I can’t believe it’s been almost 3 weeks since my last post after I got back form Paris. The moment I arrived in LA, I hit the ground running, its been marathon of Christmas parties, company party, Christmas decorating and dinner planning for my family at home, finishing building my hotel project in Beverly Hills in time for a New year opening and so much more…I’ can’t believe I’m still alive and sane!!!! I feel like I’ve been through hell and back; and yet, it’s been one of the most amazing and fulfilling Christmas seasons in my life! This time around, I’ll just be writing about the highlights of the last 3 weeks in LA; it all started with getting back to my hotel project on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Yes, I’ve been designing the interiors of the Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel for the last 5 months; it’s the only hotel on the internationally famous Rodeo Drive where all the best fashion designers have their gazillion dollars boutiques. We have a January 1st deadline to re-open it’s doors and I am so behind, I have no clue how I will pull this out of the hat in time for New Years. So for me the next 3 weeks is all about finishing my hotel project and try to fit in as many friend’s Christmas parties I can, my Hilton & Hyland company holiday party and yes…plan my own Christmas decorations at home and my own Christmas dinner at home for my family that is arrived in mud-December…somebody shoot me!!!!
Entrance of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive
Work in progress…
One of my favorite holiday parties every year is Uber agent and old friend, Kevin Huvane’s; who not only hosts one of the most fun parties in LA, but also does it for a good cause, in this case, collecting endless amounts of toys for under privileged children. Arriving at his beautiful estate, walking through the entrance hall and finding Billy (the Gardner on the Ellen De Generous show) standing in front of a massive Christmas tree in a Santa hat and Santa shorts and nothing else, pretty much sets the tone for what is to come!
The beautifully lit driveway to Kevin Huvane’s estate
Billy the “Gardner” as Santa, David Cooley and Robert Kass
My company Hilton & Hyland’s holiday party, held at the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel, is a great time to catch up with my real estate peers and explain to them why I haven’t been at the office in years! I love catching up with my bosses Jeff Hyland and Rick Hilton before indulging in my favorite activity in this kind of party: getting drunk and terrorizing all the new agents in the company along with my equally naughty partners in crime: Alla Furman, Ladd Jackson, my date Laura Kelb, etc…
The iconic entrance to the Beverly Hills Hotel
Hilton & Hyland’s Holiday party
One of the most original events this season, was my dear friend Sami Hayak’s launch of his new china collection. Sami is Selma Hayak’s brother and a very talented architect; so when he told me he was launching a new product, I was curious to see what he was up to. The event took place at a very cool location named: Just One Eye in Hollywood, where Sami hosted the most amazing party I have been in a while, complete with stunning dance performances by incredibly beautiful dancers, performance art by girls painted as a Damien Hurst painting, which looked amazing in front of an actual Damien Hurst painting, an amazing guest list of art aficionados, Latin characters and beautiful people…just perfect! I hung out with my favorites people, including Loree Rodkin, Isa Jonay, Celesta Hodge, Claudia Klein, Omar and the handsome producer Christian Bettler; before continuing the night at Chateau Marmont for the after party private dinner hosted in the infamous suite # 47 at the Chateau. There, Selma Hayak and her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault hosted the dinner for the 40 lucky guests.
Dance performance at Sami Hayak’s event
Sami Hayak with the dance group
Damien Hurst painted lady in front of Damien Hurst painting
Performance art…
Robert Kass and Christian Bettler
Robert Kass and Loree Rodkin at Chateau Marmont
One of mom’s favorite shows is Cirque du Soleil, so I had no choice but to squeeze in a night at the new Kurios, Cabinet of Curiosities show that just opened at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for a two months run. As always, Cirque du Soleil delivered with flying colors, not to mention, it was even better sitting at the first row center…got to spoil my mama whenever I can!
Arriving at Cirque du Soleil famous tent at Dodger Stadium
Entering the tent
View from the front row
RObert Kass with Mama Anita Kass
Spread out…
Another lovely evening was my dear friend and Hilton & Hyland colleague, Drew Fenton and his partner Abel’s Christmas party at their super chic new villa in the hills. Nothing like delicious Mexican Tamales for a holiday party and good tequila! I especially loved the Charlie Brown Christmas tree at the entrance that only Abel could get away with.
Drew and Abel’s chic party
Abel’s “Charlie Brown” Christmas Tree
Somewhere between all these events I also had to dress up my own home with my beautiful Christmas tree and anther decorations including my very glamorous dinner table for the 24th family celebration. Because of my whorl load, this year is just my mom, my brother David, my aunt Judy and uncle Jeff and last but not least, my dear friend Marcus who should up with 17 bottles of booze for dinner…he must think we are all alcoholics!!!
My beautiful Christmas Tree
Detail
My Christmas dinner table setting
Dinner table
Christmas dinner was amazing and even more amazing was doing absolutely nothing on Christmas day beside eating and witching movies with mom and David. The 26 was back at work for the final marathon to complete the hotel by December 31st!!!! My next post will hopefully be photos of my “Finished” beautiful hotel…or a photo of a very sad Robert who got fired for not finishing the hotel in time!!!! Stay tuned…
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all of you…my dearest possums!!!!!