Wedding Bells

Zooey Deschanel’s Engagement Ring

We saw them first – remember this entry regarding BeansTalk’s Zooey pda sighting?

Zooey Deschanel received a Platinum engagement ring from Ben Gibbard, the front man for Death Cab for Cutie on December 29, 2008.The Platinum and 3-carat asscher cut diamond ring was designed by Neil Lane. Below is a Platinum ring similar in style.

Have You Made Any Resolutions Yet??

Chenoweth and JudeFrances

Kristin Chenoweth rocked the red carpet at the Tinker Bell DVD premiere in JudeFrances Diamond and White Topaz Earrings. BeansTalk ADORES Chenoweth and is supremely bummed her “Pushing Daisies” was cancelled – there is no accounting for audience taste. Still, as talented as she is, we’re crossing our fingers she’ll continue to get lots of work so we can continue to enjoy her talents!

Lily Allen to Tour It's Not Me, It's You Kicks Off U.K. Tour March 14th

Capitol Records released "The Fear," the lead digital single and video from Lily Allen's album, It's Not Me, It's You. The track, which explores the dark side of celebrity and consumer culture, goes for adds at U.S. radio in January. "The Fear" just went to radio in the U.K., where it's already been featured as "Record Of The Week" on Scott Mills' BBC Radio 1 show. The accompanying video, which was directed by Nez (The Streets, Kano), received its U.S. premiere last Friday on MySpace, so be sure to check it out.

It's Not Me, It's You is both a continuation of the preoccupations of Alright, Still, Lily's critically acclaimed debut, and a stiletto-heeled leap forward. The forensic, affecting, often humorous examinations of relationships and sexual politics are still there, but bigger themes are also tackled. BLENDER aptly summed it up as "part God, part country and all middle finger." Working in a tiny rented house in England's Cotswolds and at Eagle Rock Studios in Los Angeles, Allen wrote and recorded the album's 12 songs with producer Greg Kurstin (the bird and the bee), who collaborated with her on three tracks for Alright, Still - "Everything's Just Wonderful," "Alfie" and "Not Big."

Lily recently sold out a special show at London's Koko in less than an hour, and will launch a full U.K. tour March 14th. (See below for itinerary.) Plans for a U.S. tour are being finalized and will be announced shortly. She's already been the subject of "in the studio" features by Rolling Stone and BLENDER and a cover story in PAPER. Lily appears on the cover of NYLON's December/January double issue, which can be found on newsstands now.

With 2007's Alright, Still, Allen was hailed as "the archetypal singer-songwriter for the iPod generation" (NME). After a release week performance on "Saturday Night Live," the album entered The Billboard 200 at No. 20. She was nominated for four Brit awards, a GRAMMY® award and an MTV Video Music award, featured in numerous publications (including The New York Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Spin, BLENDER, Vibe, Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, among others) and performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "TODAY." Certified Gold in the States, Alright, Still has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Lily Allen - U.K. Tour Dates

3/14 Glasgow Academy
3/15 Manchester Academy
3/18 Bristol Academy
3/19 Southampton Guildhall
3/20 Brighton Dome
3/22 Norwich UEA
3/23 Birmingham Academy
3/24 Leeds Academy
3/26 London Shepherd's Bush Empire

Second Biggest Shopping Day of The Year: Where Are You??

Are you taking advantage of (the second-this-year) Black Friday??

Happy Christmas Day!

Happy Christmas Eve

Kristen Stewart, the star of the phenomena Twilight, loves her 7 forallmankind jeans. Apparently, she has no problem going outside and sitting on her steps while she lights a glass pipe. We won't speculate on what she was smoking or even doing, but honey, when you're a star being followed by the paps, consider doing potentially illegal things in the privacy of your own home.

Kate Hudson (haven't heard much from her lately, since her break-up with soon-to-be daddy again Lance Armstrong) in 7 Forallmankind Jeans.

HGTV Rings in the New Year

The party starts at home for the New Year on HGTV with the launch of 5 new series, including "Dear Genevieve," hosted by designer Genevieve Gorder (Trading Spaces and Town Haul).

Whether your resolution this year is to get organized, be more budget-conscious, or simply be happier, Gorder believes the best place to start is in your own home.

In "Dear Genevieve," she serves as the sort of "Dear Abby" of the design world and answers the cries for help from viewers. From tackling outdated kitchens to dingy basements to non-functional home offices, Genevieve offers solutions for common design pitfalls to help homeowners rekindle the passion for their homes and lives.

Viewers looking for a fresh start will benefit from the inspirational stories of how design changes can transform the lives of everyday families as well as the practical takeaway tips Genevieve runs down in each episode.

"Dear Genevieve" premieres with back-to-back episodes at 1:00 pm + 1:30 pm ET on Jan 1, 2009 on HGTV. (note: "Dear Genevieve" premieres in its regular timeslot on Monday, January 5 at 8:30pm ET/PT).

In addition to Dear Genevieve, HGTV is kicking off 2009 with:

Four New Real Estate Series:

* "The Unsellables" [Jan. 1 @ 2:00 pm + 2:30 pm ET]
* "Desperate to Buy" [Jan 1 @ 3:00 pm + 3:30 pm ET]
* "Income Property" [Jan 1 @ 4:00 pm + 4:30 pm ET]
* "The Property Shop" [Jan 1@ 10:00 pm ET]


Two New Specials:

* "Paint-Over! With Jennifer Bertrand" [Jan 1 @ 5:00pm ET]: HGTV Design Star 3 winner Jennifer Bertrand shows how a little paintbrush wizardry can transform everything from cabinets and couches to floors and ceilings...even the rec room for the Philadelphia 76ers!

* HGTV Dream Home 2009 [Jan. 1 @ 9pm ET]: HGTV kicks off the annual installment of one of cable television's most successful promotions on January 1 with the premiere of a one-hour special that offers a private tour inside this year's luxurious HGTV Dream Home, located in Sonoma, Calif.

Ryder Wears Ferreti

The House of Alberta Ferretti announced that Winona Ryder wore a Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti blush satin sleeveless top with black chiffon trim and a blush satin skirt with a black satin grosgrain trim at the waist paired with a sparkly shrug, black satin shoes with flower detail and a black satin evening bag to the premiere of ‘Milk’ held at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, CA on November 13, 2008. The top and skirt are part of the Spring/Summer 2009 Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti collection. The shrug is part of the Fall/Winter 2008 Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti collection. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Frazer Harrison)

BBC America Explores America's Future

On the heels of one the most fascinating U.S. elections in decades, comes a new series on BBC America from Simon Schama, one of TV’s most popular historians and a Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University. The American Future: A History by Simon Schama was shot against the backdrop of the US presidential campaign with Schama traveling throughout America to dig deep into the conflicts of its history to understand just what is at stake right now.

To coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration, The American Future: A History by Simon Schama will premiere in four parts at the following times:



Part 1- Monday, January 19, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Part 2 - Monday, January 19, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Part 3 - Tuesday, January 20, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Part 4 - Tuesday, January 20, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT



After 9/11, Katrina, Enron and Baghdad, the robustness of American optimism is struggling to reassert itself against the sobering reality of domestic anxieties and military frustration. This is an America grappling with an un-American sense of its own limits. The voters in the 2008 Presidential election expressed feelings of uncertainty about military outcomes and anxiety about their suddenly shaky prosperity leading to a weakened faith in governance that has not been felt this painfully since Watergate.



In his travels through America, Schama takes the long perspective, looking at four of the critical issues facing the country: war, moral fervor, immigration and the increasingly difficult relationship between expectations of prosperity and the reality of economic and environmental limits. Turning to fascinating moments in American history to understand the present, connecting legendary figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Henry Ford, Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln with contemporary soldiers, businessmen, truckers, schoolteachers and even politicians, Schama offers a timely and gripping vision of the United States, past and present, at a critical moment – not just for the U.S., but also for the rest of the world.



The DVD of The American Future: A History by Simon Schama, hits stores on January 20, the same day as broadcast and is available at www.bbcamericashop.com. Schama’s accompanying book to the series, The American Future: A History will be available by Ecco, an imprint of Harper- Collins on May 19.



EPISODE SYNOPSES



PART 1 - American Plenty

Simon Schama explores how American optimism about the infinite possibilities of its land and resources is in danger of coming to a grinding halt. Nowhere is this more evident than the American West, which has always been a symbol of opportunity and freedom. Oil at $4 a gallon may be dominating the headlines, but here it’s the lack of water that’s an even bigger threat to the American future. The West is in the grip of a nine-year drought. America’s optimism about its natural resources has always been spiced with clashes over conservation, going back to the first man to navigate the Colorado River, John Wesley Powell. American ingenuity made farming on an industrial scale possible in the early years of the 20th century but at the cost of making Oklahoma a dustbowl. The building of the Hoover Dam, a modern American miracle, which provided essential irrigation for farming and for the new city of Las Vegas, now no longer supplies enough water for both.



PART 2 - American War

Simon Schama reveals how different the American attitude is to war from what outsiders assume it should be. “The world has got in the habit of thinking of America as the tough-guy empire; trigger-happy cowboys addicted to the rush of military power. But that’s not the way America sees itself,” he says. Two of the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, disagreed about whether America should even have a professional army – a division still evident when Simon visits America’s premier military academy at West Point. From the Civil War right through to Mark Twain’s denunciation of President Teddy Roosevelt’s imperial adventure in the Philippines, war has inspired profound debate. And nowhere more so than San Antonio, Texas, nicknamed Military City because of its high population of veterans and serving soldiers, where Simon finds feelings about the war are deeply divided - it’s a debate which forces America to dig deep and rediscover what it stands for.



PART 3 - American Fervor

Simon Schama explores the ways in which faith has shaped American political life. His starting point is a remarkable fact about the recent election: for the first time in a generation it’s the Democrats who claimed to be the party of God. It was Barack Obama, not John McCain, who spoke about his faith. The British have long regarded American religion as largely a conservative force, yet Simon shows how, throughout American history, it has played a crucial role in the fight for freedom. Faith helped create America; it was the search for religious freedom that led thousands to make the dangerous journey to the colonies in the 1600s. After American independence, that religious freedom was enshrined in the Constitution, the first country in the world to do so. Simon also looks at the remarkable role the black church has played, first in the liberation of the slaves in the 1800s, and again in the civil rights movement of the Sixties – neither would have happened without it. It’s this very church that was been the inspiration for Barack Obama, who traces the roots of his political inspiration to his faith.



PART 4 - What is an American?

Simon Schama looks at the bitter conflict over immigration in American history. Who should be allowed to enter America and call themselves an American has always been one of the nation’s most divisive issues. He traces the roots of this conflict to the founding of America. The early settlers were themselves immigrants but they saw America as fundamentally a white and Protestant nation. Simon looks at the key events that challenged this view: the annexation of parts of Mexico in 1848 that made 100,000 non-whites American citizens, the immigration and subsequent expulsion of the Chinese in the late 19th century, and the massive immigration from Eastern Europe during the industrialization of the Twenties. Each time there have been those who have insisted America must stay white if it is to stay true to itself, and each time they have been defeated by the sheer force of history. John F. Kennedy defined America as a Nation of Immigrants in 1964 and Simon argues that the election of Barack Obama represents the final triumph of the vision of America as a multi-ethnic nation.

Holiday Hair

Fabrice Gili, Creative Director of Frederic Fekkai SoHo Salon offers easy ways to create your own hot new celebrity hair trends for this holiday season.

“We are seeing a new take on classic styles”, says Gili, “Women want an effortless yet sexy look that will take them from day to night, dinner to dancing.

Gili’s styling tips use the Fekkai Coiff Celebration Collection and the Fekkai Spray on hair crystals, available in Champagne, Copper, and Bronze.

Modernized Bob? Recently seen on Anne Hathaway (seen above) and Gwyneth Paltrow, Fabrice recommends using the following to attain this clean, blunt style. Start off with Fekkai Anti Frizz Crème from Coiff Celebration of Style Kit to create a sleek flawless look. Saturate the roots and then blow-dry hair upside down to create fullness. Then wrap hair around a 1" curling iron, making sure to leave the ends out to create a relaxed curl. To soften this look you can add a slight wave and relax curls with Fekkai Finishing Crème.
Classic French Twist - We’ve recently seen this classic style on Charlize Theron and Sophia Bush. Blow dry your hair while you brush it with a round brush. Twist the hair back and pin as you go. Fabrice suggests using Fekkai Ironless Straightening Balm from the Coiff Celebration of Style Kit to get that tight pulled back feel. Choose to add a little extra volume to make the look more rock and roll or opt for ultra glam to be tight and sleek for the ultimate glam party.

Ultimate Wavy, Sexy Hair ? “It’s a style that can easily go from day to night, dinner to dancing. It’s beautiful, timeless, and manageable” says Fabrice. Supermodels like Heidi Klum and Gisele Bündchen have made this classic style popular again because it’s easy and sexy at the same time. Wet your hair then blow dry to create the tousled waves. You may use a 2.5 inch iron by wrapping sections of your hair around it or use a round brush to finish drying. Finally set hair by misting Fekkai Coiff Fini Sheer Hold Hairspray all over. If you have bangs, blow dry or straighten them then tease for a volume at the top of your head to give volume and richness.

To give hair that ultimate holiday feel, try Fekkai’s Spray on Hair Crystals for extra sparkle.

Super Swag for Celebrity Parents From Distinctive Assets

For the second year in a row, entertainment gifting company, Distinctive Assets collected an assortment of gifts for the holiday season.

Celebrity parents such as Brooke Shields, Courteney Cox, Will Ferrrell, Tobey Maguire, Tori Spelling, Heidi Klum , Jon Stewart, Jennifer Garner and 17 others have received toys (and other sundries) for themselves and their tots. Distinctive Assets has once again assembled a variety of items that will help make the holidays a little more special for the entire family.

Each basket contained items from Bodemi, Boxers & Ballerinas, CARES, Chick Necessities, Dr. Fresh, Dr. Toys, Eco Ike, Fly High Joy, Fulfilled, Giacini Atelier, Greeteez, Gustafer Yellowgold, Hasbro Games, Hasbro Toys, Heavenly Hug Angels, Kid Fuel, “Koko the Service Dog”, La Costa Resort, LilChillers.com, Mary Jurek Design Inc., Nana Star, Radio Flyer, Sentimental Silver, Snacker Tracker, Soy Basics, Spike and Annie, SPINLASH, Spiritual Whimsy, Superhero by Shoshana Bean, The Jewish Zodiac, The Potty Tots, The WeeBeats, Thirstytowels.com, The Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster, Tiny Prints, William C. Murphy MD, Xpressit Designs, Young at Heart Art, and Zero Water. The baskets will were delivered the week of December 8th.

Adams on the Rise

Amy Adams wore platinum jewelry by Neil Lane at the Los Angeels premiere of her movie, “Doubt.” She chose platinum drop earrings, bracelets and a cocktail ring.

BBC America Debuts Howard's End

BBC AMERICA presents the multi-Oscar-winning Merchant Ivory adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel about class struggle in turn-of-the-century England. Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter play sisters Margaret and Helen Schlegel, both of whom become involved with the wealthy Wilcox family. While Helen is rejected by the younger Wilcox son, Margaret befriends Ruth Wilcox (Vanessa Redgrave), the matriarch of the family. When Ruth bequeaths her estate at Howards End to Meg, Ruth’s husband Henry (Anthony Hopkins) does his best to prevent Meg from taking control of the property – and falls in love with her in the process.
Howards End airs Friday, December 26, 2:00 p.m. ET/PT on BBC America.

Tyler Spikes

Liv Tyler at Spike TV’s 2008 Scream Awards wore Platinum earrings and multiple platinum cocktail rings with diamonds and onyx.

My Family Returns

The Harper family returns for a whole new season of marital bliss and family bonding. This season, Ben meets an old college friend – who’s now a woman, Susan gets arrested for shoplifting, and the whole family airs their dirty laundry to the entire country when they compete on The Weakest Link.

My Family premiered this week, Tuesday, December 9, 8 p.m. ET/PT. BBC America

T.R. Knight to Leave Grey's?

Rumors are swirling that actor T.R. Knight, who plays "George" on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" is looking to leave the series, reports Entertainment Weekly and AP. More TK.

Holmes in Sama

Katie Holmes, whose Broadway show is closing, wears the “Donna” sunglasses in black by Sama Eyewear while out and about in New York City.

Messing Jumps to Suit

Debra Messing wore a draped front silk sheeting jumpsuit by Kaufman Franco
to the Fashion Group International’s 25th annual Night of the Stars at Cipriani Wall Street. October 23, 2008 in New York, NY.

Jhung Yuro Creates An Original Limited Edition Sneaker for Luxury Brand Hennessy
Luxury lifestyle designer Jhung Yuro created a one-of-a-kind pair of limited edition sneakers for luxury brand Hennessy called The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top. Hennessy was looking to continue building long-term connections with its customers.

“Sneakers are becoming the new American luxury item and the impact of having our own sneaker is major,” says Donae Burston, regional marking manager for Hennessy. “With this collaboration, Hennessy and Jhung Yuro continue their tradition of offering only the finest for those with discerning taste.”

The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top is made from soft full grain leather with a cow suede tongue and vamp, napa pigskin interior and a lizard embossed overlay and strap. Color blocked with cognac brown and cream, The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top has a non-marking rubber midsole, crepe rubber outsole with leather logo patch, deco stitch and will be packaged in an exotic skin embossed shoebox with a braided rope shoebox handle.

The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top retails for $300 and is available exclusively at www.jhungyuro.com. The Hennessy Celebration Hi-Top is a limited edition shoe with only 500 pairs being made available in the US.

Olsen, Also in Dubai, Chooses Chopard

Mary Kate Olsen wore a pendant from the Xtravaganza Collection, in rose gold set with diamonds (3ct) and a necklace in white gold from les Chaines Collection set with 40 diamonds to the Grand Opening of Atlantis – The Palm Resort in Dubai. She also chose a Copacabana ring set with briolette sapphires for a total weight of 46 carats and 115 diamonds.

Lohan Glitters in Dubai

Lindsay Lohan wore a set from the Golden Diamonds Collection to the Grand Opening of Atlantis – The Palm Resort in Dubai

Liz Earle Goes Green

British Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare (LENAS) was a sponsor of the Environmental Media Association’s 18th Annual Awards. LENAS was the first-ever British beauty brand to participate and was invited because of their 13 year history of serving as a leader and pioneer in the natural products movement. Liz Earle was in attendance at the Award Show on Thursday, November 13, 2008. Seen above are Liz Earle and actress Wendie Malick.

Heigl Goes Retro With Mary Norton

Katherine Heigl (seen here with her equally dapper-attired husband, singer Josh Kelley), attended a retro-themed party carrying a handbag by Mary Norton. The blonde beauty perfectly completed her 20’s-inspired ensemble with Mary Norton’s Sceptre – a silver clutch with pearls and Swarovski crystals in a diamond pattern.

Norton’s handbags and footwear are handcrafted by artisans in Italy and produced in small quantities. Mary Norton products can be found at the following retail outlets:

www.marynorton.com
Mary Norton - Melrose Place, Los Angeles
Mary Norton – King Street, Charleston
Other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Harrods

Introducing Pinnington Bags
Diaper Bags For Stylish Moms

Long gone are the days of vinyl pastel diaper bags. Think you'll be stylish with your Petunia Picklebottom bag? Think again.

Pinnington Bags, the non-diaper bag/diaper bag offer a stylish carry-all for new moms.

During graduate studies at New York University, Pinnington designer Carly Liberatore, ventured off course from her B.S. degree, and took a side job as an interior designer.

Liberatore discovered a new found passion when she learned to sew in a high-end drapery workroom. Combining luxurious fabrics, her new-found knowledge of interior design and her flair for fashion, Liberatore soon created her own collection.

Although it started as a collection of women’s handbags, and inspired by the blossoming motherhood around her, Libertore’s Pinnington evolved into an assortment of diaper bags.

Libertore tweaked her collection to grow with the new lifestyles of her pregnant friends, family and fans. She called the collection Pinnington Bags for her mother, whose maiden name in Pinnington.

Each Pinnington Bag is handmade and takes about five hours to make. The bags come in a variety of patterns and materials including modern swirls in ivory and purple blue cut velvet stripes, pink and rust silk damask and orange on tan cut-velvet pinwheel pattern.

Three collections make up Pinnington Bags: The Emily Messenger Bag, The August Ruffled Bag, and the Anna Rouched Bag. Each group is named after a Liberatore niece or nephew- who are currently her three most important little ones.

Available in two sizes, the large diaper bag is designed as a classic, hold-all diaper bag, while the smaller accessory bag is better suited for carrying just basics. All bags have clean lines, a stylish tapered shape and feature a wipe-able change pad, comfortable carry straps and plenty of pockets (five interior and two exterior.)

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell plan to use their Pinnington Bag once their twins are born, and Tori Spelling and Constance Zimmer have requested to tote their must- have mommy items around in Pinnington Bags (retail $330 to $350).

Pinnington Bags are available at local retailers and nationally at www.pinningtonbags.com.

kaplanMD Gift Set

The kaplanMD Collection Set includes full-size bottles of Cleansing Lotion, Revitalizing Toner, Day Cream SPF 15, and Replenishing Night Cream.

Just in time for the holidays, kaplanMD is offering the entire collection at a discounted price. Get all four items for $395 (normally $495).

The kaplanMD Collection Set is available at Neiman Marcus, Fred Segal, and online at www.kaplanmd.com. To receive your discount, go to www.kaplanMD.com and enter the promo code KMDHOLIDAY08 upon checkout. You will automatically receive $100 off your purchase of the Collection Set – you receive a free Cleansing Lotion and Revitalizing Toner.

Happy Thanksgiving from BeansTalk!

Newton in Lanvin

Actresses Elizabeth Banks (L) and Thandie Newton (R) pose with director Oliver Stone as they arrive to attend the premiere of the film "W." in New York, October 14, 2008. The movie is a film portrait of U.S. President George W. Bush and it opens in theatres less than three weeks before Americans select their next president. Newton wore Lanvin's black off-the-shoulder tiered grosgrain ribbon cocktail dress. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)

Cruz Also Chooses Chopard

Penelope Cruz selected a pair of diamond earrings from the Copacabana Collection, a diamond pave bangle from the Pushkin Collection and a ring from the Happy Diamonds Solitaire Collection - all by Chopard at the premiere of her film, Vicky Christina Barcelona on 21 October 2008.

Paltrow Wears Chopard Paris Premiere

Gwyneth Paltrow sparkled in the City of Lights wearing Chopard’s diamond necklace set in yellow gold from their Strada Collection as well as heart shaped diamond drop earrings also set in yellow gold from the High Jewelry Collection.

Gugino Chooses Bayou

Carla Gugino arrives at the Scream Awards on Saturday 18 October 2008 in Los Angeles. Cugino worked the red carpet in a dress by Bradley Bayou. The actress looked chic in an amber sequin 3⁄4 length cocktail dress from Bradley Bayou’s couture line, During his two-year stint as Creative Director and Head Designer for Halston, Bayou revived the label to its original stature as a world renowned brand. Bayou currently designs the Bradley Bayou couture line (worn by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Debra Messing, Eva Longoria, Queen Latifah, Anne Hathaway and more) as well as the BRADLEY ready-to-wear collection, sold on QVC, and is the author of “The Science of Sexy” (now available on paperback) -- a guide to choosing clothes for women of all shapes and sizes. (AP Photos/Dan Steinberg)

Stars at Snoqualmie Casino Grand Opening
Thursday, November 6, 2008 marked the Grand Opening of the Snoqualmie Casino.

Olympic gold medalist figure skater Oksana Baiul, "Baywatch’s" Traci Bingham, "American Idol" runner-up Blake Lewis and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon attended opening night which featured a private concert by Jessica Simpson, her first public concert in the Seattle area since 2004.

Simpson unveiled her new country songs from her latest album "Do You Know" which debuted #1 on the country charts and she is currently promoting her 2nd hit single "Remember That." She spoke fondly of her boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, in between songs. Simpson reflected on what it is like to be in love and be happy with the right person and performed her version of "These Boots Were Made for Walkin'."

Oksana Baiul wore Chanel and Louis Vuitton in a look that harkened to a 1940s screen siren. The Olympian was overheard talking about her exciting projects off the ice, including her Broadway show "Cold As Ice,” and her new reality TV show, which will follow her segue into Hollywood.

Traci Bingham wore a cherry red and leopard print mini and was telling everyone about the new show she hosts on Fox, searching for the next American Sex Symbol. Bingham’s sister was the big winner, turning $10 in the slot machine into a few thousand dollars in minutes.

Celebrity guests and VIPs were treated to sushi, cocktails from the Absolut & Bacardi ice bars, cognac and cigars at Snoqualmie's LIT cigar lounge, the yummy dessert selection and chocolate fondue fountain and their own custom Snoqualmie poker sets.

“ There’s just nothing like [Snoqualmie Casino] in this region,” said Michael Barozzi, chief executive officer of Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority, which owns and operates Snoqualmie Casino. “Our guests can enjoy the elegance and sophistication expected of a 5-star resort and at the same time experience the high-octane thrill of true, Vegas-style casino entertainment.”

Snoqualmie Casino is the closest gaming center to Seattle and the first on Seattle’s eastside. With more than 170,000-square-feet of entertainment space, the Vegas-style venue features 50 table games, eight poker tables, and 1700 state-of-the-art slot machines.

In addition to live concerts, the 11,000-square-foot Ballroom will also host other high-profile events such as world-class boxing, and national poker tournaments. Five restaurants, three unique lounges and bars, and a plush cigar lounge round out the total entertainment experience.

http://www.snocasino.com

Pictured:

Captions: Jessica Simpson with NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon and his wife Mandy

Jessica Simpson onstage during her private concert at the Snoqualmie Casino Grand Opening

Lily Allen New CD Update

On February 10th, 2009, Capitol Records will release It's Not Me, It's You, the follow-up to Lily Allen's critically acclaimed 2007 debut, Alright, Still.

Recorded at Eagle Rock Studios in Los Angeles, the album finds Lily in top form, creating a record Blender's recent "In The Studio" feature described as "part God, part country and all middle finger." Allen wrote and recorded the album's 12 songs with producer Greg Kurstin (the bird and the bee), who worked with her on three songs for Alright, Still - "Everything's Just Wonderful," "Alfie" and "Not Big."

"We decided to try and make bigger sounding, more ethereal songs, real songs," says Lily, who will be touring the U.S. in the spring. "I wanted to work with one person from start to finish to make it one body of work. I wanted it to feel like it had some sort of integrity. I think I've grown up a bit as a person and I hope it reflects that."

On It's Not Me, It's You, Lily's characteristically sharp observations find expression in a variety of musical styles, with influences ranging from the Jazz Era to country and western to dance music. "Highlights include 'Everyone's at It,' a synth-pop song about prescription drugs that features Allen on xylophone; 'He Wasn't There,' which matches emotional lyrics about her absent father to a jazz groove; and 'Not Fair,' a saucy country song about an inadequate lover," said Rolling Stone.

Often called the queen of MySpace - a reference to the massive interest generated by early demos she posted on her page - Lily was hailed by NME as "the archetypal singer-songwriter for the iPod generation" while The New York Times observed, "She symbolizes a new blogging-age, middle-class girl: cockily ambitious, skeptical yet enthusiastic, technically savvy, musically open, obsessed with public expression and ready to fight back."

After a release week performance on "Saturday Night Live," Alright, Still bowed at No. 20 on The Billboard 200 in February 2007. Certified Gold in the States, it has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Allen, who was nominated for four Brit awards, a GRAMMY® award and an MTV Video Music award, toured the U.S. numerous times and appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "TODAY." A succession of collaborations with artists including Robbie Williams, Mark Ronson, Common, Dizzee Rascal, Jamie T and the Kaiser Chiefs further enhanced Lily's reputation as an artist of unusual diversity.

The track listing for It's Not Me, It's You:

1. Everyone's At It
2. The Fear
3. It's Not Fair
4. 22
5. I Could Say
6. Go Back To the Start
7. Never Gonna Happen
8. Fuck You
9. Who'd've Known
10. Chinese
11. Him
12. He Wasn't There

Ray Bradbury to TCM as November Guest Programmer


Award Winning Writer of Something Wicked This Way Comes and Fahrenheit 451 to Join TCM Host Robert Osborne on Thursday 20 November 2008



Ray Bradbury, one of the 20th century’s greatest American authors with more than 500 published works, is coming to Turner Classic Movies (TCM) to present a few of his favorite films in the November edition of the network’s Guest Programmer series. Each month on this movie showcase, TCM invites a celebrity to exchange star status for a role as a devoted fan of classic film by picking a few favorite movies and sharing with viewers what he or she has come to love about each one. Bradbury will sit down with TCM host Robert Osborne to present four outstanding films Thursday, 20 November 2008 beginning at 8 p.m. (ET).



Bradbury’s chosen films for his appearance as Guest Programmer are The Phantom of the Opera (1925 – 8 p.m.) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 – 9:45 p.m.), two films featuring the legendary master of disguise, Lon Chaney; Rebecca (1940 – 11:45 p.m.), Alfred Hitchcock’s Oscar®-winning Best Picture starring Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson; and Citizen Kane (1941 – 2:00 a.m.), the Orson Welles classic that consistently ranks among the greatest films ever made.



Awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the 2004 National Medal of Arts, Bradbury is best known for such works as The Illustrated Man, Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes, all of which were made into feature films starring the likes of Rod Steiger, Julie Christie and Jason Robards, and The Martian Chronicles, which became a hit miniseries starring Rock Hudson.

Liv Tyler (seen here with her son Milo) rocks a pair of 7forallmankind jeans.

Walsh Goes For 40s Siren Style

Actress Kate Walsh poses for pictures after leaving a taping of the 'Late Show With David Letterman' on Wednesday Oct. 1, 2008, in New York. Walsh showed her curves in a Herve Leroux navy keyhole fitted dress for her appearance on David Letterman. She also wore Platinum jewelry by Neil Lane, a pair of Platinum drop earrings, a cocktail ring and a bracelet. (AP Photo/Brian McDermott)

Katy Perry's World Tour Scoop

"It Girl" of 2008, Capitol Records breakthrough artist Katy Perry, will take her act on the road in early 2009, in her first international headline tour in the wake of the global success of her debut album, One Of The Boys. Tickets will go on sale today, 14 November 2008.

Katy is playing in a variety of large clubs and small theatres. Her itinerary will take her to the stages of such classic venues as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Irving Plaza in New York City, The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada and The Elyseé Montmartre in Paris, France, hitting fifty cities around the world between the tour's Jan. 23rd kick-off in Seattle, and an early May wrap-up show in her Santa Barbara hometown. Joining Katy on the road will be Alphabeat on all North American dates and Warped Tour alumni 3 OH 3! for all European dates.

Currently, Katy's second single, the irrepressible "Hot N Cold," is her second international hit: aside from Top 10 entries in the US, Australia, Canada (where it claims the No. 1 slot) and the U.K, it is a bulleted Top 5 smash on Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart, and No. 1 most listened to record on American Top 40. The video has become the No. 2 most viewed video premiere of all time on MySpace and the track's U.S. radio success has sent the RIAA gold-certified One Of The Boys bulleting back into the Top 20 of the national Billboard Top 200 album chart, in its fifth month of release.

Katy is fresh off of a scene-stealing performance at the MTV Latin America "Los Premios Awards," and hosting and performing at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool where she picked up the award for "Best New Act". Previously, Katy spent two solid months on Stateside tour with Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2008 - a scene described by one Midwestern reviewer as comparable to the running of the bulls in Pamplona "...minus the bulls, or the quaint Basque scenery" marking her as a solid live performer.

Meanwhile, Katy's career displayed the same unstoppable forward momentum, as her first single, "I Kissed a Girl," took up an astonishing seven-week residency at No. 1, equaling a Capitol label record set by The Beatles. The song was the 1,000th American No. 1 hit of the rock era, amassing over 2 million domestic paid downloads, and now approaching 6 million in global single sales. In addition, the song was No. 1 nationally in 15 countries, including the U.K., Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Australia as well as a No. 1 iTunes download in over a dozen countries, and a No. 1 airplay smash in 20 territories.

Along the way, as One Of The Boys made its Top 10 Billboard album chart debut, critics and fans alike commented on the cultural zeitgeist so effortlessly captured by Katy in her songs and video clips, including the underground Youtube and Myspace smash, "Ur So Gay," and the five times MTV Video Music Award nominee "I Kissed a Girl."

Katy Perry World Tour:
Jan 23 Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
Jan 25 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Jan 26 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Jan 28 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Jan 29 Sacramento, CA @ Empire Events Centre
Jan 31 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern
Feb 2 Tuscon, AZ @ University of Arizona
Feb 3 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Feb 5 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Feb 22 Stockholm @ Nalan
Feb 23 Copenhagen @ Vega
Feb 25 Manchester @ Academy
Feb 26 London @ Koko
Feb 27 London @ Koko
Mar 1 Amsterdam @ Melkweg the Max
Mar 2 Paris @ Elysee Montmarte
Mar 4 Munich @ Kesselhaus
Mar 5 Frankfurt @ Batschkapp
Mar 6 Hamburg @ Grynspan
Mar 7 Brussels @ Ancienne Belgique
Mar 20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Mar 21 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Mar 23 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
Mar 24 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Mar 26 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Mar 27 Detroit, MI @ Clutch Cargos
Mar 28 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Mar 30 Toronto, ONT @ Kool Haus
Apr 5 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
Apr 7 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Apr 10 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Apr 11 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Apr 14 Nashville, TN @ Cannery
Apr 15 Atlanta, GA @ CenterStage
Apr 27 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
Apr 28 St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing

For more on Katy Perry including photos, streaming video, and Katy's blog, visit her official website www.katyperry.com or MySpace page www.myspace.com/katyperry.

HGTV's Holiday Decor Shows

Get Great Ideas Here

HGTV will celebrate the spirit of the holidays at home by decking the halls with five new specials and six special holiday episodes. From Sunday, November 16, to Wednesday, December 17, viewers will see the latest trends in holiday décor, gifts and entertaining ideas for every home. The special seasonal programming also includes a tour of America's most festive holiday celebrations, and a special peek inside the dazzlingly decorated homes of the network's brightest stars. In addition, beginning Monday, November 3, HGTV.com will offer special online holiday packages, including convivial craft projects and decoration ideas for everything from tinsel to tree-toppers, as well as eco-friendly ways to celebrate the season.

On Sunday, November 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, several of HGTV's most popular hosts will show viewers their expertly decorated holiday homes in HGTV's Home for the Holidays. Viewers will join host Monica Pedersen as she visits designers Vern Yip, Kim Myles, Lisa LaPorta and Angelo Surmelis and contractors Eric Stromer and Steve Watson, as they share their stylish seasonal décor ideas and treasured holiday traditions. On Sunday, December 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, HGTV also will highlight hometown holiday celebrations in communities across the country in Top 10 Christmas Towns. Viewers will see how to create down home holiday craft projects and recipes, including corn shuck angels, cowboy Christmas decorations, wassail and spiced wine.

In 25 Great Holiday Ideas, airing on Friday, November 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, hosts Angelo Surmelis and Erinn Valencich will reveal the best holiday entertaining tips, craft projects and special traditions that were submitted by online users. Angelo and Erinn also will offer a sackful of easy seasonal décor demonstrations that are perfect for any home, such as homemade ice vases, candy-covered ornamental trees and eco-friendly wrapping paper suggestions. On Sunday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, viewers will enjoy getting an exclusive look at the country's most creative and festive holiday window displays in Holiday Windows 2008. These majestic winter wonderlands are the year's biggest secret for department stores such as Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Lord & Taylor. Viewers will get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to every exciting detail from the top-secret design plans to the dramatic reveal of each exquisite window display.

This season HGTV also will offer special holiday-themed episodes of popular series. In Deserving Design, airing on Sunday, November 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, designer Vern Yip completes a beautiful French Country style kitchen makeover for a family who devotes much of their time to others in need. On Friday, November 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, Myles of Style host and designer, Kim Myles, will help a family celebrate the holidays in their new home with a wondrous rustic Christmas living room makeover. In addition, Carter Oosterhouse will bring the holiday spirit to the Genovese family in a special episode of Carter Can, airing on Saturday, December 6, at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT. Despite a tumultuous year, the family is ready to count their blessings in the updated den designed by Carter.

HGTV's holiday programming offers everything from the latest ideas for gifts, design and décor to the inspirational family stories that will help viewers make the most of this holiday season.

Holiday Programming Highlights
(All air dates, titles, locations and hosts are subject to change.)

Deserving Design Sunday, November 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Host and renowned designer Vern Yip will help the Bernards, a deserving family who assist the less fortunate throughout the year. In this special holiday episode, viewers will see Vern create a luxurious French Country kitchen complete with new appliances, tile backsplashes and top-of-the-line cabinetry designed to fit this busy family's needs.

Myles of Style Friday, November 28, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Designer Kim Myles will spread holiday cheer when she transforms a family's bland living room into a warm and inviting holiday wonderland for entertaining family and friends. Viewers will get sensational and affordable seasonal decor ideas when Kim re-imagines the living room for Josh, Heather and 2-year-old son, Tyler, with a design that will make their holiday dreams come true.

25 Great Holiday Ideas Friday, November 28, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
This one-hour special features 25 great holiday decorating and entertaining ideas that were submitted online by HGTV viewers. Designers Angelo Surmelis and Erinn Valencich will demonstrate how to recreate those viewers' ideas and more, including how to trim a tree, deck the halls and transform the home into a wonderful place to welcome holiday guests.

HGTV's Home for the Holidays Sunday, November 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
In this exciting one-hour special hosted by Monica Pedersen, viewers will get an inside look at how HGTV's on-camera personalities celebrate the season. Viewers will enjoy seeing the inspirational décor and holiday traditions of HGTV stars, including Vern Yip, Lisa LaPorta, Kim Myles, Angelo Surmelis, Eric Stromer and Steve Watson.

Carter Can Saturday, December 6, at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT
In this inspirational episode, expert builder Carter Oosterhouse brings some much-needed holiday cheer to the Genovese family, who, after a difficult year, is ready celebrate the season. Carter and his crew create built-in bench seating and extra storage for the living room as well as deck out the home for a holiday the family will never forget.

Color Correction Saturday, December 6, at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT
Color expert Constance Ramos will provide a holiday makeover for the Kimball family, who want to change their beige living room into a colorful place to celebrate during the holidays. Viewers will see Constance incorporate a rich color palette to create a
dramatically different space complete with luxurious accents and unique holiday décor.

Design on a Dime Sunday, December 7, at 3:00 p.m. ET/PT
Interior designer Frank Fontana and the Design on a Dime team are ready to turn the Serra family's dining room into a showplace for their holiday party. With a special budget of $2,000, Frank will create a Tuscan-style space that includes both seasonal elements and design pieces that can remain year round. The addition of a formal bar area, faux-wood beams and other festive décor will transform this typical dining room into a European-inspired space for entertaining.

Top 10 Christmas Towns Sunday, December 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
This one-hour special will take viewers on a journey to see how people in 10 communities across America celebrate the holidays in their own unique way. From the seashell-adorned decorations at a "Christmas by the Sea" to an "Ozarks Christmas" in Arkansas, HGTV will capture the essence of each town's heartfelt celebration and tell its one-of-a-kind holiday story.

Holiday Windows 2008 Sunday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
In this popular seasonal special, viewers will get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the fabulous holiday window displays of the nation's most popular department stores and get the first glimpse of these marvelous winter wonderlands at the moment it's revealed to the world.

White House Christmas 2008 Wednesday, December 17, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
HGTV steps inside the White House to find out what it takes to decorate the home of the president and the first lady for the holidays. Host Sabrina Soto from HGTV's Get It Sold will give viewers an exclusive backstage pass to the most famous home in the country. Viewers will see how the yards of garland, hundreds of wreaths and nearly two dozen trees, will be decorated and put on display for the thousands visitors expected to pass through the White House this holiday season.

Michelle Obama's Favorite Designers

The First Lady-elect is tall, elegant and slim to carry off just about any look (although we've already noted how we cringed at her Election Night choice -- it was Narcisco Rodriguez).

But Michelle Obama, like the rest of us, has favorite designers who she can confidently turn to for special occasions. These include Chicago designer Maria Pinto, Isabel Toledo (the black outfit above), Narcisco Rodriguez, Moschino, and Thakoon Panichgul (the dress above).

She's fond of bright colors (she's got the perfect coloring), as well as lively floral patterns. For solids, she's been most often seen in red and variants of the shade, but also has been seen in a purple/pinky color, as well as turquoise.

Obama has said she love to shop on line (for the convenience, and perhaps now, the privacy), and is often seen, for her more casual attire, in J.Crew and Gap.

Both Obama and her husband do share a mutual style that edges towards the preppy. But that's not say she chooses safe. She wore a Rodriguez suit in grey and white that featured large horizontal stripes, her Moschino purple floral print was a kicky 1950's retro design. Her Thakoon sheaths feature more detailed, smaller floral prints.

There'll be much speculation for the next few weeks on what she'll wear on the inauguration, but given that the ceremony is outside and it is, afterall, January in D.C., her choice of coat and/or hat and other accessories (she definitely knows how to accessorize) will be key. She'd look great in a nicely cut red wool coat. We'll pull some ideas and post them soon, although she'll no doubt be wearing a custom ensemble.