GIFTING SUITE: DEBBIE DURKIN’S ECOLUXE LOUNGE FOR THE OSCARS 2017

0

DEBBIE DURKIN’S ECOLUXE LOUNGE FOR THE OSCARS 2017

Hacksaw Ridge producer David Permut and actor Beau Bridges being thrilled to see each other!  Photo courtesy of Debbie Durkin.

Hacksaw Ridge producer David Permut and actor Beau Bridges being thrilled to see each other! Photo courtesy of Debbie Durkin.

My contributing writer, Alice, and I made sure to get to this one bright and early. Debbie Durkin’s Ecoluxe Lounge, at the top of Beverly Hills’ Beverly Hilton Hotel, was not to be missed.

It featured an absolutely gorgeous all-day brunch buffet on the roof, where the air was beautiful, and the atmosphere was downright relaxing. I started a table of interesting show biz folks as soon as I arrived. I hadn’t seen my good friend, Oscar-nominated Hacksaw Ridge producer, David Permut, that relaxed all awards season! I didn’t even mind his picking all the wonderful fruit off my plate! That’s how relaxed we all were!

Photo by Alice Farinas.

Photo by Alice Farinas.

Alice took one look at the food, and gasped, “What a spread!!!” In addition to the the usual brunch fare of e-words, bacon, and sausage, the buffet included veggie quiche, baked brie, bagels and lox, (with all the trimmings,) cheese and charcuterie platters, all kinds of tasty breads, (such as banana nut, sweet poppy seed, and apple strudel, which were all so moist,) mixed green salad and the fixings, three kinds of cream cheese, (including spinach, which I had never even heard of before!,) granola and yogurt parfaits, and delicious fresh fruits. And the breath-taking view matched the richness of the feast in front of us.

It was really difficult for us to tear ourselves away from the outdoors, but we needed some time to visit the attractive sponsors, who were inside, so that’s what we did.

Here are the highlights of those:

Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of the page.

Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of the page.

Chariot Luggage—When Alice saw these fabulous suitcases, which come in wonderful and creative patterns, she exclaimed, “Now this is the way to travel! With such exciting luggage!” She was the most drawn to classic patterns, such as the “ sophisticated and stylish” black-and-white houndstooth, I couldn’t take my eyes off the playful ones with dogs, and crazy colorful designs. But I think that most people will be surprised that my fave is the map of the world! Even though I don’t travel much, I’m fascinated with globes and maps. www.chariottravelware.com

Photo by Alice Farinas.

Photo by Alice Farinas.

HastensLA—I already own a pair of the coziest down booties in the world from this bedding company out of Sweden, but now, luckily for Angelenos, they have a couple of stores right here in town!!! The funny thing is that, on the morning of this event, Mr. X asked if I was ever going to take them off, since I’ve been wearing them non-stop for months now. And I told him that I could not because they are my favorite item I own! I mean it. So, to be able to introduce David Permut to this whole heavenly company was my pleasure. And he emailed me that very night to say that now he can’t take off his booties, either! So, can you imagine how heavenly it would be to sleep in a Hastens bed?! OMG. I might never leave the house again! www.hastensla.com

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Autism Changes—Author Dennis Vanasse, who wrote the  book Jagger’s World of Autism, was on hand to meet the guests, and personally give them each a copy of his book, which tells the tale of an autistic boy and his struggle to be accepted, as happens too often to autistic people. Alice noted that the book “goes along with the message of this group, as a whole.” Their mission is “to bring compassion, inclusion, and acceptance to autism communities all around the world.” We wish them the best with that. www.autismchanges.com

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Modern Oats—I’ve eaten these cups of flavorful, easy-to-make instant oatmeal for several years now, so I was happy to see some new flavors, like the sweet and crunchy Coconut Almond, at the suite. Health-conscious Alice appreciated that they’re made with whole grains and seeds and are gluten-free. www.modernoats.com

OC Hair and Make-up—This mobile beauty services company was on-site doing all kinds of touch-ups for the guests. On top of that, they gave each guest a little goodie bag containing a nail polish and a lip stain, so they can continue the beauty at home! www.ochairandmakeup.com

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Photo by Karen Salkin.

Diamond Interiors–On the way out, we noticed a gorgeous area that was all decked-out with what Alice called “the swankiest furniture.” It was all thanks to this interior designer. To help us remember them, they gifted each guest with a pair of cool headphones that are shaped like cat ears. www.diamondinteriorsla.com

Dena Burton—This very pleasant clothing designer was gifting long scarfs made from silk yarn. Alice said that with such “long flowy tassels, it’s elegant enough to wear with a dress!” www.denaburton.com

Jamaican Tourist Board—To get guests excited to visit their country, they gave-out bags of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Alice said that “the smell of it takes you back to the island.” (She’s never been, so I don’t know how she knows that, but I’m taking her word for it.) I don’t drink coffee, but Jamaica always has me at “Usain Bolt!” www.visitjamaica.com

And with that, dear readers, we’ve come to the end of my Oscars coverage.  Whew! I really have to thank my proofreader, Carol Rampino, for getting me through all these detailed columns.  I really could not have done it without her this time!

Now, on to new topics next week! They’ll be different, but equally interesting.  I hope!

Share.

Leave A Reply