GBK’S  2017 MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS LUXURY GIFT LOUNGE

This is the first year that MTV included television in their annual awards show. Hence, the new moniker MTV Movie & TV Awards. GBK celebrated by holding a hip and happening gift lounge at the Luxe Hotel in Beverly Hills, up in the Penthouse. I’m always so comfortable at that venue, so my contributing writer, Alice, and I were happy to be in attendance.

Everyone was in good spirits there, aided by a duo of cocktail bars, which got Cinco de Mayo off to a happy start! I loved the indoor-outdoor set-up, which featured all their sponsors to their best advantage, even including an active ping-pong table out there, so the guests could play against a champion!  (More on her in a sec.)

Celeb guests such as American Idol’s Randy Jackson, and Thomas Barbusca, the redheaded kid from The Mick, (whom Mr. X says is a wonderful new actor,) were treated to a trio of burgers out there, courtesy of Son of a Bun, who also gave gift certificates to the VIPs so they can each have their own party. (The burgers were so good that I’m thinking of having my fete for just Mr. X and me!)  www.eatsonofabun.com

On top of all that, the gifts were all high-quality and interesting, with two-thirds of them being new ones to me. Here are the highlights of what we discovered there, done in groupings this time:

BOXES/GIFTS:

Boldface Gear—These backpacks are so roomy!  And the best part is that they come with swappable “faces.” Many of them feature popular music groups, such as Wu-Tang Clan and Nirvana, but you can also create your own. And, as Alice pointed-out, “ Now you don’t have to transfer everything out of your backpack when you want to wear a different one. You just change the front panel of it.  Brilliant!”  www.boldfacegear.com

Datebook—What a fabulous idea this is!  It’s a new addition to the subscription box craze, but, at the same time, it’s a unique concept. The contents of each are items that are chosen to use on dates. For example, the one on display in the lounge, labeled “Spa Box,” contains, along with a couple of other items, a duo of colorful mugs, two bath bombs, massage oil, and a fragrant candle. (I just hope that it’s not for a first date!)  www.getdatebox.com

Bouquet Bar—These beautiful orange boxes house special contents for people to send as gifts. (Or even to themselves!) The senders choose from what Alice calls “assorted decadent treats,” (such as chocolate truffles, gummy hearts, and roasted almonds, which were the trio in the box that was on display at the lounge,) or you can just create your own. Such a classy gift!  www.bouquetbar.com

Thoughtfully—This company sends out fabulous gift boxes that I think anyone would be happy to receive. At this event, they were gifting their ones with all the fixings to make Christmas cookies, as a pretty example of the specialness they come up with for all occasions.  www.thoughtfully.com

SPORTS:

Zumer Sport—I think you all know by now how obsessed with sports I am, so my mouth waters every time I see this company’s wares. They make tons of fun items, such as toiletry bags and backpacks, out of sports ball materials! And they continue to come up with new ones all the time. At this lounge, every guest received a durable sunglasses case made from basketball leather, and some VIPs even went home with pillows that look like giant baseballs, basketballs, or tennis balls. (I just wanted to see how many times I could legitimately get the word “balls” into a paragraph!) www.zumersport.com

Sports 1 Marketing—This marketing company gifts many diverse items in the form of an on-line code, so you can basically choose your own. Some of the ones I saw that day are professional makeup brushes, luxury soaps, and hair care products. Alice took a peek, too, and said, “There’s no limit to their product lines.” www.sports1marketing.com

Crystal Kayak—When I spied this see-through kayak, (actually, how could one miss it? It was the biggest display there!,) I just had to find-out about it. The concept is that conventional vessels make you miss what’s going on in the water beneath you, so what better way to capture the beauty of the ocean than with a transparent boat?! How interesting. Since, of course, the company could not gift kayaks to everyone, they gave something even more useful—life-vests! I needed one just looking at something that goes in the water!  www.crystalkayak.com

Vrkira Yoga Studio—The founder of this Beverly Hills yoga studio was on hand to gift a couple of private sessions with her, and a group class, as well. She seemed so peaceful that I’m hoping the mood is contagious. www.vrkirayoga.com

Pongstarz—Ping-Pong pro Kim Gilbert, (who’s the CEO of this company,) was on-hand to show off her skills against the guests who were brave enough to take her on. (I’ll give you one guess if I was!) To make sure we’re all ready for the next challenge, she was gifting certs for a few lessons, which, trust me, the entire assemblage needs!  www.pongstarz.com

Toluca Lake Tennis and Fitness Club—I wasn’t familiar with this club, but I love Toluca Lake. So I just may take them up on their invitation to take tennis lessons or work-out classes in this beautiful setting. And I’ll do it all just to get a massage afterwards! www.tltennisandfitness.com

BEAUTY:

Grande Lash—Alice, who always wears false eyelashes, was especially interested to discover this lash-enhancing serum so she can finally say “goodbye false eyelashes, hello real ones.” She  told me that she can’t wait to try it out for the recommended four to six weeks, and “get set to bat” her own “newly-long lashes.” www.grandecosmetics.com

B Opulent—This jovial jewelry designer personally chooses bracelets for each guest. Alice noted that they’re all “beautiful, rich, and eye-catching.”

CHARITY:

GBK’s charity at this one was the International Society of Human Unity, whose reps were on-site to make the guests even more aware of the horrors of human trafficking.  www.stoppingtrafficfilm.com