MTV Movie Awards GBK Gifting Suite

By Frances Vega
 

AnnaLynne Mccord being interviewed (photo by Frances Vega)

The GBK MTV Movie Awards Gifting Lounge was held at the SLS Hotel in Beverly this weekend.

This invitation only lounge was open to various celebrities on Friday and Saturday. Nominees and presenters gathered for afternoons filled with unique gifts and entertainment.  This year’s suite had a vintage cinema theme. Guest entered through a garden decorated with black and white cabanas, mirrored tables, and comfy couches.

GBK Productions, one of the top gifting suite production companies and the recipient of multiple  BizBash Awards for “Best Gift Bag,” offered its exclusive list of invited celebrities, VIPs and media the opportunity to enjoy the fabulous L.A. weather with custom ice cream and free bar drinks.

Celebrities Unite For Diabetes Awareness And Prevention

By Frances Vega

Celebrities gathered at the K1 Speed Indoor Racing facility Saturday for a day full of snacks, racing, and awareness.  

Dorian Gregory, Steve-O, Verne Troyer, and Kyle Massey were just a few of the big names that attended the Celebrity Go Kart Tournament benefiting the American Diabetes Association.

The event, hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson and Gary Sturgis from Tyler Perry’s Diary of A Mad Black Woman, was a celebration of family fitness and fun. Celebrities, nonprofit organizations, and everyday folks joined forces to give back to their communities. The race consisted of 16 celebrity led teams competing against each other for cash prizes. Each team consisted of a celebrity team captain and a handful of children, teens, and volunteers.  The winners used the cash prize to donate to the charity of their choice. 

Other activities at the event included a silent auction, catered food and beverages, personal accounts about diabetes, and a musical performance by R&B duo Mona Lisa. 

The personal accounts were the most touching parts of the day. People came up to the stage and talked about loved ones who have suffered from diabetes. Miss California International, Brittany Wagner, was especially open about her father who lost his sight and eventually died from complications with diabetes. 

The Lovely Mark Freeman

    A bartender by day and a drag queen by night, actor and comedian Mark Freeman was surprised when he realized he had more control of his career as a woman.

    “There were no real theater companies that I wanted to be a part of, no shows that I was interested in doing and for me it was a way for me to be on stage and play a character. And I was in complete control of it,” Freeman said.

Freeman studied theater at Ohio State. Becoming a drag queen was never part of his plan, but he says queens always had a way of finding him.

The “Gayest Store on Earth”

By Frances Vega

Wall magnets at Block Party store (photo by Frances Vega)

Near the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente lies what has been deemed “the gayest store on Earth,” at least that’s what the owner calls it.

The store’s official name is Block Party. It is part clothing store and part novelty items. Customers have the option of buying a tank top, an “out and proud magnet,” or even adult literature. Owner Larry Block likes to think there is something for everyone, but he doesn’t want people to forget they are in the heart of “Boystown.”

“West Hollywood is becoming a homogeneous city. And that’s not good,” Block said.
Block opened his store a few months after A Different Light Bookstore closed in 2009. Selling adult books for the gay, lesbian, and transgendered community in West Hollywood, the store had been a staple in the city for almost 30 years. When Block heard about the closure he wanted to make sure the building continued being a part of the gay community. He knew the store’s owners were considering selling the store to American Apparel and he did not want the deal to happen.

Whitney Port Talks "True Whit" At USC

Whitney Port (Photo: Frances Vega)

Reality star and fashion designer, Whitney Port, appeared at USC Tuesday to talk with students about her new book, “True Whit.”

Port, who appeared on "The Hills" and starred on her own spinoff, "The City," has kept herself busy over the last few months. She’s working hard on her clothing line, doing charity work for an organization called FACE Africa, has a new book out, and for one night she added motivational speaker to the list.

High Capacity Magazine Ban

By Frances Vega
 

Courtesy of Paul Koretz's office

Los Angeles City officials announced their support Wednesday of a proposed federal bill that would ban large ammunition magazines like the one used in the recent Tucson shooting.

 “You know the US has got to get beyond it’s fascination with unrestricted access to fire arms and recognize that a civilized society does not need implements of war in the hands of its citizenry in order for home protection,” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck in an interview later. “There is no need for magazine capacity above 10 rounds in civilian hands.”

Beck, City Council President Eric Garcetti, City Councilmember Paul Koretz, and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich held a press conference urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 308. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) sponsored the pending federal law that would prohibit magazines holding more than 10 rounds. A magazine is an ammunition feeding and storage device used in automatic and semiautomatic weapons. The magazine may be detachable or internal.

"Night Of 100 Stars" Oscar Viewing Party

Dalai Lama (Photo by Frances Vega)

By Frances Vega

The 83rd Academy Awards was the biggest event of the night on Sunday, but some celebrities chose a cozier event to attend.

The Beverly Hills Hotel hosted the 21st Annual Night of 100 Stars. This black-tie private dinner featured former Oscar winners, nominees, and other television and film actors. Celebrities had a chance to get together and watch the awards live from the hotel's Crystal Ballroom.

Nearly 200 stars arrived on the red carpet to show off their most formal attire. Even the Dalai Lama made and appearance. This years guests included Ed Asner, Fred Willard, Keith David, Alan Thicke, Chris McDonald, Antonio Sabato Jr., Lea Thompson, Bai line and many others.

Local Businesses Suffer During Oscar Setup

GBK Oscars Gifting Lounge

Mike O'Malley

By Frances Vega

The GBK Oscars Gifting Lounge was held at the W Hotel in Hollywood this weekend.

This invitation only lounge was open to various celebrities from Thursday through Saturday. GBK Productions, one of the leading gifting suite production companies, welcomed guests with cake from Hansen's Cakes and large black duffel bags for them to put their presents in.  Various sponsors bombarded Academy Award nominees, comedians and television stars with extravagant merchandise. Guests received trips to Tanzania, designer clothing, jewelry, wine, makeup and much more.

Celebrities to make an appearance throughout the weekend included: Jacki Weaver, Tom Hooper, Beau Bridges, Cloris Leachman, Denise Richards, William Shatner, Justin Long, Tristan Wilds, Camille Grammer, Jaime Pressly, Cheech Marin, Malin Akerman, Lisa Vanderpump, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eddie Hassell, Taylor Armstrong, Kelly Rutherford, Lauren Velez, Nia Peeples, Tim Daly, Fred Willard, Natasha Henstridge, Nelson Ellis and Raven-Symone, to name a few.

The President of GBK Productions, Gavin B. Keilly, will donated proceeds to A New Way of Life, the American Red Cross, City of Hope and other charities.

Bedroom Talk at the L.A. Zoo

Gerenuks (Photo courtesy of Tad Motoyama)

By Frances Vega

For those that were looking for a unique way to spend their Valentine’s Day weekend, a trip to the L.A. Zoo might have been the perfect choice.

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association hosted “Sex and the City Zoo 2” on Sunday, a fundraiser intended to help fund the zoo. The lighthearted lecture taught people about the mating, dating and cohabiting behaviors of animals in the wild. Sponsors of the event also provided couples with free champagne, wine and dessert to enjoy prior to the lecture.

Rock The Vote Hosts Election Party In Santa Ana

Rock the Vote (Frances Vega)

By Frances Vega

Rock the Vote went down to Orange County on Tuesday to help all the locals celebrate on election night.

People from all parties were invited to Original Mike's in Santa Ana to listen to music and watch the returns as they came in.

Attendees enjoyed free food, drink specials, and live music throughout the night to help them wind down after a long day of campaigning and rallying people to vote.

Major political figures from all parties invited to the event.  Loretta Sanchez (rep.), Miguel Pulido (Mayor, City of Santa Ana), John Hanna (Trustee, Rancho Santiago College District), and John Karczynski-Ferguson (Former Chair of Log Cabin Republicans) were all confirmed to attend.
The mood was mellow at Original Mike's.

Rastafarians Asked To Make Exception For Prop 19

Members of the community gather for a service.

By Frances Vega and Daniel Watson

He looms over his church — 6-foot-8, swaying between members with fiery eyes and a booming voice.

“They say, do NOT talk about politics and do NOT talk about religion,” hepreaches. “Well tonight, I’m breaking some rules.”

Smoke rises up from a select few in his congregation. The reggae band waits patiently behind the pulpit.

Today, just days before the 2010 Midterm Elections, King Oji — priest of The First Church of Rasta — is commanding his Rastafarian congregation to take heed to a different sort of message.

Meeting the President's Supporters

Catching some Zzz's before the rally

By Frances Vega    

People from all walks of life came to the University of Southern California on Friday for the chance to see President Barack Obama in the flesh.

     The commander in chief made a special visit to the campus to try to energize the Democratic Party. He was rallying supporters to get out to vote for the midterm elections. School officials originally estimated a turn out of 30,000 people, but by the looks of it there were many more than expected. The center of the campus was completely closed off to the public and security was preventing students from going where they needed to be. Even when there wasn’t a police officer waiting to tell a student he or she could not pass, a make shift fence and caution tape was able to do the trick.