Mira's Preggie Garb, Knock2 and More

Who's Wearing What: Mira Sorvino, ambassador activist for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Campaign, spoke at the organization’s photography exhibit on the Sudan crisis in Washington D.C. Wednesday evening. The Oscar winning actress and new wife wore an elegant black sleeveless crepe dress with satin bow paired with a black evening jacket from A Pea in the Pod. Mira is expecting her first child with husband Christopher Backus later this year.

Angelina Jolie was at the Shark Tale world premiere, sporting a gold capelet by Monique Lhuillier. She wore a white tank and jeans with a hand-beaded sequin chiffon caplelet with ¾ sleeves from Monique’s Fall 2004 runway collection.

Flashcards -- Not Your Regular Elementary School Kind: Knock Knock adds spice to MTV this season with its Slang and Therapy Flashcards, coffee-table discussion fodder for the new Real World house in Philadelphia. The longest-running reality series in history is back for its fifteenth season, but this year the house—where seven strangers live, learn, fight, and make up over the course of twelve weeks adds Knock Knock’s hilariously educational Slang and Therapy Flashcards!

Slang Flashcards will teach them that rather than remarking that the house is “neato keen,” they’ll learn to say “This crib is crunk!” And when the famous Real World battles begin, the Therapy Flashcards will provide the vocabulary to diagnose each roommate’s narcissistic, dysfunctional baggage.

The Real World Philadelphia premiered Tuesday, September 7, 2004, and airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. For more information on Knock Knock and the Slang and Therapy Flashcards, please visit www.knockknock.biz.

Chapman tours For DrivingVotes.org: Atlantic Records and DrivingVotes.org today announced that recording artist Tracy Chapman will embark on a five-date concert tour to benefit DrivingVotes.org, a grassroots organization committed to reclaiming American democracy by ensuring that Democrats in swing states vote. The tour will kick off September 24th in Portland, OR (See below for full list of dates and venues).

The tour, called “Western Swing: An Evening with Tracy Chapman,” will feature Tracy and her band in a very intimate setting. These incredibly special shows will help build on the momentum generated by the DrivingVotes.org Caravan, a cross-country trip that registered thousands of voters, as DrivingVotes.org now transitions its focus to getting out the vote. Tracy Chapman, an artist whose concern for social and political issues is reflected in her work, has frequently lent her voice, her time and her passion to support political empowerment.

“The upcoming presidential election is one of the most critical in our nation’s history. More than ever, every single vote counts, and I want to do whatever I can to urge every American to make their voice heard,” stated Tracy Chapman. “I am supporting DrivingVotes.org because they are doing an incredible job, reaching people on the grassroots, personal level to make registration easy. They are empowering new voters, those that previously felt disenfranchised or unable to effect change. By doing these small shows in these swing states, I hope to remind each individual in those rooms, that they can take action and make a real difference.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of Tracy Chapman as we translate our voter registration efforts into getting out the vote,” said Leighton Woodhouse, Director of Field Organization. “DrivingVotes.org will be relentless in speaking with voters about the stakes in the upcoming presidential election. DrivingVotes.org, through a network of volunteers in the swing states and its collaboration with organizations like America Coming Together and ACORN will empower voters to take back their country from an administration that is dividing America domestically and isolating it internationally.”

Tickets for all shows will go on sale this Friday, September 10th. You can learn more about these events at www.drivingvotes.org or www.atlanticrecords.com

Tour dates and cities:

September 24 Portland, OR Aladdin Theatre

September 25 Seattle, WA Century Ballroom

September 28 Santa Fe, NM Paramount

September 29 Albuquerque, NM KiMo

October 1 Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theatre

About DrivingVotes.org: DrivingVotes.org is a grassroots organization committed to reclaiming American democracy by ensuring that Democrats in swing states vote. The DrivingVotes.org website at www.drivingvotes.org makes it simple for anyone to plan a grassroots voter registration drive. The DrivingVotes.org website has voter registration packets for each swing state, information on which local groups to partner with, and how to find areas with a high percentage of Democrats. For more information about DrivingVotes.org, please contact Jennifer Kane, assistant director of DrivingVotes.org, at 415.505.5661 or jenny@drivingvotes.org.

The Re-Designed Whiskey at The W 

W Hotel's Whiskey is Redesigned

Rande Gerber’s WHISKEY BLUE in the W Hotel in Los Angeles, CA has been transformed. The re-design of WHISKEY BLUE reflects an easy and relaxed Polynesian style. Gerber teamed up with designer Yabu Pushelberg, who also designed Stone Rose Lounge in the Time Warner Center, to bring his vision of a sexy, breezy Polynesian hideaway to life. Art was a substantial force used in creating this space. Huge murals, by the art team Moss & Lamb cover the walls of the 3 rooms. The “Gray Room” usually reserved for private events and occasions have 4 large poster beds so select guests can lounge privately. The beds come equipped with shades that can be shut for an intense retreat. Gerber creates venues that convey a feeling to those who enter them. The new redesigned WHISKEY BLUE offers intimacy to those who want to unwind, as well as provides a space that allows people to mingle in a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere.

Reo Starr can be viewed at NY Fashion Week
September 13 - 15, 2004 at The Green Room NYC: 250 West 39th Street, Suite 601 New York, NY 10018 Tel. 212.921.2992 Reo Starr features trademark star-back pockets and rock n’ roll-inspired vibe, is a celeb favorite. They also have colored stretch cords which are very popular, too.
 

Two-year-old Basset 'Jack' in a public park in Fulda near Frankfurt September 9, 2004. The Basset hound living in Fulda has made it into the Guinness book of records for having the longest ears in the world, measuring 33.2 centimeters.
 

BeanStalk Biz

We interviewed Rod Stewart this week for a piece for a national magazine. If you're interested in BeansTalk pieces, check out the cover package for September's Readers Digest, as well as a six-page article on Plastic Surgery in Women's Health and Fitness.

Singer Rod Stewart (news) with girlfriend Penny Lancaster pose for photographers as they arrive at Radio City Music Hall for Fashion Rocks Concert in New York, on September 8, 2004. The Conde Nast Media Group is hosting Fashion Rocks, a star-studded concert to celebrate the historical relationship between fashion and music. REUTERS/Bill Davila 

Colored Jeans are hot. Jelessy Jeans 

Comings and Goings

Sample Sale Comeback

Back to school? Back to shopping.

What: Bat's Daughter
When: 9/9; Thurs. 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Where: The Mosaic Hotel, 125 Spalding Drive, at Wilshire Boulevard.
Why: Lovely suits, tops, skirts, and coats sold at Fred Segal and Intuition are 50 percent off. Perks: Champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

Powerman 5000 Update: While fans await a new studio album, they can load up on previously unreleased material courtesy of the good, the bad, and the ugly vol. 1, due out October 26, 2004 on Megatronic Records (owned by founding member/singer/songwriter Spider One and distributed by iMusic). www.powerman5000.com www.megatronicrecords.com

Colored Jeans are HOT: The average woman has a dozen pairs of jeans; in all likelihood, 11 of them are indigo blue. That's like owning a dozen white T-shirts: familiar, classic, yet somehow… bland. Enter Jelessy, a new Los Angeles denim company that's achieved a technical breakthrough somewhat on a par with the invention of the wheel: a soft denim that soaks up intense hues without turning dull or heavy. In a mouth-watering range of colors and a flattering boot cut, they offer plenty to get jealous about.
Jelessy jeans, $158, available at Only Hearts, NYC, (212) 724-5608, Santa Monica, CA, (310) 393-3088, and South Miami, FL, (305) 740-0499; Lonny's Wardrobe, Commack, NY, (631) 499-3016; Jasmine Sola, Boston, (617) 867-4636. style.com's item of the week!

New Discovery Channel Show: Discovery Channel launches the original series NO OPPORTUNITY WASTED (NOW), hosted and created by Phil Keoghan. The series will premiere on Sundays at 8 p.m. throughout the fall season. Each week on NOW, Keoghan challenges people to create the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they've always imagined for themselves. Participants, selected from a nationwide search, are given a completely clear schedule for 72 hours, and $3,000 in seed money.

Strut: After a 12 year hiatus, The Stray Cats toured Europe this summer. Now, Surfdog Records will release 'Rumble in Brixton' on CD and DVD on November 9, 2004, featuring a live set from London's Brixton Academy. Both releases also contain "The Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'," their first original studio track since 1992. The Brixton set highlights down-and-dirty versions of signature hits such as "Rock This Town," "(She's) Sexy & 17," "Rumble in Brighton," "Runaway Boys," and "Stray Cat Strut."

Fashion Bits Plenty of Bling

The Venice Film Fest is just one of several events drawing celebs in high fashion. It's also time for the runway shows. Our friends at the Diamond Center sent us this:

(New York, NY-September 8, 2004) Summer may have just ended, but warm
weather is just around the corner for designers showing their Spring 2005
collections during New York Fashion Week. Fashionistas from around the
globe will be blinded by rare and expensive diamonds, ranging from big
baubles for your right hand to dramatic diamond riviere necklaces. The
following is a sneak peak of this year’s spring bling.

The Ice Man Cometh
Diamond right hand rings and celebrities galore will rule the runway at the
Chris Aire Diamond Fashion Show, with a fierce collection of designs from
the “Ice Man” at his debut runway presentation. Aire will showcase a
dripping selection of oversized rocks on the right hands of his electric
runway cast, including hip-hop stars Nelly and 50-Cent, supermodels Naomi
Campbell, Carmen Kass, and Tyson Beckford, and NBA hot shots Vince Carter
and Antwon Jamison. In addition to gutsy diamond earrings and necklaces,
as well as the Ice Man’s signature diamond dog tags, expect to see right
hand ice cooling down Aire’s uber-hot runway, as diamonds prove yet again
to be the ultimate fashion accessory.

Beach Baubles
Who says that diamonds are just for evening gowns? Over $30 million
dollars and 500 carats of rare, large and colored diamonds from Vivid
Collection will be paired with barely-there swimwear at Gottex’s spring
2005 runway show. Show-stopping diamond looks include right hand rings
weighing over 20 carats each, featuring a Fancy Vivid Yellow internally
flawless diamond weighing over 28-carats. Excitement will peak with an
exceptional grand finale when the most expensive bathing suit in the world
will make its debut- a one-of-a-kind diamond swimsuit with over $18 million
worth of diamonds surrounding the 103-carat Golconda Diamond. A true
miracle of nature, the pear-shaped D Flawless Golconda Diamond is one of
the most rare and most expensive diamonds in the world.

Old Is New Again
Hot new designer Thakoon will be showing his very first fashion week
presentation with rough and organic vintage diamond jewelry from Fred
Leighton. Juxtaposed with his feminine and sophisticated designs there will
be a focus on rose cut and old mine cut diamonds as well as diamonds set in
oxidized metals highlighting the new “dirty diamond” trend.

Natural Woman
Fashion darling Tracy Reese will be showing nature-inspired, flowing
designs paired with Lockes Diamantaires diamond jewelry. Her earth-friendly
palette with wood accents will be complemented by the rare and natural
beauty of both yellow and white diamonds radiating like the sun.

When the Clock Strikes Midnight
Inspired by their muse, Cinderella, identical twin sister’s Kathy and Lindy
Jones will feature over $5 million dollars of whimsical diamond looks from
the House of Graff in Palmer Jones’s spring 2005 runway show. “When the
clock strikes midnight”, models will dance down the runway wearing a
fanciful selection of diamond watches, brooches, and right hand rings.

Actress Nicole Kidman waves to photographers outside Venice's Hotel Des Bains the day before the presentation of her latest movie 'Birth' at the 61st edition of the Venice Film Festival, northern Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)  

004 Venice Film Festival - Nicole Kidman At Hotel Des Bains
Venue: Hotel Des Bains
Location: Venice, Italy
Date: September 7, 2004 

Jamie Lee Curtis Signs her new Book "Its Hard to Be Five"
September 7, 2004 - Barnes and Noble, Lincoln Center
New York, New York United States 

Naomi Campbell wearing Tamsen Spring 2005 at Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2005 - Tamsen - Show and Backstage
September 7, 2004 - The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers Pier 61
New York City, New York United States 

A new look for Reese Witherspoon -- deep brown -- and she looks GORGEOUS. She's in Venice promoting Mira Nair's "Vanity Fair." Looking forward to seeing the film, loved the Brit mini-series starring Natasha Little as Becky Sharp (Little actually has a role in the Nair/Witherspoon film, too). The Little version is available on DVD and is delightful.