I’m in Heaven – Kirsten Dunst Honored at The Art of Elysium Gala

It was a pre-Golden Globes Red Carpet event in Beverly Hills to support children through the world of art. The 3rd annual Heaven Gala by The Art of Elysium raised over 1.25 million dollars to support over 700,000 children this year. The organization was started 12 years ago when founder, Jennifer K. Howell asked some artists that she knew to get involved with the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

The event honored artist Shepard Fairey with the 2010 Visionary Award. Actress Kirsten Dunst received the 2010 Spirit of Elysium Award. She shared her story with us on how much her help for the children has affected her in a positive way. Every year she gets involved with a children’s play at Christmastime and told me she believes she receives much more than she gives from the hearts of the children she serves.

Guests mingled in the outdoor cocktail hour and I spoke with Dita Von Teese who has a book coming out, Rumor Willis who looks like a spitting image of her mother – Demi Moore, my friend Downtown Julie Brown, and Gilt founder Alexis Maybank whose discount fashion shopping site now has 2 million members.  Other celebrity guests included Ashley Olsen, Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, Marisa Tomei, Nicole Richie, Jessica Alba, Adam Lambert, Rachel Bilson, and David Spade.

After dinner and the awards, we were treated to a post-party concert with rock-legend Billy Idol.

Congratulations to Chairman of the Board, Ryan Kavanaugh from Relativity Media, The Art of Elysium founder, Jennifer Howell, and the host committee for Heaven on creating a spectatular successful event and for bringing joy and smiles to the children who are hospitalized.

The Art of Elysium is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) organization founded in 1997. They encourage working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions. They provide artistic workshops in acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting, and creative writing. The Art of Elysium’s Pieces of Heaven Art Auction which will be held on March 4, 2010 in West Hollywood.

Julie Spira is known worldwide as The Cyber-Dating Expert™. She is the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

An Empowered Day with Les Brown

Every year Desiree Doubrox, founder of An Empowered Woman starts the year off on a positive note. This year was more inspirational than most. The featured guest was motivational speaker, Les Brown and the theme was “I’m going to win in 2010.”

Brown, who is known as one of the world’s top 5 speakers, said it was an honor to be the first male speaker at the mostly attended female event.

The event started with a pep talk from Desiree where she asked, “If failure was not an option, what would you do?” She added, “You earn, you learn, you pass it on.” Some of the women in the group have reinvented themselves with titles such as “personal biographer”and “virtual bookkeeper.” Many of the women shared their stories of their personal and professional reinventions.

Les Brown started his presentation with a tribute to his mother. He described how he grew up in a poor section of Miami. His goal was to be able to buy his mother a home someday. Not only did he achieve this, but he successfully has earned over 50 million dollars in his career as a motivational speaker. He instructed the group to say out loud, “It’s your time to win in 2010″ to the others seated at our table. He told the group to decide, believe, take action.

Brown is the author of the highly acclaimed books, “Live Your Dreams,” “Up Thoughts for Down Times” and “It’s Not Over Until You Win.”  He is the former host of “The Les Brown Show,” a nationally syndicated daily talk show that focused on solutions rather than problems.

An Empowered Woman is a community for women that includes Second Sunday events, mastermind calls, and gives tools for women to be successful in business. Mark your calendars for Valentine’s Day. On February 14th, Second Sunday will be held again at Mountaingate Country Club in Bel Air. The topic is “What’s Love Got to do With It?” I’ll be a featured guest on the panel talking about my favorite subject, finding love online.

Julie Spira is known worldwide as The Cyber-Dating Expert. She is the author of the bestseller, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.  Visit her at Cyberdating Expert.com

It’s Complicated – Film Review

Why does it always have to be so complicated? In the case of the film written and directed by Nancy Meyers scheduled to open on Christmas day, it was almost predictable.

Meet Jane (played by Meryl Streep) and Jake (played by Alec Baldwin). They’re  the typical middle aged couple from Santa Barbara who got divorced after 20+ years of marriage. Jake married a much younger girl that he had been fooling around with and Jane moved on, or did she?

While at the graduation ceremony of their son in New York, the chemistry they once had reappeared. Suddenly they are having an affair and can’t keep their hands off each other.

Meryl Streep once again plays a perfect role in It’s Complicated. You see her spending a lot of time in the kitchen like she did in Julie and Julia. The writers make a point of mentioning the online dating site Match.com and the film title comes from a relationship status on Facebook. Social media and social dating are now just part of the daily conversations.

Having an appealing film which includes an adulterous affair during the time that Tiger Woods is making the headlines will make singles and couples wonder, are we giving permission for you to stray from your marriage? Is recycling the ex now going to be acceptable?  Is the grass always greener? Was it just the oxytocin or did Jake really want a reconciliation with his wife?

As usual, I enjoy romantic comedies and this one is worth seeing during the Christmas holidays. My favorite scene: Meryl Streep in the kitchen of her gourmet restaurant making chocolate croissants after hours on her date with Steve Martin. My rating: 4/5.

Julie Spira is a dating coach and author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

A Night of Chocolate and Diamonds

When the invitation arrived from my favorite Chocolatier, Madame Chocolat in Beverly Hills for a night of chocolate and diamonds along with Diamond Cutters International, it was hard not to notice.

The Best of Everything played the ultimate matchmaker by bringing together the finest chocolate and a newly launched diamond collection from the world’s famous diamond expert, Fred Cuellar. Fred was on site signing copies of the 6th edition of his book, How To Buy A Diamond: Insider Secrets For Getting Your Money’s Worth, 5th Edition.

Hasty Torres, the Chocolate Executive Officer at Madame Chocolat was proudly wearing a diamond necklace from the new collection. The designs are now available for sale at her Beverly Hills location. Prices range from $100 – $4,500.

The best part of the evening – 20% of the proceeds from chocolate and jewelry sales benefitted The Los Angeles Mission and Hollywood Media and Arts. Chocolate, diamonds, and giving back to charity. It’s a wonderful combination at the holidays.

Julie Spira is a writer, dating coach, and bestselling author of the online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

Cirque du Soleil – Kooza

Cirque du Soleil Kooza is now performing in Santa Monica, CA and has extended their run into December.  I have attended numerous performances of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas and in California, always thinking it can’t get any better. However their current show, Kooza is by far my favorite.

Guests in the tent near the Santa Monica Pier were truly sitting on the edge of their seats as the performers and acrobats turned into real-life pretzels and never missed a beat.

The music was mesmerizing and the show, which is described as an “adrenaline rush of acrobatics in a zany kingdom,” is one not to be missed.

Kooza will be running through December 20, 2009 under the Grand Chapiteau at the Santa Monica Pier. I hope you have the opportunity to attend.

Julie Spira is a writer, dating coach and author of the bestselling online dating book,The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

Los Angeles: Portrait of a City Book Launch and Benefit

When the invitation arrived and it was hosted by Vanity Fair, Diane Keaton, publisher Benedikt Taschen, and Fendi, who could say no? I struggled through the pre-Thanksgiving week traffic to Hollywood to a landmark location – The Windows of the World on Sunset Boulevard for the book release party of Los Angeles, Portrait of a City and fundraiser supporting the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Besides the fact that all of the Taschen books are treasures, the event drew a lovely and lively crowd. I mingled with Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer who are supporters of the Conservancy and met the wonderful Diane Keaton. At the event, I learned that the Los Angeles Conservancy is the largest of its kind in the country with 6000 supporters. The thought of beautiful historic landmarks in Los Angeles being retired for strip malls was upsetting to us all. Rumor had it that the Santa Anita Racetrack might be on the list of one of those special places that might disappear someday.

Arriving at the historic Crossroads of the World made me reminisce of the day over 20 years ago, when I met with singer-songwriter Graham Nash, whose office was located at this very site. We were working on a live broadcast called “The Children of the Americas Radiothon” and I was providing the world-wide satellite feed for the event. I hadn’t been on the property since that memorable day, and was treated to a private tour of the property by the owners.

Among the crowd I noticed Hugh Heffner along with Crystal Harris, and 60s model Peggy Moffitt.

The holiday season has officially launched in the City of Angels, and we were reminded of this with a great selection of music in the background including LA Woman by the Doors, Calfornia Dreamin’ by the Mamas and the Papas, and the Beach Boys – California Girls. Pick up a copy of Jim Heimann’s book. It will make a terrific holiday gift for natives and transplants alike.

After a night like this, it makes me want to rush to the mailbox to see what is in store next week.

Julie Spira is a writer, dating coach, and bestselling author of the online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

Stepping Up in the City

It was the first holiday party of the season, where Step Up Women’s Network hosted their annual membership get together hosted by Wolfgang Puck Catering at the Pacific Design Center on November 18, 2009.

More than 1000 members registered for the cocktails, social networking, and philanthropy event where they served signature drinks called the StepTini and and the Luminary Limba, in honor of their highest level membership.

The event hosts included Lisa Lee and Leslie Ann Warren and the Keynote speech was delivered by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson who quoted Oprah Winfrey numerous times. Robinson just published her first book, Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today’s Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself

Guests who renewed their membership or upgraded received a VIP Goody bag so enticing, that it was worth attending just to get the Sports Club LA Free one month membership.

The evening before the festive event, Step Up celebrated Stepping Up in the City with their New York chapter members at M2 Ultra Lounge where the Keynote Speaker was Fern Mallis, senior vp IPG Fashion, widely credited as the creator of Fashion Week in New York City.

Julie Spira is a writer, dating coach, and bestselling author of the online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

A Toast to Dudamel – A Night of Schubert at the Disney Concert Hall

Gustavo Dudamel - Photo Credit: LA Phil

It was an evening to remember at the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall where we were treated to an evening of Schubert, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

The performance started with Luciano Berio (Italy) and Franz Schubert (Austria), and was followed by Berio with soprano Dawn Upshaw on vocals. During the intermission, I stopped by the Founders Room for an exciting champagne toast to Dudamel. After the intermission, one of Schubert’s most famous pieces, Symphony No. 8 in B minor D 750. “Unfinished” was performed by the LA Philharmonic led by our new conductor.

At the end of the unfinished piece, the normally sophisticated crowd applauded and yelled, “Dudamel, Dudamel” as if we were at a rock concert. Patrons were able to meet Dawn Upshaw at the LA Phil Store following the performance where she was signing copies of her CD’s.

Across the street from the Disney, a huge tent was erected with guests from all over the country celebrating MOCA’s 30th birthday. It was truly a cultural evening in the city of Los Angeles.

Julie Spira is a dating coach and the author of the online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

Stephen J. Cannell – A Renaissance Man in Support of the Los Angeles Public Library

Julie Spira, Wolfgang Puck, Marcia and Steven J. Cannell

When the invitation to the Los Angeles Public Library Literary Feasts arrived in the mail, it was difficult to decide which of the 50 incredible events to attend.

The Literary Feasts is a bi-annual event with distinguished authors being hosted in some of the most magnificent homes in Los Angeles. One year, I dined at bestselling author, Judith Krantz’s home where she hosted Spiderman’s Stan Lee. The choices ranged from authors, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Wagner, Lisa See, Richard Reeves, Carl Reiner, and numerous others.

This year, I was treated to a special evening with veteran producer, director, screenwriter, and novelist, Stephen J. Cannell at a beautiful estate in Brentwood, personally catered by Spago’s Wolfgang Puck.

Cannell has authored 15 books, and talked about his career, family, and how his dyslexia caused him to be held-back more than once as a student. He brought his lovely wife, Marcia with him. The two met when they were in 8th grade. Not only did we hear about The Rockford Files, The A-Team, Hawaii Five-0, 21 Jump Street and the incredible television shows he created, but he gave us personal details on his writing style. His discipline allows him to write for 5 hours daily and create a novel in only 58 days. His bestselling crime thrillers feature LAPD Detective Shane Scully. It was an intimate dinner of 20 filled with warmth and conversation.

This year’s event, held on November 2, 2009, raised over $500,000 for the Los Angeles Public Library and was hosted by the Council for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The Foundation secures private support for library enrichment programs and services for children and teens. Programs include: Grandparents and Books, Children’s Reading Club, Teen Reading Club, and Read to Me LA.

Julie Spira is the author of the online dating book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

The Halla Gala – Halloween with Leonard Nimoy

It was a festive Halloween this year – starting off with the SingularCity.com Happy Hour on October 29th at La Cachette Bistro in Santa Monica, followed by The Westside Witches tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, and ending with a Halloween charity event at the Santa Monica Museum of Art, featuring Leonard Nimoy and his photographic exhibition,”Who Do You Think You Are?”

Attendees at the Santa Monica Museum of Art had the opportunity to be photographed in a private portrait photo session by the Star Trek star himself. There were several pieces of art on display from Nimoy’s project where he asked strangers to reveal their secret selves. DJ Eddie Ruscha was spinning the music and there was a costume contest as well.

The Halla Gala raised funds for the Santa Monica Museum of Art’s exhibitions and programs.

Julie Spira is the author of the online dating book,The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online. Visit her at CyberDatingExpert.com

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