Variety On the Town

A Touch of Glamour

Kyle MacLachlan and wife Desiree Gruber were brave enough to open up their L.A. home Wednesday night to stars, fashionistas and lookey loos who gathered to toast the new senior West Coast Editor of Glamour magazine, James Patrick Herman, at an intimate cocktail party. Guests such as Nicollette Sheridan, Mila Kunis and "American Idol's" David Cook were spread around the picture perfect abode nibbling on hors d'oeuvres while trying not to be too nosy and sneaking glances at the couple's personal photos framed through out the house. MacLachlan played host chatting with guests and tending to his eight-month pregnant wife who also celebrated her birthday at the soiree with a 'happy birthday' serenade and a cake.

Pictured: MacLachlan and Sheridan/ Jason Statham, James Patrick Herman and actor Clifton Collins Jr.  - WireImage

Spitzer Steps Out

A smiling Silda Wall Spitzer definitely looked different than the last time we saw her as she arrived at the 8th annual "The Art of Giving" benefit Wednesday in Gotham. Silda, otherwise known as the sad looking wife who stood next to her husband, former N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer, as he resigned from his post thanks to his admiration for call girls, made her first public appearance at the Christie's gala. The event was hosted by the charity she founded Children for Children, which is a non-profit org that works to foster community involvement and social responsibility in young people. Mr. Spitzer was not in attendance.

Vanity Fair's Toast to Tribeca

Although they canceled their Oscar party, Vanity Fair proved they still know how to throw a lavish fete Tuesday night as Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Lorne Michaels, Harvey Keitel and Edie Falco arrived at the State Supreme Courthouse bash to help kick-off the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival, which starts Wednesday.

(pictured: VF's Graydon Carter and Larry David, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld/ WireImage)

Parties, Premieres and Prada

While you were sleeping, stars were partying and promoting projects all over Los Angeles Thursday night.

At the Mann's Chinese Theater, David Arquette and Courteney Cox celebrated the bow of "Nosebleed." Director Jeff Vespa is the man behind the ten-minute short that was shot in black and white with no dialogue. "Nosebleed" centers around a man (Arquette), seemingly in the aftermath of breaking up with a girl, whose lonely life is interrupted one evening by, what else, a nosebleed.

In Beverly Hills, stars such as Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Banks (pictured left), Isaiah Washington, Rosario Dawson, Nicole Richie, Brooke Shields and Minnie Driver gathered for a fashionable fete at the Prada store for their "Trembled Blossoms" event.  While over at the ArcLight Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla, (pictured right) celebrated at the premiere of "The Hammer." Carolla co-wrote the pic and plays an amateur boxer who decides to get back in the ring after a twenty-year hiatus.  Watch a clip from the film below.

Photo credit: WireImage

The Sweet Sound of Success

It was better late than never as L.A.'s top sound facility Todd-AO and Soundelux celebrated their Oscar wins for "The Bourne Ultimatum" last week at Santa Monica's Hotel Casa Del Mar. At the bash, producer Frank Marshall mingled with re-recording mixer Scott Millan and supervising sound editors Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers. The Oscar winners arrived with their kudos so that guests could take pictures with the golden statue. Noting that the 45 seconds allowed during an Oscar acceptance speech was simply not enough time to get out all the necessary thank yous, Hallberg and Landers introduced over twenty co-workers to the crowd so that they too could be recognized for their work.                          (M. McNiece)

Left: Per Hallberg and Frank Marshall (photo credit: Andreas Branch)

The Rocket Man's Party Takes Off

Elton John took the stage for his annual Oscar party benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation on Sunday, performing a full set including classic hits such as Rocket Man, Benny and the Jets, Tiny Dancer and Crocodile Rock. Dozens of celebs including Stevie Wonder, Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Allen, Jeremy Piven and Seal and Heidi Klum poured into the Pacific Design Center after the Oscar ceremony just in time to catch a lively duet between John and special guest Mary J. Blige.

And despite his film being shut out at the Oscars, Sean Penn was still in the mood to celebrate with date Petra Nemcova. “Tonight’s not about disappointments,” said the “Into the Wild” writer-director. Guests filed out just before midnight when John and his entourage snuck out the back door to avoid the red carpet en route to Madonna’s after-bash.  (J. Sneider)

Getting Into the Spirit

"Never have so many people, who made so little money shooting a movie, gathered in such a fancy place," thesp Patricia Clarkson noted during the Spirit Awards nominees reception at Santa Monica's swank Hotel Casa Del Mar on Thursday. "What the hell, chandeliers?" she said of the ballrooms lavish decor. The party gave the indie crowd, including Film Independent topper Dawn Hudson, Marisa Tomei, Jason Reitman and Tamara Jenkins, a chance to sip some wine and nibble on mini veggie burgers before the Spirit Awards on Saturday. Rainn Wilson, who will be hosting Saturday's event, briefly spoke at the reception saying, "I have about 17 or 18 funny things to say on Saturday so I am not going to say anything funny now and spoil the mojo."                        (M. McNiece)

Evans Flexes His Specs

Surrounded by a bevy of nubile young things — plus his lil’ buddy Brett Ratner — producer Robert Evans opened his BevHills manse for a luncheon Thursday to launch a new eyewear line for Oliver Peoples. But it wasn’t just about eating and eyeglasses. Guests including Emmanuelle Seigner, Russell Simmons, producer Beau Flynn, Marley Shelton and Oliver Peoples CEO-prexy David Schulte gathered under the tent draped over Evans’ dark oval pool to watch the U.S. Olympic synchronized swim team splash around a bit too. As the white-capped, red-lipped swimmers exited the pool, late arrival John Stamos offered them a hand and his jacket. Later, bespectacled and surrounded by still more specs, Evans received well-wishers from his infamous bed… Disappointingly, it wasn’t covered with the furry throw you’d expect. But Evans was devilishly charming as ever. (S. Swart)

Snoop Dogg Gets His Wings

You may be able to get Snoop Dogg to go to your party, but don't expect him to eat your food. At a swank dinner at Citrus at Social Hollywood on Thursday celebrating the launch of Nicole Khristine Jewelry, Snoop skipped the lobster, short ribs and potatoes au gratin and opted for some chicken wings that were brought in for him on the sly. While grooving to a performance by musical group, Paddy Casey, Snoop nibbled on his wings, while guests such as Cheryl Hines, Jerry Rice, Joey Fatone and Jane Kaczmarek stuck with the night's culinary cuisine. Jewelry designers Nikki DeBartolo and Khristine Williams proved they know how to throw a good party when following the dinner, they invited guests to a private bash at Social where DJ AM had the packed crowd dancing late into the night.                          (M. McNiece)

BAFTA's Tea Time

The event: The BAFTA/LA tea party

The details: Saturday at the BevHills Hotel

The guest list: BAFTA/LA chairman Peter Morris, Allison Janney, Hal Holbrook, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Scott Rudin, Paul Webster, David Cronenberg, Julian Schnabel and Brad Bird.

The talk - the Writer's Strike: “I’m very disappointed at the same time I’m in total sympathy with the writers’ position. I would’ve preferred them to do it next year,” quipped “Into the Wild” composer Michael Brook.   “Juno” director Jason Reitman said, “I made a small movie, my hope was that some people would see it, now a whole bunch of people have seen it. We’re nominated for all these awards I never expected. You hope in your career to achieve what I’ve done on this film and it’s happened so early to me that my only fear is nothing to do with asterisks, it’s having to living the rest of my life and trying to feel this once again.” (S. Dore)