Trio’s Opening Number

0

The stars were out Oct. 14 for the grand opening of XIV, the new West Hollywood eatery from hospitality company SBE of Los Angeles.

Of course, the triumvirate that made the Sunset Boulevard restaurant possible — SBE Chief Executive Sam Nazarian, famed chef Michael Mina and internatinal designer Philippe Starck were all there to regale the hundreds in attendance.

Mina, who got his start at the Hotel Bel-Air, made his name in San Francisco and Las Vegas with a string of successful restaurants. This is his 14th hence the name. But Mina told the audience that he had never experienced such a lavish restaurant opening.

Indeed, it was a fancy affair, what with all the seafood, steak and champagne. Guests included developer Rick Caruso; “The Hills” stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who arrived in a white Rolls-Royce; and international DJ Paul Oakenfold, who spun records at the party.


King-Size Grudge

Dodgers President Jamie McCourt last week spoke at a conference for financial professionals at the Los Angeles Convention Center about the challenges of buying one of baseball’s oldest franchises and the difficulties of turning it around. Luring certain reluctant fans was one such challenge.

She recalled one of her first encounters as an owner was meeting CNN talk-show host Larry King. He coolly informed her that he was no fan of the Dodgers because they had moved from Brooklyn nearly 50 years earlier.

“I reminded Larry that he, too, moved away from Brooklyn and now broadcasts his show from L.A.,” McCourt said.

King, she said, backed off. Later he asked her for tickets.


Monsters in Closet

What does one do with a background in fashion and friends who want you to help dress them? You can start a fashion consulting company.

Karyn Starr and Andrea Longacre-White started White-Starr Aesthetic Consulting two years ago to help people, including those friends, clean out their closets and shop for new clothes.

The pair works in both Los Angeles and New York, with L.A. business on the rise.

Starr and Longacre-White travel together to a client’s house, especially for the first session. Sometimes they need the support of each other, because it can be surprisingly emotional.

That’s because they “cleanse” the closet, making their clients try on everything they own and tossing what doesn’t work.

“Some people love it, some cry,” Starr said. “They get upset over the money they spent on the clothes, or a piece of clothing may remind them of something in their lives.

“We try to be together as much as possible,” said Starr, a former textile designer. “Two is better than one.”


Staff reporters Daniel Miller, David Nusbaum and Maya Meinert contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].

No posts to display