The Civil War Intensifies

The ratification of Superhuman Registration Act (HR 421) by the US Congress has caused a Civil War to break out amongst our nation's superheroes. Tony "Ironman" Stark leads the pro-registration allies on one side, while Steve "Captain America" Rogers forms an underground resistance of those who adamantly oppose this violation of civil liberties on the other.



With Spider-Man already unmasking himself on national television in support of the act, this latest crossover event is destined to change the Marvel Universe as we know it.

The folks at Marvel are certainly aware of the popularity of this event, with many issues already on 2nd, even 3rd printings, and 1st printings (like Amazing Spider-Man #529 and She-Hulk #8) becoming increasingly pricey and hard to find.

The series, originally scheduled to wrap in November, has been extended through February of 2007 to accommodate artist Steve McNiven. Accordingly a number of the tie-in books have also been delayed, while other comics (and heroes) have been conscripted into the War (increasing the total number of Civil War books from 81 to 96. Great! Even more to bloody buy!)

Whose Side Are You On?

The American Wine & Food Festival 2006

The Chef's Dinner may have been the premiere event of this past weekend's charitable activities, but the American Wine & Food Festival, held on the Backlot at Universal Studios, was certainly the best attended!

I volunteered Joe and myself to collect tickets from the 2,000 or so guests who had ponied up at least $275.00 to attend the festival, with proceeds going to the Los Angeles chapter of Meels on Wheels.

The Puck-Lazaroff Charitable Foundation, which has supported the festival since it's inception in 1982, this year assembled over 40 chefs and 60 wineriers to converge on the Backlot, crowding the cobblestones from Spartacus Square to the Court of Miracles, and present their wares.

Once we'd finished our volunteer duties, with our trusty souvenir glasses in hand, we descended on the first winery we saw. At the Bridalwood Estate Winery we sampled it's Central Coast Syrah "with aromas of smoke and cedar, followed by a bright berry nose." This was quickly followed by a visit to Mark Miller's Coyote Cafe for some quail and berry compote.

Along the way I got tips on selling merlot from Havens; a nice chilled Australian Shiraz by Green Point; the Rattlesnake Club's signature dark chocolate filled, white chocolate ravioli; the smoothest tequila shot ever, poured through an ice sculpture by the Patron girls; Paul Prudhomme's electric combination of gumbo and potato salad (?); a daiquiri to die for from 10 Cane Rum and much, much more!

After a few hours of sampling, it was necessary to stop by the Peet's Coffee stand before embarking on the trip home (i.e. time to sober up a little). You know how people tend to congregate around the milk station at your local coffee shop? Well, it was no different here, so as I try and back out, BANG! Right into this guy standing inches behind me. I whisper some choice "sweet nothings" under my breathe, though still loud enough for the guy behind me to hear, and the guy adding his milk next to me to let out a chortle. As I turn round to sneer, so does my bang-ee, none other than Top Chef himself, Tom Colicchio! Time to go!

Sipping our scalding Peet's, about to depart on the trams back to the parking structure, which NBC/Universal star do we run into? One whose very parking space we'd passed on the tram-trip in. That Crossing Jordan Jill Hennessy.

A beautiful end to a beautiful event!

CELEBFLASH: Royalty

It was a busy weekend for the Spago Beverly Hills family, starting Friday night with an event at the Regent Beverly Wilshire's pool deck in association with the folks from Cigar Aficionado, and culminating Sunday in the 7th Annual Chefs Grand Tasting Dinner* at the restaurant itself.

Friday night I volunteered to help out poolside. Unfortunately I was relegated to the hotel lobby, along with the fabulous pink-haired Mary, to direct guests up to the event. However this did allow me to stop by and say "hi" to the girls at Cut, Wolfgang's essential new LA steakhouse in it's space designed by Getty Center designer Richard Meier. While loitering in the hotel lobby not only did I set eyes on the "rich & famous" Robin Leach, but a way too thin Rebecca De Mornay (so thin actually her head looked somewhat misshapen and too big for her body).

Also loitering around the Regent that evening, perusing trinkets in one of the Regent's boutiques, was none other than Weight Watcher extraordinaire herself Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York (though no longer Her Royal Highness).

Encouraged by the marvellous Mary, over we went to introduce ourselves, gush a little (or a lot as it happened, all the while tripping over my tongue) and with camera phone at the ready, all set to take a snapshot. Fergie willingly obliged, which was really super nice of her since she was doing a spot of shopping with the girls, and especially after the drivel that spewed from my lips. See Exhitibt A to the left (and yes, I'm short and she's quite tall).

* Some of the Chefs who will be plating dishes out of the Spago kitchen will be Mario Batali (Babbo), Alain Ducasse (Plaza Athénée), Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill), Nobu Matsuhisa (Matsuhisa), and Eric Ripert (Le Bernardin) amoungst others, all hand-picked by our own Chef Lee Hefter.

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

Or so the song says.

At work the other day the girls had a very important discussion on the size and price of the rocks in the engagement rings they were hoping their men would one day give them. Who knew it was every girls' dream to have carte blanche at Tiffany's, a la Sweethome Alabama. This whole ring business is not something I've ever thought about. Why would I?

Traditionally the cost of the ring/rock was two weeks of the man's wages. Recently that has risen to three months of earnings (or so says diamond importer de Beers).

Fortunately being gay, buying an engagement ring is not something I'm going to have to worry about...

Or am I?

The same day as this diamond discussion I get home to a wedding invitation from my ex-wife and her partner (fiancee or future wife, whichever you'd prefer).

With the dilemma that is gay marriage in the US, it's amazing that the de Beers, Pottery Barns and Crate & Barrels in this world are not opening supporting, evening advocating for the legalization of Federally sanctioned same-sex unions.

Can you imagine how much more business they would do?

CELEBFLASH: Desperate

Remember the days of the 1993 Seinfeld episode, The Implant, when Teri Hatcher was considered quite curvy. As Sidra, Hatcher's last line of the episode was the memorable,

"They're real, and they're spectacular."

A reference of course to her breasts, which Elaine had told Jerry were fake.

Stopping off for a coffee and Farmeeoh at The Farm on Saturday before our early evening performance of Hollywoodland (which, by the way, was very banal and certainly not worth the $11.00 per head admission), who should be on her way out but none only than the Desperate Housewife herself.

Sporting the requisite dark sunglasses, Teri hurriedly swept out of the restaurant, with kid in tow, looking even thinner in person that she does on the telly. And by thin, I mean sickly so... bonier than a skeleton at Disney's Haunted Mansion.

Thank god the camera adds 10 pounds!

The Original Original Trilogy

After years of professing that the original theatrical versions of the first Star Wars trilogy would never be released on DVD, today Lucasfilm has finally succumb to fan pressure.

Back in 1992 we all thought we had purchased "the original, one last time." Today, packaged along with the 2004 digitally remastered "Special Editions," are the films I grew up with.

There's no reference to "A New Hope"; Han shoots first; both Mos Eisley and Cloud City are barely bustling; the Wampa's not scary; Sy Snootles sings "Lapti Nek" and the Ewoks "Yub Nub"; and good ol' Sebastian Shaw stands there at the end with Ben and Yoda.

Presented in non-anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 2.0, devotees are still not happy however. In a recent press release, Lynne Hale of Lucasfilm publicity, announced that "since [the theatrical editions] do not represent George's artistic vision, we could not put the extraordinary time and resources into this project as we did with the Special Editions," and "that we have no plans – now or in the future – to restore the earlier versions."

George is constantly tinkering with his universe, and it's speculated that definitive editions of the movies will be released on the new hi-def optical format, Blu-ray, in the near future. So do we really think this will be the last time the original versions are released, and are they really worth buying now?

With the 30th anniversary next year, the 4th Star Wars Celebration here in LA, the extension of Hasbro's contract through 2018, and two TV series on the horizon, the Star Wars universe is ever expanding!

A Toast to Toast!

This past Labor Day weekend it was finally time to brunch at Toast, another one of those “lifestyle” breakfast places that dot the Sunday-morning landscape out here.

Toast, a “Bakery-Café” at the corner of 3rd and Harper is always bustling! Anytime you pass the place throngs of trendy LA types litter the sidewalk, dressed just so as they valet their Lamborghini or Porsches.

We didn't feel the need to be seen under the sidewalk’s shady umbrellas, instead listing ourselves as "first available" and within 20 minutes got a nice high-top table in the window. With a menu spanning breakfast, lunch and dinner and a pastry case that is to die for, we placed our orders with our attractive and attentive waiter.

Sitting near the expeditor’s window, it was interesting to see the staff “battle” to bring us our food. From the runner, to the flirtatious blond to our stocky server, our food passed through three sets of hands before reaching our table.

Joe ordered the Eggs Florentine, I had the Protein Scramble. Both were light, non-greasy and particularly tasty! I was even allowed to substitute a truly scrumptious Red Velvet cupcake instead of regular toast (so good in fact we took a Half ‘N’ Half version to go)!!!

Overall we could not have had a better experience, good food, prompt service, great people watching… I cannot wait to go back, if only to try another cupcake!!!