Alas, even if the Golden Globes show didn’t go on, many of the swag suites for celebs still did. GBK Productions’ Celebrity Gifting Suite was one of the handful of those. Held at the new Thompson Hotel, GBK’s suite still drew in many actors, even if the A-Listers like DiCaprio, who attended last year’s event, were not among them. The vendor list was about half what it would have been, as some worried whether it would be appropriate – or even a wise investment – in light of the strike.Yet many did participate, and the products gifted to celebs totaled about $45,000. As GBK Productions founder Gavin Keilly told the Associated Press, "Even though there’s a writers’ strike, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be honoring actors for their accomplishments throughout the year.
In line with Keilly’s statement, the mood of the Beverly Hills event was festive, with loud ncce-ncce music in the main room, where the World Poker Tour promoted its new online and mobile phone gaming options – and after the event donated its poker table to the Writer’s Guild.
I couldn’t resist multiple samplings of Chez Robert Catering’s eight-different-variations-of-chocolate cookies and am happy to see that Park City Ice Water, whose collapsible packaging takes up only a fraction of the landfill space of traditional bottles, is making a name for itself in the Hollywood set. The Brent Shapiro Foundation offered cool anti-substance party tees in black or white, and a wealth of information on drug abuse.
Dougherty Laser provided nominees and presenters with complimentary Lasik eye surgery and was expertly sold by a former patient who sang its praises. Metropolitan Gifts offered a small-box version of going green, which included a baby candle and good luck-inscribed plant.
Lash-lengthener RevitaLash gave its non-invasive alternative to the faux lash craze – a tube of serum that let’s you plump up your own. Bodyography cosmetics decorates both the body and lips with funky glosses and gifted its Mineral Body Gloss bronzer that keeps SoCal girls (and Victoria’s Secret runway models) looking the part without sun damage. 3Lab offered a different kind of defense for skin, with eye and face creams and a $1,000 cosmeceutical skincare solution.
For your internal fight to stay healthy, iZo Cleanse sampled its Red or Green juices made from organic ingredients like fennel, kale and beets. With a regimen of elixirs, teas and juices delivered to your door fresh each morning at 6 a.m., you can make sure that at least your diet can get up on the right side of the bed.
Nonprofit group Gondobay Manga Foundation and African Ancestry were set on showing attendees their true roots. They offered DNA tests that traced the ancestry of both maternal and paternal lineages. A Rose of Thanks sought thank-you cards for the troops and is an inspiration to both the servicemen – and the rest of us – for founder Matthew Hunt’s selfless dedication.
Industry staple Barbar gifted its new wireless blow dryers and curling irons. NatureBright gifted its light therapy systems that help alleviate the unnerving effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Celebrity dentist Dr. Catrise Austin, founder of VIP Smiles, makes people even happier to flash their pearly whites. She offered $5,000 towards her specialties like Da Vinci veneers and porcelain fillings.
For the actual pearls themselves, Lindsey Marie’s jewelry collection is a decidedly bold approach to the pearl, typically used in more a more subdued fashion. The young, personable designer is now working on potential collaborations with high profile jewelry designers and is showing her line at international fashion shows.
Croton watches made their way to celeb recipients wrists, and Ana Weber, who calls herself "the relationship expert," inspired guests to live "great in 2008" via books by Eplay, magnets and more. MicrodermaMitt’s body and face mitts strove to keep the stars’ skin properly scrubbed.
100 Candles was a hit as usual, with JK Simmons of Spiderman commenting," "It should be called 4,000 candles.com." Attendees’ hearts went out to the writers, and Writer’s Guild members were on hand to tell their story. For heart-healthy eating, guests received a half-year supply of the Corazonas, the potato chips that have been proven to actually lower cholesterol and come in gourmet flavor combinations. And Heineken Beer’s mini-kegs were gifted too.
GBK continued its philanthropic bent by donating a fifth of the proceeds of the event to The Writers’ Guild, The Gondobay Manga Foundation and the Brent Shapiro Foundation.
Celebrities seen at the GBK Gift Suite included Amber Stevens, Andy Milner, Angell Conwell, Brandon Molale, Chad Gabriel, Christina Hendricks, Claudia Jordan, Colleen Foy, Corey Reynolds, CS Lee, Daveigh 
Chase, Dimitri Diatchenko, Don Stark, Eddie Steeples, Elaine Tan, Emily Wagner, Eriq La Salle, Ernie Hudson, Garret Dillahunt, Hassan Johnson, Jason Isaacs, Jenny McShane, Jimmy Jean-Louis, JK Simmons, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Joe Montegna, Josh Feinman, Joshua Malina, Jud Tylor, Judd Nelson, Justin Wilczynski, Kate Linder, Kathleen Robertson, Kevin Rankin, Kiernan Shipka, Kimberly Elise, Kunal Nayyar, Leelee Sobeski, Malcolm David Kelley, Mark Indelicato, Masi Oka, Melanie Thomas Scott, Michael Ray Bower, Michele Specht, Mike O’Hearn, Mo Collins, Niecy Nash, Pamela Adlon, Patrick Warburton, Ray Wise, Rex Lee, Roger Cross, Roger Zamudio, Ross Thomas, Shar Jackson, Shawn Doub, Shawn Toub, Sonita Henry, Sunkrish Bala, Taraji Henson and Zack Ward.
