At the Beverly Hills Hotel it was extremely difficult getting into the hotel, let alone seeing anything. I arrived early as I had an idea of what it would be like. I got there at about 3pm and walked through the gorgeous hotel bungalows, with the red flowers and the meandering pathways. What a stunning place to stay! I could see why Brad Pitt etc would stay nowhere else. I got lost around the tennis courts but a member of staff took me to the lobby and I managed to get into the Polo Lounge before they closed it.
Because of the rain, the Night Before party couldn't be held at the pool as planned. Instead, it was moved into the small second bar. I was early enough to get into the Polo Lounge and set up a position on a bar stool to see what might happen. All credit to Greg the barman - what an amazing guy - holding fort on his own with the crowds increasing. He told me that he'd seen Tom Cruise that morning, proudly walking around with his baby in his arms and having breakfast with her. Greg said that some stars had been in for lunch but now they were out having their massages and manicures before this evening's party.
I spent much of the evening chatting away with bar staff and guests, each taking their turn to try and have a look around the lobby. This wasn't easy. A mass of security guards manned the entrance. At one point I was chatting to a party of four (all with strict instructions to look out for Jake) and one of them went out to the lobby to see what was going on. She was not allowed back in so, after a frantic text message or two, all left to try and find her. The toilet block was sealed so that the 'special' guests could use it, leaving the rest of us to use the washroom downstairs, but soon even this restroom had a man at its door.
But then Nicole Kidman walked into the restaurant looking extremely radiant and with a neck longer than I could believe. Absolutely stunning. Her blonde hair was lifted up and tied with a clip. She sat a few feet from me and for a couple of hours I could see her having a very animated discussion with two other guests. As she walked out the entire bar looked at her. A real movie star. A very handsome producer came to the bar and was waylaid by quite a few ladies but he made his escape.
Finally, I realised that I was never going to see anything. The party was probably underway and the stars were being kept so segregated from everybody else - guests or otherwise - that there was little chance. Also the bar was extremely full and I was being chatted up by a transport millionaire from Detroit, who 'used to be in the movie business'. Time to escape, believe me.
On the way outside from the bathroom I peeked into the small sushi restaurant and there was Neil Gallagher from Oasis, chatting away and laughing with a friend. I went outside and hid behind a rail of drycleaned suits (the things I do), knowing I would be spotted at any moment. Finally, I got thrown out - I told them I was just waiting for a cab (I was the only non-member of staff around so I must have stood out) - but not before I saw Orlando Bloom getting out of his car. He looked really good - smart with a kind of goatie beard and slender. A totally different build to Jake. I didn't see Jake - I was unable to - but it was good to see someone. And just being in the same hotel as Jake has got to be good.
What a night!
Apart from this evening's adventure, I walked down Melrose today, stopping at Urth Cafe, to Fairfax and then went to the Grove and Farmer's Market. On the way, I saw some signs warning about no parking and I later found out that this place - the Pacific Design Center on Melrose - will be the site for tomorrow night's Elton John AIDS Foundation party. I also went to the Fred Segal shop - where Jake bought his Art is Alive shirts - and spent too much money. I later found out that Britney visited the shop with her mother this week. Other places I saw were JAR restaurant, the Beverly Center and Orsos.
Includes pictures from IHJ and WDW.
