresses with mis-matched seams, fantastic oversized hats (designed by Prudence Millinery, some were crowns), over-the-top makeup (including gold-painted faces) and hair styles that seemed to defy gravity. A video of the entire show can be seen on Vivienne Westwood's website.

Bold face names at the show included Jo Wood (ex-wife of Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood), singer Paloma Faith, Boy George, former tenns pro Boris Becker, Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, and contemporary artist Tracy Emin. All were wowed by the show which was as magnificient a production as the Red Label Collection itself. "I am a big fan of Vivienne's, so I enjoyed the show," Nick Rhodes told Luxist backstage after the show. "She always has a few surprises. She is remarkably good at cutting things. So it has always reminds me of the Japanese, but I think they took it from Vivienne. I thought some of things were really exquisitely beautiful. There was one skirt and blouse toward the end that was quite classical. It was a black skirt with a white blouse that I thought was just exquisite---beautiful."

Former pro tennis player Boris Becker was equally impressed with the collection. "I thought, as always, she was spectacular with the different designs and the makeup--one girl was golden," Becker told Luxist. "Her creativity never stops. The Royal Court of Justice is a unique location with a very long runway. The girls did have to walk a long time, but nobody faulted and everyone did a good job."

Gallery: Vivienne Westwood's Red Label Fall 2011 Collection

Vivienne Westwood Red Label Collection Fall/Winter 2011

Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran backstage at the Vivienne Westwood Red Label Collection show

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old by Vivienne Westwood

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The Chatwal's $18,000 Ultimate Academy Awards Party Package

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

What better place to celebrate the 83rd annual Academy Awards than at New York City's luxury hotel The Chatwal? (Well, aside from being on the red carpet in Los Angeles, of course.)

Help recreate the glittering sophistication and glamour of yesteryear with their newest over-the-top offering, a weekend long experience and Oscar-night party for up to ten guests.

The Oscar Party Package starts at $18,000 per couple and includes:

Tags: academy awards, lambs club, new york city, oscars, the chatwal

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Oscar-Nominated Costumes On Display in Los Angeles

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

It's an annual tradition in Los Angeles. At the start of the year, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles showcases costumes from movies shown during the previous year. This year's display, the 19th annual event, puts on display actual costumes from over 20 movies from 2010, some of which have been nominated for an Academy Award. Shown above are the costumes designed by Mary Zophes, from the film "True Grit." The AP reports that Zophres spent months researching to get the look right for the characters living in 1860s Arkansas. New clothing was faux-aged to appear well-worn.

There are a total of nearly 100 costumes on display, many worn by the lead actors in the films. Although it was assembled before the Academy Award nominations were announced, the exhibit includes four of the five Oscar nominees for costume design. The exhibition is free to the public and will be open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. from now through April 30.

Tags: Academy Awards, Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising, Fidm, Oscars, Osx, True Grit

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Luxist Giveaway: Win A Redbox Oscars Viewing Party Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

After the Academy Awards nominations are announced there's often a scramble to see all the movies nominated. In the past that would mean plenty of trips to the movie theater but these days more and more of us are doing our at least part of our pre-Oscars prepwork at home.

Redbox wants to help. They are offering one lucky reader an exclusive Oscar viewing party in advance of the Academy Awards. To prepare you to cheer on your favorites on the big night, the redbox viewing party includes a Sony Blu-ray player, Hollywood decorations so that your home is outfitted in style, Orville Redenbacher popcorn to munch on, 10 free redbox rentals and10 Oscar nominated films (The Social Network, The Kids Are All Right, Winter's Bone, Restrepo, Animal Kingdom, The Town, Inception, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon and Toy Story 3). The prize pack has a total value of $352.49.

Everyone can play beat the critics with the Redbox Movie Awards game. Login your picks on Facebook and go up against film critic Richard Roeper and Entertainment Weekly Critic David Karger. You can make predictions and should you prove victorious, show off your prowess with the "I Beat Richard Roeper" badge. Thousands of redbox at-home film critics already weighed in on the nominees for the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes earlier this month, with hundreds correctly predicting more winners than famed Chicago Sun-Times movie critic, Richard Roeper. Those who do not win a redbox Oscar viewing party can visit one of redbox's 26,000+ locations to rent titles featuring nominated actors, actresses, directors and films for only $1 per night.

What movie is on your must-see list before Oscars Sunday? Let us know in the comments to be entered into this giveaway.

* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed on February 21, 2010 before 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a redbox viewing party including a Sony Blu-ray player, Hollywood decorations, Orville Redenbacher popcorn, 10 free redbox rentals and 10 Oscar nominated films with a total value of $352.49.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

See complete giveaway rules here.

This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Tags: academy awards, luxist giveaway, oscars, redbox

Wolfgang Puck's 2011 Governor's Ball Menu For The Academy Awards

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

Some things the Academy Awards like to shake up (changes in hosting for example) but in other areas, well, you don't mess with tradition. For the 17th consecutive year, master chef Wolfgang Puck has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create the menu for the Governors Ball, the annual celebration immediately following the Oscars.

Celebrating the past, present and future of the industry and the Academy, the Governors Ball is always an unforgettable experience," said Puck. "Our goal each year is to honor Hollywood's brightest stars and most accomplished artists with a culinary masterpiece. Only the finest ingredients and flavors will do." Wolfgang Puck Catering will serve the Academy's 1,500 Ball guests, which will include winners, nominees, presenters and telecast participants.

The 2011 menu created by Puck and chef Matt Bencivenga is inspired by Latin flavors, from classic paella to coastal seafood, along with signature favorites such as smoked salmon Oscars and pastry chef Sherry Yard's gold-dusted chocolate Oscars. Puck is shown above with an entree of Dover sole with fennel, olives, tomatoes and haricot vert is a sauce of lemon, olive oil and Sherry.

Tags: academy awards, governors ball, oscars, wolfgang puck

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Florence + The Machine To Play Elton John's Oscar Party

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Sir Elton John has announced the line-up for his 19th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. The party will be hosted by Sir Elton and his husband, David Furnish with a special performance by Best New Artist Grammy nominee Florence + The Machine.

The event takes place on Sunday, February 27, at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Guests will arrive at the party at 4:00 pm for a cocktail reception followed by a gala dinner and viewing of the 83rd Academy Awards® telecast. This year Chef Ludo Lefebvre, owner of the popular touring restaurant LudoBites in Los Angeles, will prepare the menu.

Several members of the Hollywood community have also agreed to be event chairs for the event including Victoria & David Beckham, Mary J. Blige & Kendu Isaacs, Cameron Crowe, Miley Cyrus, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi, Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Rashida Jones, Jeffrey & Marilyn Katzenberg, Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin, Jane Lynch, Eric & Janet McCormack, Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne, Tyler Perry, Paul & Julie Rudd, Sharon Stone, Taylor Swift and John Waters among others.

Tickets are always a hot commodity. Luxury concierge services are sometimes able to obtain them and sometimes sets are also auctioned off for charity.

Tags: Academy Awards, elton john aids foundation, Florence and the Machine, oscars, Sir Elton John

Oscars Red Carpet, Glamour Is Back

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

Last year the economy restrained Oscar fashion a bit but this year it seemed like glamour was back in full force. Actresses on the Oscars red carpet wore gowns in either metallic fabrics or rich, deep colors. Deep blues and purples combined with gowns in gold and silver gave the red carpet an almost celestial feel. Mariah Carey, Kristin Stewart and others made the most of deep blue, a color that was a perfect foil for large, sparkling red carpet diamond jewelry. Safely protected from the intermittent rain by a tent, stars brightened up a cloudy day. Check out the gallery below for looks from some of the top stars.

There were definitely some fashion misses. Charlize Theron's dress was a bit of a fashion misstep. Sarah Jessica Parker tried a new silhouette that didn't work as well as her usual nipped in styles. One thing that didn't seem to be in fashion was basic black. Actresses that wore black gowns made sure they were heavily ornamented. This was the year for a cautiously exuberant return to Oscar excess.

Gallery: Oscars 2010 Red Carpet Beauties

Tags: academy awards, AcademyAwards, cameron diaz, CameronDiaz, carey mulligan, CareyMulligan, charlize theron, CharlizeTheron, kate winslet, KateWinslet, mariah carey, MariahCarey, oscars, penolope cruz, PenolopeCruz, sandra bullock, SandraBullock

Wolfgang Puck's Edible Oscars

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Oscar season is always a busy time for celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. He is in charge of feeding around 1,600 guests at the post-Oscar Governors Ball, given by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He and his team are responsible for making sure the attendees are fed well and quickly 90 minutes. It is the party to go to and most of the nominees attend. Puck has revealed the menu for his 16th effort at catering this annual fete. Diners begin their feast with crispy potato pancakes with smoked salmon and caviar followed by black truffle chicken pot pies. For desert guests will eat baked alaskas with espresso ice-cream, chocolate sorbet and hazelnut meringue. But perhaps the best part, and the part that Puck's team including expert pastry chef Sherry Yard are laboring over are the 3,500 small Oscar statuettes made of chocolate and dusted in edible 24-carat gold.

Tags: academy awards, governors ball, oscars, wolfgang puck

The $85,000 Oscar Consolation Prize

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Some Oscar nominees who don't walk away with the coveted trophy will still get a lovely consolation prize in the form of a gift basket valued at $85,000. Distinctive Assets has created the 'Everybody Wins at the Oscars' nominee gift baskets for the candidates for best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress and best director. The baskets are not officially affiliated with the awards and include chocolates from Chocolatines by Sweet Endeavours, an HGTV Green Home Mattress Collection by Serta, a $4,000 limited edition luxury Leather Travel Bag from Victorinox, makers of the Original Swiss Army Knife, a private island vacation at the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Clay, a $45,000 private & exclusive use of an African Safari Lodge from Premier Tours.

Other trips include a $14,500 four-night resort stay in a seaside suite with breakfast in bed at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel in the Principality of Monaco and a $7,000 three-night all-inclusive rustic getaway to Winvian Luxury Hotel in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. Fitness is represented in the form of Slimware portion-control plates, 10 personal training sessions from Huntley Drive Fitness and a one week all-inclusive fitness bootcamp from Live In Fitness Enterprise. The total list of goodies is after the jump.

Tags: academy awards, academy awards 2010, AcademyAwards, AcademyAwards2010, oscars, oscars gift basket, oscars swag, OscarsGiftBasket, OscarsSwag

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Oscar Website Offers Party Planning Tips

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Oscar night is coming up on March 7 and this year's show plans to be bigger than ever with two hosts, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin and 10 nominees for Best Picture. The Oscar website has a variety of videos and content on how to have your best Oscar night ever.

Pastry chef Sherry Yard shows how to make a molten chocolate cake. Wolfgang Puck reveals his Oscar menu including smoked salmon blinis with dill cream, mini burgers with cheddar cheese and remoulade and slow braised short ribs. The website also lists cocktail recipes using Oscar sponsor Moet & Chandon champagne.

For ambiance party expert Cheryl Cecchetto lists the 10 must haves to hosting the best Oscar-viewing party in town. The website also includes downloadable Oscar ballots for predicting the winners and downloadable bingo cards to use during the show.

Tags: Academy Awards, AcademyAwards, oscar parties, OscarParties, oscars, Oscars 2010, Oscars2010, sherry yard, SherryYard, wolfgang puck, WolfgangPuck

Camacho Cigars Official Sticks of Oscars Style Lounge

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Events

I've heard all over that Oscar parties are supposed to be a big deal this year. While you're donning your formals and schlepping over to someone's house to see who walks home with glory, think for a few moments about what will be going on at the Academy Awards Style Lounge at the Intercontinental Hotel in Beverly Hills. One thing will be certain: the guests will be cutting and lighting Camacho Cigars. At the party on March 6, 2010, Camacho will be the lounge's official cigar.

Says Dylan Austin, Director of Marketing for Camacho, "Camacho Cigars is proud to be a part of the Academy Awards Style Lounge," continuing, "We are excited to be aligning Camacho Cigars with the Oscars, and to be part of this grand celebration in honor of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards."

Source

Tags: Academy Award, Academy Awards, academy awards 2010, AcademyAward, AcademyAwards, AcademyAwards2010, beverly hills, BeverlyHills, Camacho, cigar, cigars, oscars, Parties

Oscars Stage Design to Be More Glamorous and Fantastic Than Ever

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Events

The Oscars are a glitzy event, there's no doubt about that, but after last years low key approach stage designer David Rockwell isn't holding anything back for this years event. Described as "bigger, shinier, and with more moving parts than ever before," the stage will feature a stunning quarter-moon curtain hung with 100,000 glittering Swarovski crystals, plus three moving platforms, several rotating LED panels, and other effects like mirrors and metal architecture. The whole thing is inspired by the basic elements of movie making -- light and movement -- and is meant to show off the event's hosts and winners in the best possible way.

How impressive and beautiful it must to stand on that stage and look up into that amazing curtain!

Source

Tags: academy awards, AcademyAwards, celebrities, david rockwell, DavidRockwell, oscars, swarovski, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystals

The Fashion Statement: "and the Oscar Goes to..."

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Much hoopla on Oscar night goes to actresses, their stylists and that 10-minute stroll down the red carpet. But the real fashion gurus take their places months before the movie even goes into production: costume designers.

This week, the Oscar nominations for costume design were announced for films of 2009. They are:

Janet Patterson -- Bright Star
Fanny Brawne, the love interest of poet John Keats in Jame Campion's period piece, was a student of fashion. Patterson told Variety said she did her research by reading Keats poetry, books, art, history and the Internet. The result? Historical accuracy of clothes of the day combined by Brawne's youthfulness and creativity.

Tags: Academy Awards, AcademyAwards, Bright Star, BrightStar, Coco Before Chanel, CocoBeforeChanel, Costume Designers, CostumeDesigners, Nine, Oscars, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, The Young Victoria, TheImaginariumOfDr.Parnassus, TheYoungVictoria

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