![\"](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_6404-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
So, last week-end, I headed downtown to the gorgeous Union Station, for Autism Speaks\u2019 glamorous Into The Blue Fashion Gala.\u00a0 The whole event had the look of a soiree in a movie, especially as I approached it from the valet. I was happy to finally see a crowd in LA who all knew to dress-up for an event! Just about everyone was in cocktail attire and looked fabulous! [Note: But there\u2019s always a slob or two mixed in at these events, which I just don\u2019t get. I can\u2019t imagine what\u2019s in these people\u2019s minds to dress like that, especially if they plan to walk the red, or in this case blue, carpet! Or be on stage, hint, hint, to the man who spoke in…jeans and sneakers!!! I may have to start handing out citations to these people, just so they know how inappropriate they are!]<\/p>\n
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
Union Station was an elegant and perfect venue for the festivities. The first part of the evening was an outdoor cocktail reception, which was all lit up, and decorated in blue accents, since that\u2019s the signature color of Autism Speaks.\u00a0 (Thank goodness it was the night before<\/em> the current heatwave hit, so we were all very comfortable out there.) The silent auction was set-up out there, as well, and included something for everyone\u2019s tastes, including a visit to the GBK Golden Globes Gifting Suite, which I will be a guest at myself. I\u2019ve written about their previous events many a time, so I can vouch for what a special time the winner of this auction item will have.<\/p>\n There were two bars in the courtyard, and plentiful hors d\u2019oeuvres were passed by amiable servers all night.\u00a0 The main attraction of the fare seemed to be individual cups of chicken tiki masala on rice, but shockingly for me, I didn\u2019t eat because I was too excited about meeting two of my favorite actors from new television series this season, Freddie Highmore and Brandon Michael Hall. (I\u2019ll get back to the festivities after I sing the praises of these two.)<\/p>\n Freddie Highmore and Karen Salkin, showing off her fabulous jewelry. Photo by Lisa Politz.<\/p><\/div>\n Freddie Highmore is the star of\u00a0The Good Doctor<\/em>, on which he plays a doctor who has autism. The entire show was one of the honorees for the evening, being the recipient of the Awareness Award, which that series totally deserves. I\u2019ve never heard more people discussing autism than I have since this show premiered and became an instant hit. So, big kudos to them!<\/p>\n I watched as everyone asked Freddie for pictures, or to do an interview, or just to have a conversation. I really didn\u2019t want to bother him, but once I saw how open and receptive he was to everyone, I worked-up my courage to have a chat.\u00a0 He seemed relieved when I had different topics from the norm for him, which made me happy. First up, I told him how I love\u00a0Finding<\/em> Neverland<\/em>, the movie that first brought him fame in this country. And when I told him how good he was on a recent Jimmy Kimmel show, we had a laugh over it. I was glad to hear first-hand that Jimmy is as wonderful a talk show host to his guests as he is funny.<\/p>\n I told Freddie that it was so good of him to show up for this event, and he said it was fun for him. He told me that he loved meeting the wives and husbands of the people he works with on the show, so that made the occasion even more interesting for him. I was very happy to see that he\u2019s as lovely as I thought he would be.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Brandon Micheal Hall. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n A bit later on, when the assemblage moved into the Grand Ballroom\u00a0for the fashion show and awards, I noticed Brandon Micheal Hall arrive all by his lonesome, and take a seat towards the back of the room. I just had to go over and tell him how much I love his new sitcom,\u00a0The Mayor<\/em>. The strange thing is that, although the show had aired for three weeks at that point, Mr. X and I had just seen the pilot\u2026that afternoon! It was so weird\u2014we had had only twenty minutes to watch one show that day, and out of all the sitcoms that I\u2019ve been stockpiling on my DVR, I chose this one! And\u2026we loved it!!!\u00a0 So much.\u00a0 Brandon was happy to hear my whole tale, and asked if I\u2019ll watch the rest of the series. You know I will!!! I can\u2019t even tell you how adorable this guy is! No one but me seemed to know who he is, but he stayed the whole time by himself and appeared to have a good time. And he looked gorgeous, to boot! And was…dressed appropriately! (Hint to all others who show up at classy events in this town.)<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I really congratulate Autism Speaks for attracting such good, fun talent to its gala. (Logan Shroyer, the very handsome kid who plays the teen-age version of Kevin Pearson on\u00a0This Is Us\u00a0<\/em>was also there. What a fun time this night was for a boy-crazy girl such as myself!)<\/p>\n So, getting back to the Gala, after just the right amount of time, we all re-assembled in the Grand Ballroom of the venue, which featured a very attractive raised runway for the Escada fashion show. There were striking black and white couches all along the length of the stage, which all had good sightlines for the show. (I wish all fashion shows would take a tip from them.)\u00a0 The front row, (which I assume was for the main donors,) even had servers pouring champagne for them all night! The whole event was visually stunning.<\/p>\n Photo by Araya Diaz.<\/p><\/div>\n An opera singer opened the program in a classy way, followed by several children from the organization strutting their stuff down the runway, with pride and flair. They were all dressed-up and looked beautiful. That was my favorite part of the program. I could not stop smiling during it.<\/p>\n Before the actual fashion show began, a handful of awards were handed out to deserving individuals and organizations for their good work and dedication to raising autism awareness. Every one of them gave heartfelt speeches, and lauded Autism Speaks. It was heartwarming to see that this organization means so much to so many.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>