LIVE Magazine #226 January 5 through January 29, 2016

ilton), and Joelle and Steve (Stanbridge) in one corner, Gary
Soto in the other corner… There’s Gary’s favorite server, Sean Boyle.
He’s ever so personable. And two of my favorites, Anthony Guarnieri
and Michael Pantanella…well, you get my drift, right? Everybody
knows everybody at the Trop!
Anyway, I’m meandering...back to my missed flight. After what was meant
to be a civilized dinner ended up being a fun, but very festive bar crawl
to Chill, Streetbar and then Hunters on Arenas with Dimitri, Pjetur,
Carl Baker, Michael Peachey and Kenny Jervis and co. (everyone
knows Kenny, he’s the man with the silver straw that has diamonds set in
it) … Oh my, how the drinks were in full flow (well, it was the night before
Christmas Eve!)
I swayed home around midnight, set my alarm and planned to wake-up at
5.45 am to catch my 7:20 flight. I’m a Virgo you know, so I’m usually good
at this kind of stuff! Boom, I opened my eyes, the sun is shining through the
window and I wondered what the time was. Huh, It was 9:15!! I missed my
flight. I planned a million excuses for my Santa Barbara hosts, but in the
end I just told the truth. I’ve been spending Christmas in SB for three years
in a row now, so though it was a little disappointing, I am great believer of
fate and I just wasn’t meant to be there this year. Yay, so I got to spend my
first proper Christmas and New Year’s Eve in Palm Springs!
The weather on Christmas Day was glorious, I felt so blessed to be
where I was. I spent the morning with Peachey and Rand Ahrens; we
had brunch at the Purple Palm Restaurant which was quite lovely, though
I was dreadfully hung-over.
Sean Borg and Matt Damon
In the afternoon I chilled out and watched a movie with my dog Eli. It’s
been so busy of late, and it was the first time for a long time I felt true
peace and relaxation. I was exactly where I wanted to be, on the sofa next
to my beloved Eli watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (how Christmassy.)
As the week went by it became busier and busier, we were preparing
for our New Year’s Eve night that started with a glamorous soiree at
Kenny Jervis and Michael Crisp’s fabulous home. Everybody was
there. Originally though, (or so I was told) the plan was they host around
sixty people between 7-10pm. But in came a flood of party goers flowing
through their doors minutes after 7pm… How they got everyone out by
10pm I’ll never know, since Kenny and Michael were heading off to Blame
It On Midnight, which was exactly where Peachey and I went next.
The club was fun (um, for about twenty minutes...), drinking the vodka
was starting to feel how I imagine sipping paint stripper would feel, my
insides were corroding! Anyway! I was quickly over this party mostly because
I was kitted out in a midnight blue Dior tuxedo jacket and thought
to myself, if someone bloody bumps into me one more time with his or her
drink… Grrrrrrrrr!!! So I left, and headed to meet my friend, the stylist Eddie
Schachnow at the fabulous home of Jonathan Skow and Trina
Turk. Ah, I could breath once again, they had champagne!
It was an intimate do. Trina and Jonathan were just as I expected - cool with
an air of international style about them, hosting a bunch of chiccy people
at a gorgeous location. I spotted a few of my friends from LA, in particular,
Bravo’s “Million Dollar Decorator” Martyn Lawrence Bullard (who I’ve
known for about twenty years), I also had a chat with newly elected city
councilman J.R. Roberts – a very pleasant man indeed. And of course
Eddie...dear Eddie who was in charge of pouring my champagne and
spoiled me rotten all night. Thank you!
Geoff Kors and James Williamson
Ten minutes after the stroke of midnight though, I was off home content
with my night and excited that it was finally 2016 and I had the International
Palm Springs Film Festival next that I was due to attend in
a couple of days.
On the day, after a splendid dinner with my bestie Dimitri Halkidis and
super Publicist and longtime friend Neal Cohen of public relations giant
BWR at Hotel Triada, it was time to hit the red carpet at the 29th Annual
Palm Springs International Film Festival.
I have attended this event a few times before in the past, but this year it
was different - more special as I have established myself as part of the
Palm Springs society and seeing all the familiar faces in the local community
who were attending was immensely pleasing. As Neal ushered
me into the event along the red carpet, I posed for a quick snap with
US Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD, then stopped for a quick chat
with Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors and his husband
James Williamson. Of course inside I greeted Palm Springs
Mayor-Elect Robert Moon and the Kellers, Barbara and Jerry,
who were looking as sophisticated as ever. Kenny Jervis was looking redhot
in blood colored dinner jacket - I want one that color! Kenny asked me
who was I wearing, “Valentino,” I replied… I had so many compliments on
my outfit that night; the suit was tailor fitted to my body like a glove about
a year ago and I had only it worn it once before, so it was time to dazzle
in Palm Springs wearing in my up market togs!
The Palm Springs Convention Center was bustling and the alluring
smell of Hollywood was in the air. It was like being at the Oscars,
only I was in Palm Springs. Everyone I spotted was buzzing with excitement.
On my left I spotted Shari Bouchard Applebaum and VIP
photographer, David A. Lee who was scurrying around snapping every
important person in sight including Shari. To my right was Michael
Childers, Beverly Johnson, Susan Stein, Ginny Foat and
Richard “Kip” Serafin to name a few.
It was great to see Kate Winslet at the event too! Kate and I had met
many years back in Los Angeles while she was filming Titanic and subsequently
many times after that during her visits for movie shoots, promo,
and award noms and wins. Kate said she thought the Desert would be
warmer than it was, but in fact it was “bloody cold” as she put it.
Rubbing shoulders with Matt Damon was one of the highlights of the
night for me. Matt was lovely. He is so friendly. We chitchatted about the
goings on in LA showbiz briefly and the upcoming award season, and so
Taylor Ann Trad and Lani Garfield
on. Matt also thought Palm Springs was “surprisingly chilly.” He wasn’t
wrong. The Desert is freezing right now!
What a wonderful evening so far. I am so grateful to the event organizers
for treating me so well this year. The after party held at the Parker
Palm Springs was just as glamorous, like its host, the super stylish
Terri Ketover who greeted my entourage as we arrived.
Many well-known faces flocked to one of the best hotels in town for this
no-expense-spared glitzy after-bash. I spotted Steve Henke chinwagging
with Cate Blanchett before the two of them posed for pics
together (everyone was watching...good ol’ Steve, he knows how to woo
the Celebes almost as good as I do!) And I got to meet one of my idols,
the iconic Barry Manilow who apparently was proud to have his picture
taken with “Scene by Sean”… Somebody must have briefed him on
who I was… ya’ think?
One of funniest moments was knocking back a few Jell-O shots with
Dimitri Halkidis the wonderfully charming David Rothmiller, and posing
for silly pics doing so.
I have to say though, although there were some gorgeous gowns worn
this night, my “glamorous girls” award went to KESQ news reporters
Bianca Rae and Alexandra Pierce who were clearly channeling
old Hollywood and representing the Desert proudly at this high-profile
(more photos next page)