#event recaps

by Don Rose

(September 13, 2024) -- Veteran producer Debbie Durkin hosted her 18th annual ECOLUXE Luxury Lounge today to benefit Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue Ranch at a private residence in the heart of Beverly Hills. 

To celebrate television’s biggest awards weekend, the exclusive daytime event featured emerging brands in beauty and wellness, destination travel, high-end jewelry, sustainable brands, culinary/spirits, puppies available for adoption/foster, and engaging memorable experiences alongside sustainable brand partners, philanthropists, nominees, and celebrity/media VIP guests.

It was a great day to celebrate the stars of television while engaging with meaningful brands and spreading that human-canine connection with likeminded people in a beautiful setting.

By seamlessly blending luxury experiences with purposeful brands and philanthropic initiatives, this exclusive ECOLUXE event by Ms. Durkin (known by many as LA's leading sustainable creative producer) sets a new standard for meaningful celebrity engagements. It demonstrates that star power can be harnessed not just for entertainment, but as a force for positive change and awareness. The diverse gathering underscored the event’s unique ability to bridge different worlds under the banner of wellness and social responsibility.

Celebrities/VIPs in attendance:

Gilles Marini (Actor, Sex and the City, Brothers & Sisters), Sofia Milos (Actress, CSI Miami), Meriel Sheibani-Clare (Emmy-nominee writer, The Crown), Joseph Gatt (Games of Thrones), Kiowa Gordon (Actor, Dark Winds), Kwame Siegel (Actor, Comedian), Skully Brandon (Actor, Rapper, Dancer), Spencer Garrett (Actor), and Newton Mayenge (5x Emmy-nominated HBO "Winning Time").

Brand Participants included: 

Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue: https://www.marleysmutts.org/

ZenoVerse Wellness Group: 420WellnessJamaica.com, https://420wellnessjamaica.com

Kimitake Jewelry: https://kimitake-ny.com/

Fayah Athletics: https://fayahathletics.com/

Dr. Michelle Barr: https://michellebarr.com/about-dr-michelle/

Uka Sake: https://ukasake.us/

Bangin' Buns: https://www.banginbuns.com/

Celebrity Gift Bag Sponsors included: 

MO' Eyewear  @mo_eyewear_usa

ettitude l Luxury Bamboo Sheets and Towels: https://www.ettitude.com/ ($50 gift card to ettitude — the softest bedding and bath made from CleanBamboo®)

Alya Michelson - Grammy Winner: https://alyaofficial.com/   Song "HOPE" to benefit: https://www.unicefusa.org                                 

About ECOLUXE Luxury Lounge

Debbie Durkin’s annual ECOLUXE 'Endless Summer Festival' celebrates television's biggest night, the primetime TV Awards, to benefit Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue non-profit, which represents a significant shift in how pre-awards events are conceptualized and executed. At the heart of every ECOLUXE experience is a carefully curated selection of brands that align with the event’s ethos of sustainability, purposeful living, and uplifting brands who make products that make people's (and pets') lives better.

As the entertainment industry increasingly prioritizes social responsibility and sustainability, events like ECOLUXE Lounge serve as important catalysts for change. ECOLUXE provides a platform where influential figures can engage with eco-friendly brands and causes, potentially sparking trends that ripple through their vast networks of fans and followers.

For more information, please visit:

Instagram/TikTok: @producerdeb 

Luxury Experience & Co celebrated the world of sports and honored cancer survivors with the V Foundation at LA's iconic Petersen Automotive Museum

Luxury Experience & Co presented an exclusive gifting lounge in Los Angeles during a very special week in which celebrities and athletes flocked to celebrate the achievements made by world-class athletes during the past year. With the sunny hills of Los Angeles providing the perfect background, and the gleam of classic cars lighting the way, LE & Co crafted the ultimate gifting experience while raising money to benefit the famed V Foundation for Cancer Research. 

The Petersen Automotive Museum was the ideal venue for many famous guests and VIPs, as its famous cars greeted numerous top names from the upper echelon of sports, such as: ESPYS Nominee Golden State Warriors Klay Thompson, ESPYS Nominee U.S. Paralympic Team & 17x Paralympic Medalist Oksana Masters, Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Michael Davis, NFL Hall of Fame Star Terrel Owens, Champion Boxer Victor Ortiz, Three Time Olympic & World Champion Water Polo player Maggie Steffens, Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Jason Moore, NHL Houston Oilers left winger Evander Kane, 2022 Olympic ParaTrack & ParaNordic athlete Aaron Pike, as well as many more celebrities, athletes, and influencers. 

As they do with all of their excellent events, LE & Co welcomed guests with some amazing and luxurious gifts provided by a wide range of stellar companies, including: Celebrating Life, G.O.A.T. Fuel, NuEstetics Spa, CBD More Free, Altec Lansing, Cardinal du Four Armagnac, SNOW TEETH Whitening, Level Hotels & Furnished Suites, The Perfect Jean, Andar Leather Goodles, Marlowe Skincare, Project 7 Security Group, Tommy Bahama, Pierre Cardin Apparel, The Art of Shaving, Ashoc Accelerator, Orleans Coffee, Artist Jazz Guetta, Hollywood PhotoBooth, Schaffer Catering, Zen Water, Eli Lunzer Productions, Bravo Sierra, Members Only Apparel, and many more. 

“LE & Co was honored to create an amazing experience to raise money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research." says LE & Co Founder Melissa McAvoy. "I love creating events to bring together top celebrities, athletes, and press. But, more importantly, I thrive on creating opportunities to highlight and support amazing foundations doing amazing work." 

About the V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach and ESPN commentator. The V Foundation has funded nearly $290 million in game-changing cancer research grants nationwide through a competitive process strictly supervised by a world-class Scientific Advisory Committee. Event proceeds benefit cancer research funded by the V Foundation. The V team is committed to accelerating Victory Over Cancer. To learn more, visit www.v.org. 

About Luxury Experience & Co

Today’s best brands align themselves with LE & Co Luxury Gift Lounges to get their products into the hands of the hottest names in film, television and sports. With years of experience in Public Relations, Events, and Business Development, we lead and develop effective key brand relationships. Recognizing the importance of brand awareness to our clients, we have now created a complete package of services to maximize our clients return on their investment. Beyond working with brands, we also work with top foundations and charities to bring awareness to help others.

Be sure to follow @luxuryexperiencecollc on social media.

Special Report by Harrison Held

-

Lovely daytime TV legend Kate Linder received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Clinton H. Wallace's Cote d'Azur Webfest TV celebrating excellence in Television Acting on the 40th anniversary of her role as Esther Valentine on the CBS hit soap The Young and the Restless. 

Kate Linder. Event co-hosts Harrison Held (middle) and Clinton H. Wallace (right) look on. Photo courtesy of Cote d'Azur Webfest.

-

Proud Mom Molly and brother Randy Wolveck attended as well as Kim Estes, Terry Moore, Lee Benton, Yehuda Nahari Halevi, Chesley Heymsfield, David Millburn, and high school friends Barbara Murphy, Barbara McKinnon, and Nancy Lumsden.    

The festivities were held at Bella Cuccina in Glendale and the food was delicious. Event sponsors included Intention Pen, Dan Fopma, The Dan Ireland Film Foundation, The Louisiana International Film Festival, and Rich Girl Productions.

Lovely Kate was also feted on the set of Y&R and by Donelle Dadigan at the beautiful Hollywood Museum, where Kate's original maid costume and first script are on display!  Congratulations Kate, we love you and cheer you on!

Kate Linder (left) and Lee Purcell (right). Photo courtesy of Harrison Held.

With over 16 food and drink options, there are lots of options to try in the Lunar New Year Food Marketplace and Paradise Garden Grill. We tried probably around 10 of them. However, as with most food events, there were a few that really stuck with us. Our favorites included (in no particular order):

Mandarin Orange-Green Tea Tart- The green tea flavored tart paired perfectly with the sweet mandarin oranges and filling. This is a delicious sweet treat perfect for wrapping up your meal.

Mandarin Orange-Green Tea Tart

Char Siu Pork Bao, Chinese BBQ Pork with Pickled Red Onions and Jalapeño- Unlike most mass-produced bao, the bun on this char siu pork bao is perfect! Not rubbery or chewy at all, it is pillowy and delightful! The filling is also delicious! (This dish was Matthew’s favorite.)

Char Siu Pork Bao, Chinese BBQ Pork with Pickled Red Onions and Jalapeño

Firecracker Three Cup Chicken with Steamed Rice- This dish was perfect for the chilly weather we experienced while at the park. Not only is it warming, but it is also jam-packed with flavor. The Thai basil is very prominent in this dish and it has just the right amount of heat. (This dish was my favorite.)

Firecracker Three Cup Chicken with Steamed Rice

Banh Mi- Banh Mi is always a solid choice when ordering Asian-inspired fare. What is surprising about this particular banh mi is that not only is the filling tasty (not to mention, the pork belly is rendered beautifully), but the baguette is as equally delicious as well! This dish came in second for both of us.

Banh Mi

Korean Grilled Chicken- The Korean Grilled Chicken was another pleasant surprise for us. The sweet chili sauce does not overpower the other ingredients at all and the sides of rice with seasoning and kimchi make it a great snack!

Korean Grilled Chicken

  The only item we tried that we would recommend staying away from was the Gochujang Chicken Wings. Not only is the sauce lackluster but the wings themselves are not rendered well. This makes them super chewy and fatty. In fact, they seem to be baked and then kept in a steamer which means all potential crispiness is lost.

The Sip and Savor Pass

We used Sip and Savor Passes when trying the various foods. We highly recommend it because it is a more affordable way to try a plethora of the Lunar New Year food options. According to the Disneyland Website, “each Sip and Savor Pass is $39, including tax. In addition to a reduced price ($36), Annual Passholders will also receive a special Passholder lanyard as well as buttons (at participating marketplaces upon coupon redemption). To receive the Passholder price and keepsakes, a valid Annual Pass and photo ID must be shown upon purchase.

The Sip and Savor Pass is available for sale at Elias & Co., Kingswell Camera Shop, Festival Gifts (in Paradise Gardens Park), the Sip and Savor Cart and each Lunar New Year Marketplace from January 25 through February 17, 2019, during Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park!”

We really enjoyed our experience at the Lunar New Year Food Marketplace. If you get a chance to visit the parks before February 17th we highly recommend you check it out. You won’t be disappointed!

Steamed Short Rib Shumai with Spicy Korean Sauce, Sriacha-Mayonnaise and Cucumber Salad

Mickey Chinese Hot Dog Bun

Vegetable Egg Roll and Chilled Sesame-Garlic Noodles with Cilantro-Cashew Sauce and Toasted Peanuts

Mango Mousse

Gochujang Wings

Crispy Shrimp Fried Rice with Garlic, Bacon and Edamame

*The Geeks were not compensated or given any comped items to facilitate this write-up; All opinions are wholly our own. View our Disclosure Policy for more info.

Perhaps the most intriguing technology showcased in the TECH Pavilion this year belonged to a company named Apex Supply Chain Technologies. 

 Although the company started as a vending solutions provider for manufacturing facilities, Apex is now seeking to expand its product assortment of self-serve pick-up stations designed for quick service restaurants (QSRs). 

EVENT RECAP: #Graevale Launch & Interview with Lynette Noni @lynettenoni @panterapress #AvenisComing

Last week, I attended the Graevale launch held in Brisbane to celebrate Lynette Noni’s 4th book in the Medoran Chronicles!

I was also lucky enough to interview Lynette Noni on her thoughts on writing Graevale, as well as her US Debut, Whisper which will be released in May 2018.

Check out the book launch and the author interview below, or on my youtube channel:



Thanks to the following people…