WOW CREATIONS PRE-OSCARS GIFTING SUITE 2025

Since I was mostly otherwise-engaged the week before the recent Oscars, (with show openings, restaurant reviews, soirees,) I had time to attend only one Gifting Suite this year, and Wow Creations was it!

It was held once again in the ballroom of the Universal Hilton Hotel; that gave everyone a big space to move around in, which I always appreciate.

The most important part of the day was learning about the worthwhile charitable organization Every Day Action, which was founded to make sure that movie and TV sets donate all their leftover catered food to people in need, instead of throwing it away. It’s such a wonderful idea! Whenever I’ve been on a set, I’ve asked the caterers what they do with all that extra food, and have never been given a proper answer. Now I know why—they were just wasting it, which is heartbreaking, especially nowadays. The lovely on-site reps explained the entire program to us. They even laughed at my crazy story of the food person on one of my movie sets berating me for using a little extra cream one day! If I had known it was going to someone who needed it back then, I would have left it alone, and everyone would have been happy. I’m glad to see that there’s much less food waste on sets now. I hope that every production gets in on the program right away. www.youreverydayaction.org

On top of that dose of kindness, (and in keeping with the “food” theme,) my co-writer, Laura, and I were thrilled to discover that this event was snack-heavy! We were hungry girls when we arrived, but stuffed to the gills when we left!

Laura explains, “We were treated to a variety of delicious offerings.” There were “mouthwatering” sandwiches in a great variety of flavors, (including meat lovers, vegetarian, and even vegan,) from Vesti; all different kinds of delish pizzas from Gino’s East; Ubatuba Acai’s healthful frozen acai bowls with little bits of fresh fruit on top; Roxanne’s Biscotti, a small packet of which lucky guests even got to take home; and, as Laura put it, “scrumptious” cupcakes on the way out.

Along with our food journey, there were also several gifts in the suite. Here’s what we found:

The IndiExhibit Artwork—This fabulous collective of artists from around the country was the highlight for us. Laura met them for the first time and said, “The ladies at the IndiExhibit table were so lovely, and their work showed just how talented they are, as well.” Their display was so beautiful that I have no idea how any of the guests chose just one work of art! Laura and I spent a lot of time perusing the works, with her explaining, “The were gifting everything from artwork on mini canvases to hand-painted tiles and shells to even engraved wooden signs! The vibrant colors and intricate designs on each piece truly reflected their unique styles. It was clear that every item was created with passion and care, making it easy to appreciate their creativity.” Some of our faves were what the artist calls “almost-macabre wide-eyed little girls,” created with prismacolor makers by ShayJayReed (www.lostgirlart.com); all kinds of clowns by Kathy Adalian (www.screwballgraphics.com); paintings by Jenna Burnside, who uses acrylic paint on many canvases to create semi-realism visions come to life (www.ko-fi.com/%20jennasartisticchaos); and my perennial faves—watercolor and acrylic paintings by Lynne Reichhart (www.artbylmr.com.)

Art Lewin—We’ve both met Art and his wife Jamie at several events over the years, and are always happy to see them again. Laura says they are “both incredibly nice and charming.” But the important thing for the guests here was that this bespoke menswear designer was gifting a set of a classy black bowtie and matching pocket square, a pairing that Laura says is “nothing short of Oscar-worthy.” www.artlewinbespoke.com

Bluelene—We’ve run into these cutting-edge skincare products before, and always love learning about their new items. Laura says that what “makes Bluelene especially intriguing is their patented formula,” which she discovered “neutralizes free radicals, and promotes healthy cell proliferation, leading to smoother, more youthful skin.” We were both particularly impressed by their Face & Neck Remodel Mask, which also helps contour the jawline. Laura says it caught her attention “for its unique approach to targeting skin rejuvenation in those areas.” And who doesn’t need that? www.bluelene.com

Sonya Paz—I’ve been using colorful business card cases from this artist for several years, so I was very happy to introduce Laura to her work here. After we admired her designs for a while, Laura said, “I love when artists incorporate their artwork into everyday items, making art more accessible and functional. Sonya Paz does this beautifully by bringing her bold, colorful images to objects we use daily, such as the business card holders she was gifting that day. It’s a fantastic way to blend creativity with functionality while making art a part of everyday life.” www.sonyapaz.com

ManLabs—This skincare line for men was gifting their new Titan Peptide Eye Gel. Laura says, “I always appreciate when a suite includes the men. It’s great to see more brands acknowledging the importance of male skincare.” I’d love to try some for my often-exhausted self, so I guess I’ll just have to use my deepest voice when I do! www.manlabs.com

Mike & Niki’s Honey—Laura told me that “it’s not every day that you get to meet a real beekeeper,” which the owners of this company are. They were at this suite gifting a choice of their duo of wild honeys–Sage and Livermore Fremont–(I should asked what the latter is,) along with a few straws that are also filled with the honey. I believe they’re meant to be used to stir right into tea, which is so much easier than using a spoon for that purpose. www.mikeandnikishoney.com

Comfy Dental Studios—This dentist’s office was gifting certificates for a complimentary thirty-minute “Vibroacoustic Therapy” session. Laura looked-up what that entails, and explains, “It turns-out to be a form of sound therapy that uses low-frequency sine wave vibrations, delivered through a device with embedded speakers, to penetrate the body. I really love how dentists are expanding the range of services they provide. Who knows—maybe people will actually start looking forward to their dental visits now!” www.comfydentalstudios.com

There was also a plethora of artists from Japan on-site. Laura says they were “showcasing their beautiful and intricate artistic talents,” and we enjoyed meeting them all. They gave me a chance to brush up on numbers from 1-10 in Japanese; I had been missing the one for “6,” but when their interpreter told me it’s some word like “loco,” I realized that I’d just think of myself to remember it! Each artist gave the guests a small token to remember them by, such as a postcard or tote bag. The most interesting one was a kit where you trace Japanese letters to learn them. They asked if I wanted to do one right there, but I declined because with people watching, I said the page would look like Lucy smearing her lipstick across her face by accident!