Julie Spira and Dr. Pat Allen

Although this was the busiest week of the year for me with numerous Valentine’s interviews, I took a break from my schedule to attend the annual Beverly Hills Women’s Club Valentine’s Lunch.

This year, our featured speaker was Dr. Pat Allen, author of Getting to “I Do” and The Truth About Love Will Set You Free. The 75-year old relationship expert says she now has a handful of men, although she admits she’s not a regular cougar–well almost. She did mention a 49-year old chap in passing.  The relationship expert pointed out to the members, that “A disco is not a waltz.” She added, “Ginger did everything Fred did, but backwards, in high-heels, and in a long dress.”

Members of the BHWC were inspired by Dr.Pat Allen, but together we celebrated the Beverly Hills Women’s Club historic cookbook, Fashions in Food originally published in 1929. The celebrity cookbook is filled with recipes from Old Hollywood stars including Joan Crawford, Carol Lombard, Fannie Brice, and Will Rogers. One of the dishes we were treated to at the luncheon was Mary Pickford’s Chicken Marco Polo recipe. The Food Network was on site taping the event which will air in April 2010.

If you missed the event, Dr. Pat Allen and I will be featured on The Love Panel on Valentine’s Day at An Empowered Woman’s Second Sunday Series.

To reserve tickets, click here>>>

Happy Valentine’s everyone!

Julie Spira is known world-wide as The Cyber-Dating Expert. She is the author of the Internet dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

It was an exciting evening with Alan Aldridge as our guest at the Beverly Hills Women’s Club where he gave a presentation and signed copies of his books, The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes: The Art of Alan Aldridge and The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast.

For those of you who don’t recognize his name, you will certainly recognize his famous album covers and posters. Aldridge designed posters for the Rolling Stones; was best friends with Jimi Hendrix; and served as the creative director for the original Hard Rock Cafe and the House of Blues. He was also the Art Director for Penguin Books during the Swinging Sixties. Many attended the event with colorful Pucci attire and bell bottom pants. 

John Lennon dubbed Aldridge, “His Royal Master of Images.” Sting calls his work, “Timeless.” He was the man behind the design for Elton John’s Captain Fantastic album and Goodbye Cream where he shared with the group his challenge of getting the three band members, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce together for the photo shoot.

Album Cover Artist, Alan Alridge and Julie Spira

Each of us were treated to a full page of a personalized design by the artistic master himself. Mine simply said, “For Julie, Give Peace a Chance,” with peace signs and a heart with the words inside, “All You Need is Love.” .

His exhibition, “Tripping The Art Fantastic; The Illustrated Works of Alan Aldridge runs through May 13, 2009 at Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7511 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Visit them at www.mrmusichead.com