Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Now in its 16th year on Broadway, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.  With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

LA’s The Place Marc Chamberlain covered the Los Angeles premiere and chatted briefly with Christie Brinkley before the show.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I caught up with Christie Brinkley on the red carpet before her opening performance, who looked absolutely stunning at a young 58 years old.  I remember Christie as a young supermodel starring in Billy Joel’s hit video “Uptown Girl” and who has graced the cover of over 500 magazines.  I asked Christie how she stays you young and said one of her secrets is doing lots of yoga.  Christie has been very busy, having launched the “Christie Brinkley Beauty” a line of all-natural skin care products, all while raising 3 children.  I would never have thought I would see her transform herself into an actress.  Christie told me, “I never knew how to act, sing or dance” before being casted in CHICAGO and was a little nervous at first.”  You wouldn’t know it as she put on an amazing performance as Roxie Hart.  It goes to show you, you can do whatever you put your mind to.  She truly brought her character to life, her voice was amazing, and her dancing was superb.  Says Christie, “I am so happy to be back in LA, I am looking forward to my kids coming out to see me, and taking them to Disneyland”.  Disneyland happens to one of her favorite places to visit with her kids.

All together the rest of cast did an amazing job as well.  I personally wasn’t really a fan of musical theatre before this, but this performance of CHICAGO has truly made me a fan and has given me a new outlook on theatre.  If you ever wanted to see a Broadway play and cannot make it to New York, now is your chance to see one of the most successful musicals of our time. I highly recommend going to see CHICAGO, and Christie Brinkley as Roxie at the Pantages Theatre.  The show runs from May 15- May 27.  Seeing a live show at the Pantages is truly something you have to check off your to-do list!

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION:  Tickets are available at www.BroadwayLA.org or www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling

1-800-982-2787, as well as at the Pantages Box Office (6233 Hollywood Blvd) and all Ticketmaster Outlets.  Performances are Tue-Fri at 8pm,

Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 1pm & 6:30pm.  Recommended for Ages 13 and up (Everyone must have a ticket; children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre) Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission.  Tickets start at $25 in the orchestra

Kiki Melendez’ Hot Tamales Live! 3 & 4 hosted by Kiki Melendez and Fried Bananas Live! hosted by Joey Vega on Saturday, May 12th. Prime location was reserved for the premiere of 3 witty 60 minute comedy specials at the historic Ricardo Montalban Theater in heart of Hollywood on Vine Street. Latin Hollywood Films worked in association with Ann Lopez’ Moving Target Productions and Jessie Terrero’s YouTube Ch 123 Unodostres. Echos of laughter was captured at this multicultural themed event that featured a variety of comedians from New York to LA.

If laughter brings joy, then this was an exceptionally joyful occasion for all in attendance. This event was a fundraiser for the Joy Foundation so proceeds for the night went to help underprivileged children with special needs. Also in recognition on this exclusive event was all the mothers in the crowd in anticipation of Mother’s Day. Mothers were graciously greeted upon arrival, then complimented at the box office to relax and enjoy a night full of joyous entertainment.

Hot Tamales Live! 3 and 4 showcased some of the funniest finest and comedians, sketch artists and dancers all hosted by the hilarious Kiki Melendez. Kiki is recognized as an “American Latino Pioneer” and only female comedian nominated for the first annual American Latino Awards. She is the writer, producer, host and creator of Kiki Melendez’ Hot Tamales Live! which debuted on May 5th, 2009 on Showtime Television, America’s leading premium cable network. Since the first Hot Tamales Live! comedy show aired on Showtime it went on to be one of the most popular comedy shows they carried.

On Facebook, go to Kiki Melendez and on Twitter @kikimelendez – she will always give away tickets through her Twitter and Facebook.

Check Out the Impressive Line Up:

Kiki Melendez

Kiki’s comedy and creativity confidently stands up on stage and speeches volumes to the crowd. Fans; followed her voice from the radio, watched her acting on TV & film, tuned-in to her TV productions, got tickets to films she wrote and as always filling up seats for her comedy specials. www.kikikiss.com

Hot Tamales Live! 3 featured comedians Vanessa Hollingshead, Retha Jones, Helen Hong, Sharon Houston, Carla Collins and The Lucy & Ricky Salsa Show.

Vanessa Hollingshead

Vanessa has performed for The Jim Breuer Show, Live at Jongleurs, VH1’s Lords of the Revolution and has her own Comedy Central Presents. She is in her second DVD at Gotham, “American Anglomaniac” and also known for her DVD series, “Drunk” at Stand Up New York.  She was also in the film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

www.VanessaHollingshead.com

Retha Jones

Retha has many TV appearances on BET’s Comic View, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and she reached the semi finals in Last Comic Standing. She was also crowned winner of the 2007 California’s Funniest Female Contest and winner of the 1st annual 2007 California Comedy Festival.

www.RethaJones.com

Helen Hong

Helen is a comedian, TV host, dating coach, and star of Logo Channel’s reality dating series “Setup Squad”. She was a semi-finalist in the 2011, 2008 and 2007 NY’s Funniest Stand-Up Competition and was a semi-finalist in the 2006 California’s Funniest Female Contest.

www.HelenHong.com

Sharon Houston

Sharon is a stand up comic, actress, producer, and writer and has stand up TV credits include MTV, Comedy Central, VH1 and SiTV. In 2011, she was chosen to showcase at the Women In Comedy Festival in Boston, the Ladies Are Funny Fest in Austin and the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland.

www.IamSharonHouston.com

Carla Collins

Carla is a comedian, actress, TV Host and writer who has been called “Canada’s Tina Fey” and performs all over the US and Canada. She has her own reality TV series Carlawood on TVtropolis and she is the subject of a documentary film entitled “Who the Hell is Carla Collins?” which is currently shooting in LA.

www.CarlaCollins.com

Hot Tamales Live! 4 featured comedians Carlie & Doni, Ludo Vika, Kate Rigg, Sexy Marlo and Vicki Barbolak.

Carlie and Doni

Carlie & Doni are a whimsical musical comedy act that received high praise as feature comedians in Los Angeles Magazine’s “The Best of LA” 2011 edition. This duo are regulars at the Santa Monica Playhouse and have played at the Laugh Factory, Edge Theater and more.  They are also recognized for being on the cover of Tiger Beat’s January 2011 edition and featured comedians in the magazine.

www.CarlieAndDoni.com

Ludo Vika

Ludo won the title of “America’s First Bilingual Comic“ at the Utah Laugh Off Festival and she opened for some of the biggest comedy performers of our time; George Lopez, Sam Kinison and Paul Rodriguez. She has TV appearances on Comedy Central’s Make Me Laugh, FOX’s In Living Color, Galavision’s Que Locos, Showtime’s Latino Laugh Festival, HBO’s Loco Slam and more.

www.LudoVika.com

Kate Rigg

Kate was the executive producer of “Dance Your Ass Off” on Oxygen TV, which was the highest rated show on the network. She also worked on several episodes of the Dr. Phil Show episodes including specials on “Race“, “The Rudeness Epidemic” and “How to Spot A Liar”.

www.KateRigg.com

Sexy Marlo

Marlo “Sexy” Williams is a stand-up comedian straight our of Compton with explicit and raw material. She has performed at the Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store and The Improv just to name a few. She has be seen on BET’s Comic View, Monique’s Big Black Comedy Show, Who’s Got Jokes, Starz’ 1st Amendment presented by Martin Lawrence and on the big screen in the movie Jada.

www.MySpace.com/SexyMarloComedy

Vicki Barbolak

Vicki is best known for winning Nick@Nite’s Funniest Mom in America 3 and being a member of Jay Leno’s Laugh Squad. John Griess created a special role for her in his new Independent Comedy Film, “Pickin and Grinnin“. Her legendary performance of “Stand up at a Funeral” at The Comedy Store was featured in Mark Schiff’s book, “I Killed, Road Stories From America’s Top Comedians“.

www.VickiBarbolak.com

Fried Bananas Live! is the male version of Hot Tamales Live! and is hosted by Melendez’ long time friend Joey Vega. The guys kept the crowd rolling to the end with comedians KT Tatara, Ahmed Ahmed, Ruperto Vanderpool, Ron G, Lil Dougie Williams III and Allen Stephen.

Joey Vega

Joey is a NY native with a reputation as one of New York’s finest comedian after crushing at a packed Madison Square Garden. He hosted his own FOX series called The Latin Connection and appears on many major comedy shows including Comedy on the Road, Comic Strip Live and more. He is memorable for his film roles in Rounders and Punchline.

Comedians.Jokes.com/Joey-Vega

KT Tatara

KT was featured as one of the top “New Faces of Comedy” at the 2006 Just for Laughs Festival. He has TV comedy appearances on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Showtime’s Live Nude Comedy and Comics Unleashed. He also has recurring roles on ABC Family’s Greek and Showtime’s Californication.

www.KTTatara.com

Ahmed Ahmed

Ahmed is a regular at The Comedy Store in Hollywood and the Comedy Cellar in New York City. He has performed on TV specials including The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour and Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show, as well as appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and MTV’s PUNK’D.

www.Ahmed-Ahmed.com

Ruperto Vanderpool

Ruperto is best known for his pantomiming humor and his endless variety of facial expressions. He is currently featured in Lions Gate Films’ The Cookout produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Films. He has TV appearances on; CBS’s Urban Latino TV, BET’s Comic View, Galavison’s Que Locos! as well as special guest on It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Ricki Lake and NBC’s Law & Order: SVU.

www.RupertoVanderpool.com

Ron G

Ron gained mass recognition after winning 1st place at the 2005 Sierra Mist Late Night Laff Off. He was awarded the title “ACPA College Comic of the Year” in 2010 and is also the national spokesperson for Checker’s & Rally’s Restaurants. He was a finalist on Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes and again a recent finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing #6.

www.GoRonG.com

Lil Dougie Williams III

Lil Dougie is introduced as the “World’s Youngest Comedian” and he already has experience with top comics from a previous Hot Tamales Live! comedy special. Starting at 2 years-old, Dougie warmed up the crowd for his father, comedian Doug Williams Jr., at the Starz’ taping of Martin Lawrence’s The 1st Amendment Standup. He has also performed at The Union and LA Improv.

Allen Stephen

Allen Stephen will be a featured comedian at the next LOL Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival at the California Theater Of The Performing Arts in San Bernardino. Stephan is scheduled to perform on August 28th and will be performing with Rita Rudner & 4 Potential Ex-Husbands, David Gee, John Fox, Otto & George, Monique Marvez and Bill Bellamy’s Ladies Night Out.

For more information about Kiki Melendez check out her official website at:

www.KikiKiss.com

Confidential Beverly Hills is the brand new and ONLY exclusive nightclub / lounge fusion in Beverly Hills. It’s the epitome of luxury, with an all-white interior and a distinct “Old Hollywood” feel.

Confidential has been open since November and this Wednesday, May 16th, they are launching a weekly cabaret show entitled “Femme Fatale Wednesday’s: The Most Sophisticated Burlesque Show in Town.”

The premiere of “Femme Fatale” will be a sexy and interactive experience of music, dance and burlesque. This amazing production is going to put on by TOLEDO- the famed jazz singer, choreographer and burlesque extraordinaire.

Continental tapas and cocktails will be available throughout the night! Continental tapas and cocktails will be available from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

And the best part is, entry is free, so come out and enjoy the show! Femme Fatale Wednesday’s will be going on throughout the summer, 8 PM – 2 AM

Confidential Beverly Hills
424 N Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Please call 310.275.8511 to book reservations or email info@confidentialbeverlyhills.com

www.confidential90210.com

Dame Julie Andrews was honored this past week with the 25th Annual Gypsy Award. An extraordinary list of previously-honored Professional Dancer Society tributees gathered to pay homage beginning in the morning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  Later that evening at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Grey’s Anatomy cast members joined in song for Grey’s Anatomy: The Songs Beneath The Show, and together raised record-breaking funds for the arts.

In addition to the stunning production numbers by dancers from the Joe Tremaine and Madilyn Clark Dance Studios, were  the remarkable video presentations by Lee Hale and industry elite such as Jane Withers, Jane Kean, Mary Ann Mobley, Barbara Van Orden, Margaret O’Brien, Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Carl Reiner, Florence Henderson, Rita Moreno, Bob Mackie, Marge Champion, Ann-Margaret, Joni Berry (Chairman) and PDS President, Mitzi Gaynor.

Dame Andrews’ eloquent speech regarding the Arts and their contributions to children, the public and the nation was well received by the patrons. This years sell-out raised a record-breaking amount of funds. The Professional Dancers Society, www.ProfessionalDancersSociety.org  is an affiliate of The Actors’ Fund For Everyone in Entertainment. Proceeds take care of dancers in need.

Grey's Anatomy cast in performance.

Later that evening, the Royce Hall theatre at UCLA, played host to over 1,300 fans of the ABC hit series Grey’s Anatomy, gathered as cast members joined in song for Grey’s Anatomy: The Songs Beneath The Show. Among those in attendance to support the cause were George Chakiris, Kate Linder, Ilene Graff, Ben Lazerone, Holland Taylor, Tony Hoover, Barbara Van Orden, Rip Taylor, and Sharon Lawrence, among others. It was a thunderously appreciative audience that came to their feet numerous times during the evening that starred Jessica Capshaw, Justin Chambers, Eric Dane, Sarah Drew, Kevin McKidd, Ingrid Michaelson, Sandra Oh, Jim Pickens, Jr., Sara Ramirez, Kim Raver and Chandra Wilson.

Grey's anatomy cast members - Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens, Jr, Sara Ramirez and Kevin McKidd

The program produced by Michael Medico, Chris Van Dusen, Shonda Rhimes, Meg Thomas and written by Bill Harper, Mark Wilding and Jenna Bans featured the songs “Chasing Cars,” (performed by Sara Ramirez, Kevin McKidd, Chandra Wilson), “How We Operate” (McKidd), “There’s a Girl” (Sarah Drew), “Wait,” (Wilson, Drew), “Running on Sunshine” (James Pickens Jr., Justin Chambers, McKidd, Ramirez, Kim Raver, Jessica Capshaw, Drew, Wilson), “Young Folks” (Chambers and his three daughters, Eva, Mya and Kayla), “Everywhere I Go” (Wilson), “Keep Breathing” (performed by Ingrid Michaelson), “Looking at the World From a Bottom of a Well” (McKidd), “The Story,” (Ramirez) and “How to Save a Life” (Cast).

Grey's Anatomy cast Q and A

Each of the cast members shared their own plea to support the Actors Fund, with reference to the effects the Arts have on the entire community. Whether you are physically involved in the creative process or a fan of the results – whether you enjoy stage productions, going to a film, listening to music or staying at home and watching a favorite TV program, it is important … nay imperative … that you support the Arts in any way you can.

Joe Benincasa (AF Executive Dir), Kevin McKidd and Ilyanne Morden Kichaven.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone-performers and those behind the scenes-who works in performing arts and entertainment, helping more than 12,800 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund’s programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services.

With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has-for 130 years-been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. For more information, please visit www.actorsfund.org.
PDS photo credit: Nathan Sternfel

Romi Dames (Hanna Montana) and Kate Linder (The Young and The Restless) with Red Hot Mama Barbara Van Orden at the Catalina Jazz Club

Barbara Van Orden, a singer and entertainer whose career has spanned decades began as a leading print model gracing the cover of many magazines and eventually segueing into a television commercial career. Eventually Van Orden made a career for herself in the entertainment industry as a singer, comedienne and actress. She became the opening act for many of the industry greats, such as Milton Berle, Don Rickles and Red Buttons, to name a few. Van Orden also performed at all of the Playboy Clubs, working with talents such as Buddy Hackett, Morey Amsterdam and Soupy Sales.

A move to the West Coast was inevitable and Van Orden immediately assumed a recurring role in televisions Welcome Back Kotter while adding many more TV films and series episodes to her resume in a short time. In between the television roles, Van Orden began opening for many Vegas headliners. One show in particular would lead to her ultimate breakout. While opening for Shecky Green, Frank Sinatra took a liking to Van Orden and invited her to open for him at the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

In 1982, Van Orden was unexpectedly hit by a car in Beverly Hills leaving her with a number of serious injuries, resulting in 18 surgeries and years of therapy to learn how to walk again. Not one to give up on her dream, Van Orden recently wrote and produced Red Hot Mama Returns to bring her talent once more to the stage.

Catalina Jazz Club Bar & Grill is located at 6725 West Sunset Blvd in Hollywood. For more information on Barbara Van Orden, please visit her website at www.barbaravanorden.com

Barbara Van Orden, a singer and entertainer who’s career has spanned decades, and has opened for Sinatra and headlined at each of the Playboy Club, returns to the stage at the Catalina Jazz Club Bar and Grill on Sunday, Oct. 23rd, after a devastating accident that resulted in 18 surgeries. She has been well received by audiences and critics alike. Her mentor was the legend Frank Sinatra, and comedy greats such as Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Don Rickles and Shecky Greene – to name a few. She has appeared in many television appearances and films.

Red Hot Mama Returns will be presented with musical direction by Ron Snyder.

Oct. 23, 2011

Catalina Jazz Club Bar and Grill
6725 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-2210

Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS – A Journey through the World of Cinema, their newest show and resident production created exclusively for the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center, is a world of wonderment and blinding beauty in tribute to the Hollywood’s golden film era. IRIS, appropriately named, is certainly an eye opener and refers to both the light that passes through the camera lens and the colored part of the eye. Both for the Los Angeleno and the tourist, Cirque du Soleil IRIS is a must-see show.

From the beginning, this Cirque du Soliel show is aimed to break the fourth wall and engage the audience. The comedic characters roam the aisles pre-show to set the mood that IRIS wants to interact, unlike other Cirque du Soliel shows. Vaudevillian numbers intertwine with the fantastic human feats of the fearless acrobats and uber-flexible contortionists.

Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS takes spectators on a visual voyage through the history of cinema and its genres, taking them into the heart of the movie-making process. From illustration to animation, black and white to colour, silent films to talkies, fixed shots to swooping camera movements, it’s the perfect resident show for Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.

Spending $100 million dollars to renovate the Kodak Theatre to accomadate perfomers appearing from below ground and over head, the only other show at the Kodak Theatre for the next ten years besides IRIS will be the Academy Awards.  IRIS was constructed to easily transform the Kodak to be used for the Oscars.

“We are thrilled to have found such a spectacular home in Los Angeles,” said President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Daniel Lamarre. “The city is at the forefront not only of film, but music, architecture and art as well. It is our hope that IRIS will be a welcome addition to Hollywood as a destination for locals and visitors alike. This is also a kind of homecoming for us. Our international career started right here when we brought a show called “We Reinvent the Circus” to the LA Festival for opening night on September 3, 1987.”

IRIS, written and directed by director-choreographer Philippe Decouflé, opens with two muscular men flying over the audience seamlessly in a sort of flying ballet routine.  Other highlights of the show include a gangster-cop trampoline number, the alien-suited death-dying tumblers, a frame-by-frame show of live film and dance numbers, and the finale where all 72 performers come out on stage in dazzling costume and color.

In addition to the 72 performers, IRIS has 200 costumes, 8,300 square feet of floor surface, 174 loudspeakers, 603 lighting features, 20 video projectors, and 166,000 watts of sound.  IRIS joins the other Cirque du Soleil resident productions Mystère™, O™, Zumanity™, KÀ™, The Beatles LOVE™, CRISS ANGEL Believe™ and Viva ELVIS™ in Las Vegas, La Nouba™ at Walt Disney World Resort, ZED™ in Tokyo, and ZAIA™ in Macao, in scale, scope and size.

About Cirque du Soleil


From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in nearly 300 cities on five continents.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

About KODAK Theatre

Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood & Highland Center retail, dining and entertainment complex located in the heart of historic Hollywood. The theatre opened in November 2001 and soon became known to more than one billion people across the globe as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards®. Kodak Theatre was designed by the internationally-renowned Rockwell Group to be as glamorous as its onstage artists and celebrity guests, yet capable of serving the enormous technical needs of a live worldwide television broadcast on Oscar® night.

For more information visit: http://www.kodaktheatre.com

IRIS Tickets information

Ticket prices range from $43 to $253.

Tickets are available at www.cirquedusoleil.com or by calling 1-877-943-IRIS.

For parties of 12 or more, contact Cirque du Soleil group sales by calling 877-504-7164.

For Preferred Seating and other American Express® Cardmember benefits, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/amex.

Vice Director of the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles Mr. Jong Moon Kim commented about ‘A Taste of Korea’ event, “Thanks to the inspiring efforts of Ms. Cathlyn Choi who created this event, all Koreans can feel a little prouder about their heritage and culture and hopefully more people will partake in preserving and sharing it with others.”

The event celebrated Cathlyn Choi’s popular TV Korean cooking show ‘Cathlyn’s Korean Kitchen’ now airing on PBS Socal. Dubbed as the ‘Korean Food Ambassador’, Mrs. Choi’s show is currently the only Korean Chef in the US with her own TV cooking show in English.

The evening began by escorting guests down the velvet-roped red carpet into the elegant ballroom past ornate flower arrangements donated by the Korean American Association of San Diego. Guests sipped on cocktails and noshed on delicious Korean appetizers with a hosted wine bar sponsored by Bekseju Wines, with an hour of popular standards music performed by Entertainer Barry Cohen from ‘Big Daddy Orchestra’.

Provided by Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion, candle lit handmade Lotus flower table centerpieces and Korean panel screens accented the room in elegantly. Guests were given gift bags featuring a variety of popular Korean ingredients sponsored by Korean food manufacturer, Chung Jung Won.

Ms. Choi opened the program by asking her guests to observe a moment of silence in the room, in honor of 9/11. A highlight video screening of her 3rd season program titled ‘Cathlyn’s Korean Food Challenge‘, was shown to the guests which included a special welcome video message from renowned French Chef, Bernard Guillas of the Marine Room restaurant in La Jolla, featured in episode 1 of Cathlyn’s program. He revealed that for the first time, the prestigious Marine Room is now offering Royal Dduk Bokki, a popular spicy Korean rice cake dish as an appetizer and that their discerning diners simply love it!

The screening also featured a two part special episode that Cathlyn had produced in cooperation with the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles. It featured recipes and excerpts from a cookbook written by Korea’s First Lady, Kim Yoon-ok, called, ‘Hansik-Stories of Korean Foods’. Ms. Choi was honored to receive a congratulatory letter presented by Deputy Consul General Yong Jin, Choi on behalf of the First Lady and the Blue House in Seoul Korea after the screening. Los Angeles County Commissioner Barbara Sinclair also presented a congratulatory proclamation to Ms. Choi for the event on behalf of Second District County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Each course of the elaborate Korean dinner had been featured on Cathlyn Choi’s cooking show. Dinner concluded with impressive dance performances by the Kim Eung Hwa Dance Academy, including a gorgeous traditional Korean Fan Dance, an Arirang Dance featuring adorable youngsters and a breathtaking Korean Drum Dance.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Hanbok fashion show featuring over 20 original traditional and fusion Hanbok designs by renowned Korean designer Kim Me Hee, whose custom designs have been worn by the Hollywood elite including actress Sandra Oh and Nikki Hilton.

‘A Taste of Korea’ was certainly a successful event showcasing Cathlyn Choi’s Korean culture beautifully and especially for non-Koreans in attendance who greatly appreciated the experience she provided for them.

Choi enthusiastically said, “I am very happy to share my wonderful Korean foods & rich culture with others through my TV show and the many live events that I produce such as this one. I’m honored that I’m able to create a better awareness and appreciation for Korean people and culture in the US.”

View 2 special episodes from Hansik – Stories of Korean Foods.

For information on Cathlyn’s cooking show, visit www.cathlynskoreankitchen.tv

For more on Cathlyn Choi upcoming hosted events, visit www.haninevent.com or www.carmamedia.com

“Québec in Hollywood” opens with a free concert at the Hard Rock Café on September 9th by Québec rock bands – The Respectables, Steve Hill, Tailor Made Fable and Dance Laury Dance.

Québec, with its European-French influence, has one of the highest concentrations of artists per capita in the world. Angelenos will get to experience the vast creativity and flair during “Québec in Hollywood” of Québécois culture in their own backyards.

Slated events at “Québec in Hollywood” include a Québec film festival at the Egyptian Theatre, performances by top bands and comedy acts on renowned stages, a Montréal fashion runway show at Hollywood & Highland Center, restaurant tastings crafted by top Québécois chefs, a green transportation design symposium, gallery exhibitions and more.

“Québec in Hollywood’s” events will take place in different locations around and near Hollywood from September 9th – 25th; culminating with the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS at the legendary Kodak Theatre. For IRIS Cirque du Soleil preview:

Click here to view the embedded video.

“In 1987, the Québec Government Office in L.A. played a pivotal role in bringing Cirque du Soleil to Los Angeles, introducing their unique brand of entertainment to the U.S,” explains Yanick Godbout, Director of Governmental Relations and Public Affairs, Québec Government Office in Los Angeles.

“We are now bringing a selection of the best new talent from Québec to Los Angeles. We hope that ‘Québec in Hollywood’ will create the same effect and will serve as a springboard for the next wave of Québécois success.”

Highlights of “Québec in Hollywood” include:

9/9: Hard Rock Café: Free show by Québec rock bands, The Respectables, Steve Hill, Tailor Made Fable and Dance Laury Dance.

9/12‐17: The Grill on Hollywood: Chef Jean‐Pierre Curtat of the 5 Diamond AAA‐rated Nuances Restaurant at the Casino de Montréal, presents a unique menu featuring some of Québec’s best products.

9/15 Comedy Store: Sugar Sammy, named “One Of 10 Rising Comedy Talents From Around The World” by the Hollywood Reporter, performs at the Comedy Store, with opening act, Daniel Tirado.

9/16‐18: Egyptian Theatre: Québec in Hollywood partners with the American Cinematheque to host “Québec in Hollywood Films: The Other North American Cinema.” Opening night features red carpet.

9/19‐24: Public Kitchen & Bar, Roosevelt Hotel: Chef/Owner Laurent Godbout of Chez l’Épicier presents a customized Québec inspired menu for Hollywood.

9/22: Hollywood & Highland Center, Fashion & Opéra Fashion Show: The spring and summer 2012 collections from six of Montréal’s most acclaimed designers.

9/25: Kodak Theatre, Iris: Journey through the world of cinema with the premiere of “Iris” the latest sensation from Cirque du Soleil.

9/9‐25: Roosevelt Hotel: Daily Québec Happy Hours featuring a special menu with Québec drinks and appetizers. Monday‐Thursday at the Tropicana bar and Friday‐Sunday at the Library bar.

A complete list of events is available at www.Quebecinhollywood.com, or at www.facebook.com/Quebecinhollywood

CARRERA Sunglasses hosted Perez Hilton’s “One Night in Los Angeles” at the Wiltern Theater last Saturday night that featured eight performances and raised over $10k for Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Celebrities like Demi Lovato, Gavin DeGraw, Pete Wentz, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon among so many other celebs and fans enjoyed cocktails and live music. They also enjoyed gifts by CARRERA Sunglasses, Cut The Rope™, SOUL by Ludacris, popchips, and Asahi Beer.

Highlights of “One Night in LA”

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick enjoyed a casual family fun night as they showed up to Saturday’s CARRERA Presents Perez Hilton’s “One Night in Los Angeles” just in time for a live performance by Gavin DeGraw.  As Gavin took the stage, the celebrity couple snuck in the back to the VIP section to enjoy the show with daughter Sosie and son Travis. After the performance, the family rushed backstage to meet the performer.

Still on the mend from his recent attack in New York, Gavin DeGraw spent a large portion of his evening answering questions about what had happened and how he was feeling.  When he first arrived at CARRERA Presents Perez Hilton’s “One Night in Los Angeles” Saturday night, he told friends that he was “alright” after spending the past couple weeks with bags of ice on his face.

While picking up a pair of CARRERA sunglasses and SOUL by Ludacris headphones in the VIP suite before his performance, Gavin ran into The All-American Rejects’ singer Tyson Ritter who was thrilled to see his fellow musician’s improved condition. After a rock star performance, Gavin was overheard backstage telling Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick that the attack was completely unexpected; as he said, “It was random.  It’s not like I was chatting with the debate team and looking for a fight.”  Needless to say, both his fan and fellow artists were all happy to see Gavin on stage again after his recent trauma.

Demi Lovato

As one of the surprise acts at Saturday’s CARRERA presents Perez Hilton’s “One Night In Los Angeles,” Demi Lovato had even tighter security than any other performer.  While hiding out in her private green room, Demi picked out two pairs of CARRERA sunglasses, signed a popchips guitar that will be donated to support GLSEN, and got a call from her dad who was excited to tell her that tickets for her performance that night had sold out in minutes.

At the CARRERA Presents Perez Hilton’s “One Night in Los Angeles,” Lisa Gastineau was overheard telling Linda Hogan and her fiancé Charlie Hill that the best part about Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries wedding was the music because they played everything from Pitbull to Frank Sinatra.  After posing for pictures with Cut The Rope mascot Om Nom, Lisa continued telling fellow guests about how Kim and Kris were made for each other and truly knew how to throw a great party. She was overheard saying, “Kris can handle Kim. He has a strong sense of self. He was designed for her.”

JoJo and A.J. McLean

As one of the headlining acts at CARRERA Presents Perez Hilton’s “One Night in Los Angeles,” JoJo and her band were among the first to arrive at the Wiltern Theater Saturday night.  After a quick sound check, the pop singer changed into a purple party dress to visit the VIP suite and pick out some stylish shades from CARRERA before heading to the red carpet where she ran into Backstreet Boy’s A.J. McLean.

On the red carpet, the two stars were overheard sharing their advice for those artists who are just getting into the industry – JoJo admitted that everyone seems to be “doing amazing on their own” and didn’t need her advice; A.J. said he’d tell them to “get a lawyer and stay true to yourself.”  Both JoJo and A.J. stopped to sign the popchips guitar for GLSEN while chatting about their tattoos – A.J. was surprised to hear about the state of Massachusetts tattooed on JoJo’s ribcage!  JoJo was quickly pulled away for an expedited costume change before meeting her band backstage to lead them in prayer before their performance.  After their bonding time on the red carpet, A.J. made sure to grab a spot stage-front for JoJo’s performance.

Photo Credit: WENN – Faye Sadou

Special guests will join the Glendale Pops Orchestra as they celebrate the Bossa Nova and Samba with favorites from Anotonio Carlos Jobim, Sergio Mendes. Songs include Wave, Girl From Ipanema, Desifinado, One Note Samba, Watch What Happens, and more.

The nicest part is that admission is absolutely free. Get a dose of pure culture and make your make it a memorable summer evening, 2011.

The balance of the Pops season will take place at the historic Alex Theatre.

Although the concert is free to the public, there will be reserved seating for season ticket holders.

For more information, please visit www.glendalearts.org.

Music & Muscle

Guests including Amy Smart, 90210′s Evan Ross, The Apprentice’s Mark McGrath, and NBC’s The Event star Taylor Cole, reveled in performances by Samantha Ronson, The Undertakers and Liquid Blond which featured the fitness guru himself, David Barton, on drums.

Playmate Jayde Nicole, Reality Star Brittny Gastineau, Life Happens’ Geoff Stults, Taker’s Johnathon Schaech, Disaster Movie’s Nick Steele, Virgin Mobile “celebrity couple” Spencer Falls and Sarah Carroll, among others, also attended the swanky event, sipping on custom specialty SVEDKA Cocktails – Hot_Bot and Celeb_U_Bot – and getting their groove on with dance music by DJ Devin Lucien.

Amy Smart & Taylor Cole at DavidBartonGym West Coast Launch Party

Look Better Naked with DavidBartonGym

With locations in New York, Miami, Chicago and Seattle, DavidBartonGym has hand-picked equipment, personally mentored trainers with a tradition of changing bodies and award winning design. Gym innovator David Barton promises to have members that “LookBetterNaked.”

Amy Smart & Mark McGrath at DavidBartonGym Launch, The Roxy

To find a DavidBartonGym near you, visit: www.davidbartongym.com

David Barton on Drums at the Roxy

Davie Barton participated in the ultrahip Carrera Sunglasses Escape at the Chateau Marmont and gifted many celebrities with a membership at DavidBartonGym.

Malin Ackerman and Maria Menunous at Carrera Sunglasses Escape

Photos by: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com

The Groundlings have catapulted the careers of such comic geniuses from film and television as Jennifer Coolidge, Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Kathy Griffin, Cheryl Hines, Chris Kattan, Lisa Kudrow, Jon Lovitz, Michael McDonald, Paul Reubens, Maya Rudolph, Mindy Sterling and Kristen Wiig, among others. The Judd Apatow film, Bridesmaids, features Groundlings alumni Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumalo, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Hitchcock and Wendi McLendon-Covey as well as current Groundlings Mitch Silpa, Jillian Bell, David Hoffman and Ariane Price. In addition to being comedy performers, Groundlings members and alumni hold writing positions on many of Hollywood’s top television and film projects.

LIVE NUDE GROUNDLINGS opens Friday, July 22nd at 8:00pm and runs through Saturday, October 1st. Previews are Fridays, June 17th and 24th and July 1st and 8th at 10:00pm and Friday and Saturday, July 15th and 16th at 8:00pm and 10:00pm.

The regular schedule is Friday’s at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday’s at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $18.00. VIP opening night ticket prices (on Friday, July 22nd only) are $50.00 and include local catering and complimentary cocktail hour.

Tickets are available at the box office or via phone at (323) 934-4747.  The Groundlings Theatre is located at 7307 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.Groundlings.com.

Tom Green

The Tom Green World Stand-up Comedy Tour has been hitting major cities from Edinburgh, Scotland to Dallas, Texas, and is making a stop in California on July 17th at Flappers Comedy Store in Burbank. Tom chatted with Brittany Reimann from LA’s The Place to talk about upcoming shows, what we can expect from him on stage, and what life is like being Tom Green.

LATP: So Tom, you have been known for wearing many hats in the entertainment industry, from actor to rapper, from TV Host to writer, and now you’re making audiences laugh showcasing your stand up comedy skills. What has been your favorite element throughout the years?

TOM GREEN: Oh you know, I enjoy doing all this stuff. I enjoy all types of comedy and I’ve been having a great time doing stand up. It’s been amazing, I’ve been traveling all around the world the last two years, and having an amazing time. You know, getting up on stage in front of all sorts of different audiences, and having a lot of laughs. There’s something really fun about doing stand up because it’s live, and it’s very interactive, and it’s a lot of fun.

LATP: What inspired you to do stand up in the first place?

TOM: You know, I started doing stand up when I was 15 years old, I always was just a huge fan of comedy, and loved comedy, and wanted to get up on stage and do something outrageous, and I started doing that in Canada. And then that led me to do my television show, which I did many years, and I stopped doing stand up, but I really always wanted to get back there and do that again.I guess it was just that  a lot of my heros started out as stand up comedians, people like Dave Letterman and Jay Leno, and I definitely wanted to try to get out there and master that art form, if that’s possible. So, I’ve been having a great time.

LATP: What has been your favorite stop on your tour thus far and what made it stand out?

TOM: I’ve had a lot of great times out there, honestly. Theres has been a lot of great shows, and I always enjoy going places I have never been before. I just went to Afghanistan, and did stand up for the military troops over there, and that was an amazing experience being in that part of the world. I toured all of Australia, that was exciting, and the audiences over there were really great. And London, England. I’ve just love being in all sorts of different places.

LATP:What can ticket holder expect from your show, Tom?

TOM: They can expect to basically laugh harder than they have ever laughed in their entire life, for a long periods of time, and very loudly. It is a very fast-paced, ridiculous, crazy show, and I am talking about all sorts of different things that affect our lives and our world that we are living in, and I think people are going to expect to have a great time.

LATP: Well, after feeling it out, and starting at such a young age, what advice do you have for aspiring stand-up comedians?

TOM: Well, first of all, you just got to get out there and do it. You know, go write some jokes, get out there, get up on stage, try it out. I would read some biographies of your favorite comedians, and read biographies of some of the great comedians throughout history, and learn just about the art form in general, from that perspective. And really absorb yourself in it completely. You cant just casually do this, you’ve got to really think about it. And you now the most important thing is, be funny!  You gotta be funny.

LATP: After the tour, what is next for you? Any big plans we should know about?

TOM: You know, I’m just touring right now full time, doing a lot of touring. Im writing a movie right now that I am hoping to shoot next summer, and just staying busy with the stand up comedy. I’m doing a television special, I’m doing a stand up television special, so all sorts of stuff going on.

LATP: Alright, and I have to ask in the 4th of July spirit, who would you rather be, Captain America or the Sexy Sax Man?

TOM: Oh, Sexy Sax Man.

LATP: No competition, huh?

TOM: No competition.

Well, there you have it! If you want to laugh harder than you ever have before, for long periods of time, very loudly, you should grab your $20 tickets at www.tomgreen.com.

Read more about Tom Green here…

You may have seen him before on the cover of Rolling Stone or commandeering the guest-host chair on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” or even on his wildly popular internet talk show, “Tom Green’s House Tonight.” But you have never seen Tom Green’s eccentric flair for all things funny up close and personal until now. The TomGreen.com World Stand-up Comedy Tour is coming to Los Angeles. Check out Tom’s insightful observations of our world dominated by technology in his World Stand-up Comedy Tour trailer:

Comedian Tom Green, known for his anything-goes antics as an MTV personality and for his ridiculously hilarious roles in “Road Trip” and “Freddy Got Fingered” is now doing a World Stand-up Comedy Tour with two dates in Los Angeles.

See Tom live July 7th and July 17th at Flappers Comedy Store in Burbank, CA.

Tom Green is one of the greatest modern comic geniuses, and being live and in person, his talent takes on a whole new dimension. Expect to giggle, snort, chortle and gawfaw non-stop by hearing Tom Green’s brilliantly twisted view of the world.

For good-for-the-soul laughter, don’t miss Tom Green World Stand-up Comedy Tour performing July 7th and July 17th, 2011 at Flappers Comedy Store. Tickets are $20. www.tomgreen.com

Check out our interview with Tom Green here….

G-Vo, who was born in war-torn Sri Lanka, engineers his theatrical productions to bring attention to global causes. This year, he has partnered with A Remnant Remains , a nonprofit that will invite concertgoers to donate funds to bring sustainable water and electricity to an impoverished community of garbage collectors in Egypt, which has suffered major floods in addition to the country’s recent political instability. In 2009, G-Vo’s second album release concert raised $25,000 for the International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) to bring healthcare to displaced refugees in Sri Lanka’s conflict-ridden refugee camps. The IMHO website reported, “The crowd was genuinely moved by the performance and the significance of this event in bringing people together to help those in need.”

For more information about G-Vo, please visit www.johnbaptistrecords.com.

On June 16, the Festival will open with “Bernie,” the new movie starring Jack Black, Shirley MacClaine and Matthew McConaughey. Directed by Richard Linklater, “Bernie” revolves around the true story of assistant funeral home director Bernie Tiede, a very likable man who befriends an elderly lady. No one has a bad word tpo say about him, even when he commits a terrible crime.

June 16 also has a screening of “Green Lantern” starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively available. The film will be in nationwide release the next day, June 17, so the screening gives LAFF-goers a chance for a sneak peek. This special Gala screening will be hosted by Premier Sponsor Pechanga Resort & Casino with a unique exciting casino experience in the VIP hospitality area, with table games and opportunities to win resort getaways and free slot play at the largest casino in the Western USA. The Pechanga Resort & Casino is a Four-Diamond resort, located in the Southern California Wine Country of the Temecula Valley, and it offers: 517 newly-renovated guest rooms and suites; a world-class golf course; eight critically acclaimed restaurants; five bars and nightclubs; a relaxing spa, ful fitness center and pool; and more.

The official beer of the festival has been announced as Stella Artois with Jameson Irish Whiskey® the official spirit, and World Wine HeadQuarters as the official wine purveyor. The Los Angeles Athletic Club is the Official Host Hotel and Virgin America is the Official Airline Partner. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent.

This year’s Los Angeles Film Festival is the 17th annual event and will screen more than 200 feature length movies, short films, retro screenings and music videos, including “Attack the Block,” “Another Earth,” “A Better Life,” “Boyz n the Hood,” “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” and “Rudy.”

Another huge draw of LAFF are the special conversations and interviews with guest. This year the list has a wide variety of speakers, including Julie Taymor, Erykah Baduh, Jack Black, Shirely MacClaine, Jason Ritter, Diablo Cody and James Franco.

Taking over more than six city blocks, the LAFF is one of the region’s most active ‘live content and event campus with 15 restaurants and huge nationally recognized venues like Staples Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, the Conga Room, Club Nokia, the Grammy Museum, Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge and Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14.

On June 26, the LAFF will close with the world premiere red carpet screening of “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” starring Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, Bailee Madison and Jack Thompson. The much-anticipated horror film from director Troy Nixey and writer Guillermo del Toro tells the terrifying story of a young girl sent to stay with her father and stepmother who discovers there are creatures ready to take her into their own way of living. It’s a remake of the 1973 TV movie of the same name with stars Kim Darby, Jim Hutton and Barbara Anderson.

Contact the Coca-Cola Festival Ticketing Center for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit LAFilmFest.com. Festival Passes and tickets can also be purchased in person beginning today, at the Coca-Cola Ticket Center located at the Festival Village on the West Garage at L.A. LIVE (1005 Chick Hearn Court).

Special support is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, UCLA Latin American Institute and the University of Guadalajara Foundation.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

Read more about Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic; it was the first article LA’s The Place ever published!

Last week at the Avalon in Hollywood, some of the biggest names in publishing, finance, technology, media and the entertainment industry came together to sing their best karaoke, and raised almost $60,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at Larry Benet and SANG’s “I’m With The Band”™ event.

Elliott Yamin & Traffic Jam perform at SING

Larry Benet, CEO of SANG explains his vision for the event, “I’m excited to be bringing the SANG community which consists of the some of the world’s top business thought leaders, socially conscious entrepreneurs and philanthropists together for an evening of fun and connection.  We’re excited that the SANG community and entertainment industry can come together to raise money for the incredible work Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is doing in the community.”

Keith Mitchell, Amy Lynn Grover, Larry Benet, Krisily Kennedy & Valery Ortiz

The SANG community was extremely generous and opened up their hearts and wallets in a huge way to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by raising almost $60,000 via the live auction and live celebrity karaoke portion of the evening.  The money raised at the event will fund The Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program and the “Literally Healing” program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  These programs will provide art and music therapy and bibliotherapy services to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles patients for an entire year.

Crystal Hunt, Julia Lescova

Cymphonique Miller, 14-year old singing sensation and daughter of entertainment mogul Master P., and little sister of rapper, actor and current contestant on the hit TV show “Dancing with the Stars”, Romeo, sang it up during the live celebrity karaoke at Tuesday night’s benefit for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  Cymphonique is one of Nickelodeon’s newest teen sensation and she is also the spokesperson for Club Tuki, the Ultimate Kids’ Internet.

Greg Writer, Cymphonique Miller, Master P and Larry Benet

One of the highlights of the evening was when 11- year old heart patient Eileen Garrido represented all of the kids at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles by taking the stage to perform a few songs.  Eileen has recorded and released two CDs in which she sings her favorite Disney songs and Broadway music.  In July of 2009, Eileen was inspired to create her own non-profit organization known as “Beating Hearts,” which is dedicated to helping raise funds for hospitals that treat sick children, especially those with cardiovascular illnesses. Eileen donates a portion of all CD sales toward this cause. Her goal is “to make sure every child has a healthy beating heart”.

Dave Austin, Elliott Yamin & Eileen Garrido

Larry Benet hosted the live auction that featured incredible once in a lifetime experience packages such as tickets to the “Larry Crowne” premiere & After Party, a weekend experience at the sold out 2011 Comic-Con, a real life “Top Gun” jet fighter experience and more generously donated by Bluefish and Larry’s celebrity friends to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Barbara Lazaroff attended and lent her support.

Proceeds raised from the live auction went to fund The Mark Taper – Johnny Mercer Artists Program and the “Literally Healing” program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Everyone that night came together, by giving generously, they helped to provide art and music therapy at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It is the only children’s hospital in the nation to provide this therapeutic service.

Partygoers got to have their 5 minutes of rock star fame by jumping on stage and singing hits backed by Traffic Jamm presented by de Bois Entertainment in exchange for a donation. Guests chose from over 100 classic hits such as “Livin’ On A Prayer”, “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Walk This Way”, “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”, “Start Me Up” and “Fly Me To The Moon” along with current current chart-topping hits such as Cee-Lo’s “Forget You”, Katy Perry’s “California Girls” and Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.”

Dancing to the tunes of DJ Mark Kingsley and enjoying custom cocktails, gourmet snacks and delicious desserts, guests were having a wonderful time.  They also got to dress up with props and get in the “pop n pose” photo booth, which they shared instantly via Facebook and Twitter, provided by Popchips.

Erik Palladino

Celebrity Attendees

Master P. (recording artist, producer, actor & entrepreneur), Cymphonique Miller (recording artist and Nickelodeon teen star), Rob Morrow (“Northern Exposure”, “Numb3rs” and “The Whole Truth”), Matt Sorum (Guns N Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver), Jack Canfield (creator of “Chicken Soup for the Soul”), Elliott Yamin (“American Idol” finalist and recording artist), Gloria Garayua (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Nicholas Gonzalez (“Off the Map”), Martha Higareda (“Street Kings”), Josh Cooke (“Better With You”), CariDee English (winner of “America’s Next Top Model”), Eric Etabari (“The Lincoln Lawyer”), Peta Murgatroyd (“Dancing with the Stars” tour), Ken Kragen (Creator of “We Are The World”), William Mapother (“LOST”), Nestor Serrano (“Secretariat”), Benito Martinez (“The Shield” and “Saving Grace”), Erik Palladino (“ER”), Crystal Hunt (“Guiding Light” and “One Life To Live”), Eduardo Xol (ABC’s “Extreme Home Makeover”), Edwin Hodge (“Red Dawn”), Evan Lowenstein (multi-platinum recording artist Evan & Jaron), Krisily Kennedy (ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “Bachelor Pad”), Jeremiah Hu (“Easy A”), Natalie Dreyfuss (“Glory Daze” and “Rita Rocks”), Valery Ortiz (“South of Nowhere” and host of “ABC Family Lounge”), Keith Mitchell (former New Orleans Saints NFL Linebacker), Carlos Ramirez (“The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down”, Kari Whitman (celebrity interior designer),Julia Lescova (Supermodel), and Catalina Rodriguez (“Watch Over Me”).

Photos by Joe Scarnici of Wire Image

Who is Larry Benet?

Larry Benet has formed his career around the principle of helping others.  He believes the more you give, the more you get.  He teaches others how to be a VC (value creator).  He is known as the Connector, is considered America’s Connection Expert, and according to Google is the most connected person on the planet.  Google pioneered pay-per-click advertising, and Larry pioneered the pay-per-compliment business model.  One of his goals is to raise $1 billion for worthy causes through his connections, his outside-the-box ideas, and his own money.  Another goal is to eradicate homelessness and poverty in this country and around the world.

About SANG

SANG is a peer-to-peer symposium that fuses learning, inspiration, and years of once-in-a-lifetime, kismet-perfect connections in three days.  It is an invitation-only, A-list connection of big hitters in and out of your industry.  At SANG V you will be one table away from your next business opportunity, your bestselling book, the capital you are looking for.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ History

Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and is acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of only eight children’s hospitals in the nation – and the only children’s hospital on the West Coast – ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and named to the magazine’s “Honor Roll” of children’s hospitals.  The Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with 88 investigators at work on 171 laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services. The Saban Research Institute is ranked eighth in National Institutes of Health funding among children’s hospitals in the United States.  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.

“I’m With The Band”™ Supporters: Avalon, de Bois Entertainment, Bluefish, Two Peas Inc.,popchips,Chadwick Bay Coconut Water, Aqua Hydrate, Truth in Hand and PRVCY Denim.

Kicking off today, May 23, 2011 and continuing through July 31, 2011, customers can enter to win online only (no in-store entry). Dots will be selling the Lady Gaga “Born This Way” CD and merchandise in stores.

Prizes include:

·         One Grand Prize Winner: – Two Lady Gaga Concert Tickets, Autographed “Born This Way” CD & T-Shirt, and a $100 Dots Gift Card to be used before December 31, 2011

·         Three Second Prize Winners:  Autographed Lady Gaga “Born This Way” CD and T-shirt, and $50 Dots Gift Card to be used before December 31, 2011

For official rules, regulations and to enter for a chance to win, please visit www.dots.com/ladygaga

SVEDKA Vodka hosted “Night of a Billion Reality Stars” last night, April 7th, 2011, and reality TV’s most popular stars came out to celebrate at the Lexington Social Club. Joan Rivers, The Hills’ Lo Bosworth and Whitney Port, and Lisa Rinna were among the famous reality TV stars that attended the premiere screening event.

The Bachelor gals Deanna Pappas and Vienna Girardi with their new men.

The forever funny and off-the-cuff Joan Rivers kicked off the evening by introducing the three very funny off-color comedic shorts in partnership with FunnyorDie.com. The shorts spoofed the prediction of the future for reality TV and featured Brian Austin Green, Joan Rivers and Jeff Probst among others. The celebrity crowd shared laughs as they watched the spoofs tell the truth of reality TV – that everyone, in the future, will be famous!

The Funnyordie.com video series will roll out over a period of three weeks and the first one premieres April 8, 2011. They are:

*  “TMI 2033,” an entertainment news program where futuristic paparazzi stalk Joan Rivers, who exists as a disembodied, WISE-CRACKING head in a jar.

* “The B*tch,” a futuristic morning talk show hosted by a group of talking dogs interviewing actor Brian Austin Green.

* “The Planet’s Most Extreme Model, Designer, Chef, Lover, Dancer, Drag Queen, Alien, Fish Wrangler From Outer Space,” a future competition show mash up, starring E!’s Gastineau Girls Brittny and Lisa Gastineau, The Bachelor’s Vienna Girardi and Real World Las Vegas roommate Trishelle Cannatella, hosted by Survivor’s Jeff Probst.

To watch what the reality TV celebs saw last night, click HERE..

Joan Rivers, Lo Bosworth, Whitney Port

Other attendees of SVEDKA Vodka’s “Night of a Billion Reality Star” include the following: The Bachelorette’s Ali Fedotowsky with fiance Roberto Martinez, Bachelor Jake Pavelka and season finalists Deanna Pappas and Vienna Girardi with her new boyfriend, The Gastineau Girls’ Brittny and Lisa Gastineau, Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis, Real Housewives’ Kyle Richards, Gretchen Rossi and Alexis Bellino, America’s Next Top Model winners Caridee English and Adrienne Curry with husband Christopher Knight, former American Idol  judge and judge of Bravo’s newest reality show, Going Platinum, Kara DioGuardi and Million Dollar Listing’s Madison Hildebrand and Josh Flagg, TV personality Tamara Witmer among so many others.

After the films rolled, DJ Solange Knowles took to the turntables to spin for the dazzling party-goers.

It's O V E R Lisa!

The event was part of Stride Shift’s “One Gum, Two Coasts, Two Bands” campaign, highlighting Stride’s newest product, a gum that “shifts” flavor mid-chew. Stride, the ridiculously long-lasting gum, recently debuted its flavor-changing gum in flavors Berry-to-Mint and Citrus-to-Mint.

Brendon Urie singing lead vocals and Spencer Smith playing drums for the Stride-Shift concert experience.

The bi-coastal event gave 100 fans a chance to attend two private rock concerts on both coasts with a guest. They were informed that they won the opportunity via a text message stating “Holy Shift! You’re a winner!”

Panic! At the Disco performed at the W Hotel’s rooftop club Drai’s and celebrated the duo’s latest album release (also unveiled on March 22), Vices and Virtues. In 2004, the band burst onto the American music charts as a four-piece group reveling in hits like “I Write Sins, Not Tragedies.” Five years later, members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group.

Panic! now consists of original members Brendon Urie (lead vocals, guitar, piano) and Spencer Smith (drums). Taking some time to regroup and figure out the right course of action, Urie and Smith’s Vices and Virtues is the first album from the group in nearly three years.

Panic! At the Disco performing at Drai's Hollywood.

“When we split, you know, we didn’t know if we wanted to deal with a different project,” Smith told LA’s The Place. “We just decided that what we were wanting to do was where Panic! was coming from…[Brendon and I] were pretty like-minded where we wanted to go, so it was nice to just kind of do exactly what you wanted to do.”

Much to fans’ relief, they continued working together and recording music under the Panic! At the Disco moniker. The two even brought back the briefly-missing exclamation point in their name, after they dropped it in 2008.

“We definitely brought [the exclamation point] back,” Urie told LA’s The Place. “That was something that we kind of missed as well. We didn’t think about it when we took it away, but now we’re thinking about it.”

Smith added, “It was crazy how much people really noticed that and were aware.”

Spencer Smith and Brendon Urie getting ready for the Stride-Shift private concert.

For the new release, Urie and Smith looked to some new places for inspiration, including ’80s music like Peter Gabriel tunes, world music and dance pieces. The sound also incorporated keyboards and synthesizers, instruments that they had missed using on the previous album.

Vices and Virtues was produced by John Feldman (Good Charlotte, Goldfinger) and singer/songwriter/producer Butch Walker (Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Pink). Walker has worked with Urie before on the song “Open Happiness” for Coca-Cola; Urie and Smith joined Walker for his music video “Pretty Melody.”

“[Walker] has not only amazing equipment—guitars, amps, piano, all amazing—he is such a talented person, it is insane,” Urie explained. “Melody is a huge thing for our band. That’s what we concentrate most on—the melody and how it works in with the chords—and that’s kind of what he does too. He really focuses on melody, so that is really where we met eye to eye, and he was able to help us out a little bit.”

The catchy title for their latest outing came after Panic! had written all the lyrics and started seeing a pattern. They used many words with the same theme: regret, pride, logic, ambition and self-expression, all qualities in someone’s character, so they researched and found a list of these phrases titled “Vices and Virtues.”

The first single from the record is “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” and was released Feb. 1. Its music video shows another creative side of the guys with acting and playing a role, one that they enjoy but don’t necessarily want to make a career out of.

“I think that it is good we can make music videos, and that’s our outlet for acting because I think every musician wants to be an actor and every actor has a band, so it’s cool because everyone knows we’re not trained actors,” Smith revealed. “That’s perfect, and we take advantage of that.”

100 lucky winners were brought out to LA for the concert after a Stride-sponsored contest

Surprisingly for the first time ever the two appeared at the annual entertainment festival, South by Southwest in Austin. Promoting the album there and taking in the ambiance was an entirely new experience for Panic! At the Disco.

“It’s so cool. You can walk anywhere, 10 yards, then 10 more yards and you find different bands,” Urie said. “It’s really bizarre how everybody is so different but everybody just kind of gets along. Even if you don’t like the same music…it’s just this great community.”

Lately, Urie has rediscovered his love for Elvis Costello, and Smith has been enjoying music from The Strokes, Arcade Fire and Fleetwood Mac.

Gearing up for a brand new tour hitting Europe and traveling across the U.S., the planning phase has officially started.

“We’ve just started talking about ideas for dressing the stage and setting it up and what we want to bring up and what the theme would be, so that’s being talked about right now, and that’s always fun too,” Urie said. “Besides the music, besides the videos, talking about the live show is something we really take pride in.”

Panic! is taking its tour to major cities like Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, and here in Los Angeles, hitting the area on June 21 at The Wiltern. And can fans count on the usual costumes, make-up and theatrics from past shows?

Urie laughed, “Of course. There will always be costumes.”

For more information on Panic! At the Disco, visit www.panicatthedisco.com and for details on Stride gum, visit www.stridegum.com.

Christopher Herbert sings while Francois Chouchan plays piano.

24 Poems Set to Music

The one-hour concert featured Schubert’s “Winterreise D911 Opus 89” with Christopher Herbert as baritone with perfect pitch and elocution, accompanied by Francois Chouchan, both master of the technical and emotional demands of this challenging piece on piano. The astounded audience gave three standing ovations in gratitude for the incredible feat the performers completed with such passion and elegance.

Intimate Performance Space

After the performance, champagne was handed out while composer and musicologist Bryon Adams moderated a one-hour interactive discussion between Chouchan, Herbert and the audience. Due to the small space, with only sprawling views of Downtown Los Angeles as set decoration and no stage separating the performers from the audience, an intimacy was created and casual conversation flowed freely. Audience members had direct access to the performers’ process and observations.

Into the Minds of the Masters

It was revealed in the Q & A session that this was the first time Chouchan and Herbert had performed the entire piece together – the audience was even more in awe by the flawless performance. Most questions were on the topic of how Herbert learned to sing with meaning in German for an hour without speaking German and how Chouchan mastered the technically difficult piece.

Herbert, Chouchan, and Adams take questions from the audience.

Next, concert–goers enjoyed petite, gourmet sandwiches and French pastries by Patina while discussing their impressions and meeting like-minded new friends.

Music Event for All

The goal of Le Salon de Musiques is “to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds…music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity” and judging by the event, they are accomplishing this goal.

Bryon Adams leads the Q & A while guests enthusiastically sip champagne.

The event does have a wide range of appeal. A seasoned music professional would glean new insights and yet the event is also accessible for someone who is merely curious and perhaps this is their first exposure to classical music.

Next Concert: Schubert and Brahms

The next Le Salon de Musiques concert and fifth in the series is February 20th, 2011 at 4:00 pm. It features Phillip Levy on violin, Victoria Miskolczy on viola, David Low on cello, and once again Francois Chouchan on piano. They will be playing Schubert’s ‘Sonatina for Violin’ and ‘Piano n.1 in D Major D 384’ as well as Brahms’ ‘Piano Quartet in G minor Opus 25′.

Tickets are $65.00 per person. There is a 10% discount if tickets are purchased for three or more concerts at once and a 20% discount for a full season subscription.

For more information on Le Salon de Musiques, visit:  www.lesalondemusiques.com

Los Angeles has a lot to look forward to on Oct. 8th and 9th, when Roslyn Kind performs at the Catalina Jazz Club.

Now, Roslyn returns to her passion of performing live with her new stage show called “Rozzie’s Back” (Rozzie is a nickname her friends and family call her) featuring songs from her latest album “Come What May”. The New York Times described “Come What May” as “splendid and sizzling”.

The Hollywood Reporter noted, “Roslyn Kind sings like a dream…”

“Forget that Roslyn Kind is Barbra Streisand’s kid sister. She’s too good and too special to have to worry about comparisons…” Don Heckman of LA Times commented on her concert.

The New York Post said, “She’s so good on so many levels; it’s difficult to categorize her.  This elegant, beautiful, petite, dynamo delight rules the stage with a royal command that demands adoration from every seat in the house.”

Roslyn Kind, as an in-demand actress and singer, has accrued an immense biography. Just a few highlights from her career spanning four decades are as follows: her second album “This is Roslyn Kind”, starring roles in the films “The Underachievers” and “I’m Going to Be Famous”, sold out performances of Broadway’s “3 From Brooklyn” in which she starred, and a recent Carnegie Hall debut with Michael Feinstein.

Her long lustrious career began on the afternoon of her high school graduation, when she began recording her first album with RCA, “Give Me You” and appeared three times on the Ed Sullivan Show. Since then, an enduring acting career in Broadway productions, TV shows and movies has allowed Ms. Kind to spread joy to fans with her astounding talent.

She also takes pride in her work for animal welfare causes, Alzheimer’s and AIDS organizations including HSUS, APLA and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS.

Watch for Editor-in-Chief Jane Emery’s upcoming video interview with Roslyn Kind  right here on LA’s The Place!

To find out more about Roslyn, visit : www.roslynkind.com

Don’t miss Roslyn Kind, October 8th and 9th at the:
Catalina Jazz Club
6725 West Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood California 90028
Phone: (323) 466-2210

Jane Carrey

The Barn at UC Riverside
900 University Ave.
Riverside, CA   92507

Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster and the UC Riverside Theatre Box Office. Tickets are $12.00.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. – Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

You can find more information for Jane and The Jane Carrey Band at:

www.myspace.com/janecarreyband

www.facebook.com/janecarreyband

twitter.com/janecarreyband

www.janecarreyband.com

Watch our interview with Jane Carrey and read the article here in LA’s The Place Magazine.