Constance Wu & Awkwafina of Crazy Rich Asians gleam on the Red Carpet

Constance Wu & Awkwafina, stars of the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, gleam in lovely jewelry on the red carpet of the National Board of Review Awards Gala in New York City.

ABOUT THE JEWELRY DESIGNERS

Constance Wu wears Anabela Chan ruby earrings and a Le Vian ring

Considered one of the oldest jewelers in the world today, Le Vian’s glittered archive tells the story of a family’s steadfast integrity and love of gemstones and quality. Capturing the eyes of ancient royalty and the most famous celebrities on today’s red carpet, Le Vian’s® designs are regarded as works of art. Artisans craft rare natural decorative color diamonds including Pink Orchid Diamonds™, Sunny Yellow Diamonds™, Blackberry Diamonds™, Vanilla Diamonds™ and Chocolate Diamonds® into innovative designs, combining colors of gems and flavors of gold with intricate detailing and a passion from days gone by. Master gem cutters then utilize Le Vian®’s proprietary and innovative cuts to brilliantly reveal the exceptional beauty of each gem. For more information, please visit www.levian.com

Instagram: @Levian_jewelry
Facebook: @LeVianJewelry
Twitter: @Le_Vian

Awkwafina wears Hueb aquamarine earrings

During the 1970’s Fadua Hueb set out to make the sort of jewelry her friends wanted, but couldn’t find. What she created was a collection of gemstones with golden accents inspired by the color, energy, and natural beauty of Brazil. Each piece was designed to complement a woman’s personal style, rather than define it. Hueb jewelry is handcrafted by skilled in-house artisans. Quality materials such as high-grade diamonds and gemstones from Brazil are set in 18k gold. The many varied collections strike a subtle balance of art and innovation, both classic and contemporary. Today, Hueb spans three generations. Everything that Hueb creates is inspired by the creativity, elegance and confidence of the Hueb woman with a uniquely Brazilian sense of joie de vivre. For more information, please visit www.hueb.com

Instagram: @hueb_official
Facebook: @HuebOfficial
Twitter: @Hueb_Official

LA Celeb Lisa Vanderpump opens Vanderpump Cocktail Garden in Vegas

If you like Lisa Vanderpump‘s style and taste at her bars & restaurants in Los Angeles, or on  Bravo TV’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “Vanderpump Rules,” then you’re going to love her new place in Las Vegas.

Lisa Vanderpump and Caesars Palace have partnered to open Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, to bring a taste of Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

THE CONCEPT

The cocktail garden takes a page from Vanderpump’s highly successful restaurants and lounges, Villa Blanca, SUR, Pump and Tom Tom. “I have always loved Las Vegas –it has always been a dream of mine to see our brand in lights at the iconic Caesars Palace,” said Lisa Vanderpump. “Vanderpump Cocktail Garden combines the sexy atmosphere of our other establishments injected with the Vegas energy that brings millions of guests who visit year after year.”

“Caesars Palace has a long history of working with notable names; from renowned chefs to legendary music icons—we’re proud to now partner with Lisa Vanderpump to bring her first venture to Las Vegas,” said Caesars Palace regional president, Gary Selesner. “We look forward to Vanderpump bringing Los Angeles flair combined with the extravagance of the Strip.”

THE DESIGN

Marrying natural elements with industrial touches, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden has an indoor patio welcoming guests upon arrival, transporting them to an al fresco-style garden with towering trees and romantic lighting. Inside, the romantic elements continue, including Lisa’s signature touches of pink, with contrasting masculine details. The lounge area will feature booths as well as a full bar that focuses on craft cocktails, Vanderpump branded Sangria and Rosé as well as a carefully selected wine list. Small bites will be available to be shared or perfectly paired with libations.

Vanderpump Cocktail Garden‘s design inspiration for the space comes from Lisa, husband Ken Todd and creative director Nick Alain, who collaborated on their newest LA hit, Tom Tom. Vanderpump is located in between The Colosseum and the entrance to The Forum Shops (starting in 2019).

ABOUT LISA VANDERPUMP

Businesswoman, TV personality, author, and philanthropist, Lisa Vanderpump hails from London, England. Lisa and her husband Ken Todd have been entrenched in the restaurant and nightclub industry since they started their partnership over 30 years ago. Their four very successful restaurants and bars in Los Angeles (SUR, Villa Blanca, PUMP and Tom Tom Restaurant and Bar) are just a peek into their joint ventures; Vanderpump Cocktail Garden will mark their 35th restaurant and bar. Vanderpump has most recently become known for the hit Bravo TV series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as well as her spinoff show Vanderpump Rules, of which she is an Executive Producer. Her unique mix of sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has appealed to thousands of viewers. Additional endeavors include: “Vanderpump Beverly Hills” tabletop collection, the “Vanderpump Estate Jewelry” Collection, a pet accessories line at VanderpumpPets.com and a soon to be released fine jewelry collection. Vanderpump also has her family’s signature Vanderpump Vodka, Vanderpump Rosé and LVP Sangria. In 2017, Lisa and Ken launched The Vanderpump Dog Foundation to help end animal abuse on both an international and domestic level, which opened the doors to its first rescue and adoption center last year.

Deluxe Watch Collection from actor Joel Kinnaman’s company Carl Edmond

A lot of people tell time with their smartphones, but nothing replaces a good watch collection for style. Hollywood actor Joel Kinnaman knows this, and his Swedish watch company Carl Edmond has released a new Deluxe Collection.

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TASTE AWARDS CLOSEUP: Ornella Fado of Brindiamo!

Ornella Fado of Brindiamo! is multiple TASTE AWARDS Nominee, as well as a winner and awards honoree. Ornella is also an Italian entrepreneur and Television personality, known for her brand and TV show. She was born and raised in Italy and moved to New York in 1995, where she presently lives.

TASTE AWARDS CLOSEUP

  • Ornella, what have the TASTE AWARDS meant to You?: I truly like the concept of recognizing people for their good and hard work in a “tasty” way.
  • Where are you from originally?: Italy
  • Where are you based now?: Manhattan
  • Why?: I moved to New York City about 25 Years ago. In 1992 I was performing in a Broadway show in Italy “A CHORUS LINE” and I met the person that eventually become my husband and the father of my child. He was American and so we moved to New York, a city that I truly love because of the amazing energy.
  • What is your Favorite Vacation Spot?: My favorite spot is the Amalfi Coast, included Capri and Ischia, but the truth is that Italy is a gorgeous country so any spot in Italy is be a perfect spot for a vacation.
  • What is your favorite food or dish?: I love ” SPAGHETTTI ALLE VONGOLE”
  • What is your favorite restaurant?: For the past 13 years thanks to my TV show Brindiamo! I had the pleasure to visit many great Italian restaurants, it’s hard to pick only one, but I am going to say RAFELE Ristorante in Manhattan.
  • Name Your Favorite: Wine, Beer, Cocktail, Juice or Water?: Prosecco, (I don’t drink beer), Sgroppino, Orange Juice and San Pellegrino Water
  • What is Your Favorite Item of Clothing or Designer?: I love dresses, I love bags, Italian designers are of course on top of my list.
  • What is your Camera of Choice?: Canon
  • What is your Computer of Choice?: Apple
  • What is your Favorite City?: New York City – Naples
  • What is your passion?: My passion has been always performing and creating something that makes me fulfilled and happy.
  • What was the inspiration for your TASTE AWARDS project?: My inspiration was to share my work with many other fantastic producers and hosts in America and meet the people behind the TASTE AWARDS.
  • How did you come up with the name?: Brindiamo! in Italian means ” Let’s Toast“, the theme song of my TV show is from “LA TRAVIATA” the scene of the Brindisi ” LIBIAMO”. I love Giuseppe Verdi (the composer of the Opera ) and my very first show as professional dancer was in La Traviata at the age of 14. Also my TV show is about toasting to life, toasting to great Italian food and amazing Italians around the world.I felt that the name Brindiamo! was the perfect title for my TV SHOW
  • What do you love about it?: I love the meaning of the name Brindiamo! I love the mission of my tv show, I love the spirit and the approach always organic, fresh, honest and authentic.
  • What is the most challenging part?: Probably the financial aspect for funding the TV series is the most challenging part of my business, everything else come pretty natural to me, I love to create original contents and writing new shows, I enjoy the productions aspect, and of course I love to host my own TV show, discover new Italian restaurants and interviewing upcoming chefs, and it’a great to interview Italian celebrities.
  • How did you go about getting involved or even starting this endeavor from a business or professional standpoint?: I have been involved in show business all my life. I was only 17 when I start to dance in well known Televison shows in Italy and I was 22 when I start to host a 2 hours live talk show in Italy. When I moved to New York I felt the need to create something that would fulfill me as an artist and as a business woman and I realize pretty soon that Italian food was loved by everyone but often misconceived, so I felt it was my responsibility to showcase the new Italian cuisine and the upcoming Italian chefs and new Italian restaurants. So Brindiamo! become the first and only show featuring Italian restaurants and Italian chefs and it was the only show featuring Italian celebrities in America. Sharing my culture, my traditions and culture and erase any negative stereotypes about Italians has been my mission for about 14 years.
  • Has it reached your goals for it?: I do feel that in the past 14 years I have been working toward a goal, I am keeping working and smiling and get inspired by life to improve and grow bigger and stronger.
  • What kind of trends are you seeing now in this space?: I believe the new trend is: organic and authentic, people likes REAL at least I DO !
  • Anything you wish you had known in this industry when you first started?: I am sure that knowing the American system better would help me more ,I moved here as an adult so I needed to learn everything from scratch.
  • Any tips for those aspiring to do better in this media space?: I feel the passion is a big element to succeed and of course you must to have a lot discipline, knowledge and not forget the talent.
  • How much do you use Social Media as part of the business or project?: I am aware that social media plays a great role in the media industry and I know I should take more advantage of all the social media avaiilable out there.
  • Any tips for those aspiring to do better in social media?: I am looking for those tips as well, I have been more interested in creating the product to broadcast than talking about it on social media.
  • How do you get your ideas for the project?: Everything started because there was no show that would highlights Italians in America and authentic Italian cuisine, Brindiamo! has been the first TV show that would GUIDE and suggest where to have an authentic Italian experience in America, with many specials from Italy, Canada and Bermuda as well. Each show features 4 recipes (antipasto, primo piatto, secondo piatto e dolce), interviews with the chef and the owner and a bit of history of the restaurant, and the area where the restaurant is located, and time to time we are featuring Italian celebrities visiting New York for pleasure or for business.
  • Who is doing work in this space that you really admire?: There are many people that are doing a wonderful job, and have respect for all those proactive individuals that are passionate about their work, I love Lidia also because I see her often and she was actually guest at one of my event last month.
  • Do you find that people recognize you on the street?: Yes very often! even in places outside New York City , like in Bermuda and Italy.
  • What’s next for You and this Project?: I am happy that Brindiamo! ‘s old favorites and many new show will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video soon. Very excited too about my new Guide about Fine Italian restaurants around the world and my mission to support the slow food mission 10.000 garden for Africa.

Ariana Grande drops her Sweetener Limited Edition Collection

Superstar songstress Ariana Grande has dropped her newest album, “Sweetener,” along with a a companion limited edition clothing collection.

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TASTE AWARDS CLOSEUP: Monique Soltani of Wine Oh TV

TASTE AWARDS Finalist & Winner Wine Oh TV Executive Producer and Host, Monique Soltani is a broadcast journalist and wine expert. Monique has reported for The Weather Channel, CBS, NBC, ABC affiliates across the country.

Monique is also a trained SAG/AFTRA actor and studied at The Groundlings, Warner Loughlin Studios, and The Atlantic Theater Company. Monique can be seen on various films, television shows and commercials.

TASTE AWARDS CLOSEUP

 

  • Monique, what have the TASTE AWARDS meant to You?: It’s a huge honor to be recognized for the hard work and dedication that goes into hosting and producing Wine Oh TV, a show that I love and have put my heart and soul into for so many years. I’m so thankful to the TASTE AWARDS for this honor and for bringing awareness to independently run shows like mine. I am beyond blessed to have such tremendous support from the wine community and from my distribution partners.
  • Where are you from originally?: Los Angeles, CA
  • Where are you based now?: San Francisco
  • What is Your Favorite Item of Clothing or Designer?: Derek Lam
  • What is your Camera of Choice?: Canon
  • What is your Computer of Choice?: Mac
  • What is your Favorite City?: Venice (Italy or LA)
  • What is your passion?: Storytelling
  • How did you come up with the name?: It’s a play on words. Wine Oh, like “OH” I didn’t know that or a Wine Oh someone who drinks too much.
  • What do you love about it?: The people I meet
  • What is the most challenging part?: Finding the time to tell all the amazing stories that are out there
  • How did you go about getting involved or even starting this endeavor from a business or professional standpoint?: I combined my passion for wine with my experience as a broadcast journalist
  • Has it reached your goals for it?: I’m always evolving and so are my goals.
  • Anything you wish you had known in this industry when you first started?: How important it is to ask for what you want.
  • Any tips for those aspiring to do better in this media space?: Expect great things and your life will begin to unfold that way.
  • How much do you use Social Media as part of the business or project?: Daily
  • What’s next for Monique and this Project?: Getting more distribution, telling more compelling stories and always pushing myself to do better work.