{"id":38846,"date":"2019-03-01T17:25:13","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T17:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/?p=38846"},"modified":"2019-03-02T01:00:29","modified_gmt":"2019-03-02T01:00:29","slug":"gifting-lounge-gbks-pre-oscars-gift-lounge-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/gifting-lounge-gbks-pre-oscars-gift-lounge-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"GIFTING LOUNGE: GBK\u2019S PRE-OSCARS GIFT LOUNGE 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

GBK\u2019S PRE-OSCARS GIFT LOUNGE 2019<\/h1>\n
\"Gavin<\/a>

Gavin Keilly, CEO of GBK Productions, humorously showcasing a giant bottle of St. Sup\u00e9ry wine. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

GBK\u2019s 2019 Oscars lounge returned to the site of last<\/em> year’s successful event, the luxurious St. Sup\u00e9ry\u00a0Tasting Salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. My contributing writer, Noelle, (whose comments are all the ones in quotes throughout this article,) had never seen this place before, and marveled that it \u201cfeels spacious and cozy at the same time.\u201d And she \u201cloved the central grand staircase and circular layout,\u201d as did I.<\/p>\n

The guests enjoyed samples of wines from the St. Sup\u00e9ry Vineyard<\/strong> in Napa Valley, which added a bit of panache to the proceedings. Noelle tried their Merlot, and deemed it to be \u201crich and nutty, with a beautiful dark cherry hue,\u201d while I just enjoyed chatting with the lovely winemaker, Brooke. www.stsupery.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"In<\/a>

In the middle, near the bottom, are Viola davis, Gavin Keilly, and Julius Tennon. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the big one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n

Almost as soon as we entered the impressive venue, I had a lovely convo with Julius Tennon<\/strong>, who was there with his wife, Viola Davis<\/strong>, with whom I share our college acting professor\u2014and he\u2019s still both of our dear friend, after all of these years! (I was recently asked to review a play the couple is producing, and speaking with Julius gave me a push in that direction. So, if it\u2019s a good review, they need to thank GBK! And me,<\/em> too, of course.)<\/p>\n

About the event itself, Noelle said, \u201cThe ambiance was elegant and warm. The lounge was situated on two circular levels, which made all the sponsors easy to spot. And the variety of gifts was fantastic; I learned a lot about some really amazing products.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were soooo many, in fact, that we need to begin telling you about the highlights already!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Noelle Hannibal<\/p><\/div>\n

California Caviar Company<\/strong>\u2014This company from Sausalito, (the first place I stayed in when I arrived in Cali as a teen-ager, and the reason I wound-up in LA!,) had a mouth-watering display of sustainable domestic caviars, which I\u2019m sure the assemblage really<\/em> enjoyed tasting. On top of that, they were gifting certificates for a full-out caviar spread for\u2014get this\u2014a dozen people!!! How generous is that<\/em>?! Now, if only there were that many people I like anymore. For reals. www.californiacaviar.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

U.SK Under Skin<\/strong>\u2014We spent some time with the amiable multi-national reps of this new skin care line, and learned sooo much about what they have to offer. They actually chose personalized gifts for each guest, and had us sample a few. Noelle deemed the Anti-Aging Dermaplump skin serum to be \u201cBotox in a bottle!\u201d She tried it on her hand, and said she not only \u201cloved the consistency and fragrance,\u201d but it made her hand \u201clook like that of a teenager!\u201d She also tried the Advance Defense Booster, which is designed for oily skin, and said her skin \u201cfelt soft, without feeling greasy.\u201d And we were both fans of their \u201csimple and elegant\u201d packaging. www.underskin.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

WEN Hair and Body Care<\/strong>\u2014Yes, you did<\/em> read that right\u2014Wen now also has body<\/em> care! They gifted everyone a bag that was \u201cchock full\u201d of their products, both established and new, including their dry cleanser, (for, as Noelle put it, \u201cthose days when you just don’t have time to wash your hair,\u201d) body treatments, and even ones for the lips! On the way out, Noelle had her hair blown by their \u201cadorable\u201d stylist Benn Pullis. She told me that the product he used on her tresses \u201csmells fantastic and didn’t leave a residue,\u201d which is always a bonus. www.chazdean.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

AZN Labs<\/strong>\u2014I knew right away that this anti-aging skincare is a powerhouse\u2014it has ingredients from Japan and science from Korea! That just might be a stronger marriage than even Paul and Linda McCartney\u2019s was! The reps were gifting their new Afterglow Ampoule, which is said to help achieve more youthful-looking skin. If our faces<\/em> get as beautiful as their packaging<\/em> is, we\u2019ll be all set! www.beautytap.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Noelle Hannibal.<\/p><\/div>\n

Bridgewater Candle Company<\/strong>\u2014I have never seen a more beautiful and inviting display at a gifting lounge than the one from this newbie to it all!!! They created an entire fireplace scene in their little area of the lounge! Between the visual and the aromas of their very interesting candle collections, I just wanted to grab a pillow and lie down right there! They were gifting a duo of candles that not only smell<\/em> beautiful, but have lovely monikers, such as Afternoon Retreat and Sweet Grace, to boot. And for each candle sold, they donate meals to orphans around the world. Talk about a win-win! www.bridgewatercandles.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ettitude<\/strong>\u2014My mouth watered when I saw this inviting linen display, in muted pastels, which I love! Noelle was a fan of the \u201csoftness of the organic bamboo pillowcases.\u201d She told me they felt like they\u2019re \u201cextremely breathable.\u201d That might be because they, and the sheets, are hypoallergenic. I<\/em> just cared that they\u2019re so attractive! (Have I mentioned that I’m shallow?)\u00a0www.ettitude.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Noelle Hannibal.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sound of Sleep<\/strong>\u2014Let me tell you\u2014I absolutely cannot sleep without the sound of white noise! That makes travel an issue for me, because my portable machine is sort-of big and heavy. So I was thrilled to discover this<\/em> brand! Not only is their LectroFan Micro2 tiny<\/em>, but it contains so many different sounds that I may wind-up staying awake for a while just to choose one to go to sleep to!!! www.soundofsleep.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Lunchbox Wax<\/strong>\u2014This was a fun one. Since this waxing boutique wasn\u2019t about to do bikini waxes on-site (duh,) they gifted the next best thing. To go along with their name, the gift (a gift card along with a \u201cfantastic\u201d pre-and-post-wax kit and a flask, which I assume you can fill to help you get through the never-fun procedure, ) came in a cute white-and-pink lunchbox! When I was carrying one, a male guest even came over to tell me that he loved what he erroneously thought was my purse! (You just know that I\u2019m going to use it as such now, don\u2019t you?) Noelle said that every time she looks at their logo of a woman holding the lunchbox in front of her crotch, she \u201cgiggles.\u201d She admired this gift as \u201cone of the most memorable marketing tools\u201d she\u2019s ever seen. She added, \u201cIf anything<\/em> can get you to laugh about a bikini wax, this is it!\u201d www.lunchboxwax.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Signature by Basicare<\/strong>\u2014As girly-girls, we both loved discovering these professional beauty tools and brushes. We spent some time perusing their items, and since Noelle spent over a decade in the spa business as a \u201cvery picky\u201d aesthetician and make-up artist, I\u2019m going to let her<\/em> tell you about the highlights. She says, \u201cThe Clean Me Softly Dual Facial Cleansing Brush is fabulous. It effectively exfoliates without being harsh on sensitive skin. I love<\/em> the Angled Flat Contour and Blush Brush, which has just the right amount of firmness. And the Ergonomic Nail Clipper, which has a non-slip handle and contoured blades for precision clipping, will even work on feline<\/em> nails! And it comes with a cute drawstring pouch, as well!\u201d What she<\/em> said. www.signaturebybasicare.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

PlaneAire<\/strong>\u2014We germaphobes loved<\/em> discovering this Surface & Air Purifying Travel Mist, which is an antibacterial spray to use on surfaces\u00a0and<\/em> your personal space, while on a plane. Frequent traveler Noelle says, \u201cI spend a lot of time on planes, so I usually travel with wipes, but it never occurred to me to spray the air<\/em> around me!\u201d And this has a \u201cfresh, clean scent, so it shouldn’t bother the other passengers\u201d you may be spraying around! She was thrilled to have it to use on her flight back to Montreal right after the Oscars. It made her seat-mates not only less germy, but jealous<\/em> of her for owning this innovative item! www.planeaire.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Drop Stop<\/strong>\u2014As Noelle put it, this duo \u201centhusiastically showcased their invention, which had been featured on Shark Tank<\/em>.\u201d It\u2019s a seat-gap-filler for your car, that prevents \u201cimportant items\u201d from falling into the console area. (Noelle uses \u201cyour cell phone\u201d as an example, but I\u2019m going with lipstick and nail files! So who\u2019s the shallow one?) We also both appreciate that it\u2019s black, so it will \u201cwork with any car’s interior.\u201d www.buydropstop.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Subtle Mind<\/strong>\u2014Although there\u2019s absolutely nothing<\/em> subtle about my<\/em> mind, we loved speaking with the spiritual beings from this company. I swear, I really think they calmed us down for the day, because we were in a rush when we entered the event, and I was shocked at how long we had been there when we left! I think these ladies must have put us in a zen state! They gifted each person a little crystal to \u201cclear their energy fields and purify their space,\u201d along with one other little item that they felt each guest needed, such as a Palo Santo, which cleanses bad energy when burned. www.thesubtlemind.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Noelle Hannibal.<\/p><\/div>\n

International Star Registry<\/strong>\u2014Years ago, when Mr. X had finally run-out of birthday presents for me, he named a star for my beloved Clarence, The Singing Dog, and me\u2014the Karen and Clarence Star. (Duh. But shallow moi was glad that I got top billing!) That’s what this<\/em> company was doing at this event; they gave gift certificates so the VIPs can do the same for their<\/em> loved ones. (Or themselves<\/em>\u2014whichever floats their boats.) But I\u2019m sure that everyone will be sad to find-out that \u201cthe Karen and Clarence Star\u201d is already taken! www.starregistry.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Vetreska<\/strong>\u2014I am not a fan of cats, (nor they of me!,) so Noelle will tell you all about this company from China who was gifting cat products. She says, \u201cTheir cat grass kit consists of organic oat seeds and a paper pulp compost, so there is no soil required. My feline friends love cat grass and I think this is a fantastic way to grow it; you don\u2019t plant it–you just add water! And The Cactus Grinder is fantastic; it’s intended to grind catnip<\/em>, but can be used for other spices in your kitchen. And it’s super cute!\u201d So, cats and kitchens\u2014two<\/em> things yours truly knows nothing about! www.hzadm.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Fit Farm<\/strong>\u2014The rep from this fitness and wellness boot camp\/retreat that\u2019s based just outside of Nashville was on hand to share details of their various retreat options. They were gifting celebs the \u201cWeekend Warrior\u201d package. Noelle liked that \u201cthe focus isn’t just on weight loss, but rather on general health and wellness.\u201d My<\/em> wimp self is just glad that it\u2019s only a week-end<\/em> of boot camp! www.fit.farm<\/a><\/p>\n

As always, GBK chose a charity to benefit from their event. This time it was Reach Up, Reach Out<\/strong>, which is an organization that helps care for orphans and widows in developing nations, with a focus in East Africa. What a very worthy cause. www.reachupreachout.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GBK\u2019S PRE-OSCARS GIFT LOUNGE 2019 GBK\u2019s 2019 Oscars lounge returned to the site of last year’s successful event, the luxurious St. Sup\u00e9ry\u00a0Tasting Salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. My contributing writer, Noelle, (whose comments are all the ones in quotes throughout this article,) had never seen this place before, and marveled that it \u201cfeels<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-academy-awards-to-emmys-to-grammys-gifting-extravaganzas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38846"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38939,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38846\/revisions\/38939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}