Additional reporting by Leah Sydney
Last week, Friday to be sure, we ran into the ever friendly Anthony Anderson at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. He was one of many A-listers who’d dropped by the GBK Gift Lounge running on the 3rd floor outdoor terrace. The other celebs included our old friend, Jordin Sparks, plus Ariana DeBose, Ashley Greene, Viola Davis, Mary McCormick, and Ally Brooke.
Anthony was in fine fettle, and we were happy to see him. Years ago he was on “Law & Order” for a season, then left to do “Blackish.” Since then, he’s become a TV superstar. His mother has joined him on game shows. Now “L&O” is back and so is he.
I asked him how he felt about uprooting from LA and moving to New York again. What he didn’t tell me is that very day his wife of 21 years had filed for divorce. So I guess he really is happy to move to New York! (My guess is his wife was not so keen.) So we welcome Anthony to our fair city. Maybe some of the things he picked up at GBK can be used in his bachelor apartment!
He had a lot to choose from including an Ebay-hosted private retail activation and personalized closet clean out program in support of the American Red Cross to benefit Ukraine. Goodies included Purple Raina Self Care, Pop Underwear, Tabs Chocolate, Soultox, House of M Beauty, Cabo Couture, Stephen Silver Jewelry, GoDonut, Racs Rattan Bowties, Kimpton LePeer Hotel and more.
We love stories about small entrepreneurs, and GBK always offers a bunch of them. The Tabs Chocolate, for example, is supposed to help your sex drive. It’s a project from two 20 year olds who go to the University of Michigan. Withings is a company that makes smart scales and watches, including one that monitors afib. There was one guy making different flavors of custom ice cream. Ross & Snow is a hot new footwear line from Las Vegas that could take on New York’s Koio brand.
GBK wasn’t the only gift lounge in town over Oscar weekend.
At the Beverly Hilton in the garden was where Debbie Durkin’s ECOLUXE lounge had their afternoon soiree. Fun stuff included: Louise Jones LA Confidante, a Belfast born psychic, Healthy Paws Herbal Labs, Revealu Skin Care. A Place in The Sun Hotel Palm Springs, Prince Caviar, Better Than Sex Desserts Restaurant, Raised in LA Artwork, Dr. Tyler, Hales Parker Dentistry, Dena Burton Collections and Wagmor Pets Dog Rescue whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs in need. Gilles Marini was cuddling with the puppies.
And let’s not forget the Secret Room Events Pre-Academy Style Lounge at the SLS Hotel. Tons of A listers came by for exotic trips and popular products.
Check out the gift bag the lucky celebs got, below. There’s always a lot of crabbing about gift suites. But unlike the Motion Picture Home’s Swagfests for Celebrities, these lounges offers small companies a chance to get publicity for their products. (The MPTF’s “Night Before Parties” discourages press because they don’t want stories about mega stars touting around bags full of things like iPhones and so on.)
