It was a party that cried out for Barry Manilow and Carmen Miranda, but the colorful crooners were there in spirit as the Make-A-Wish Foundation threw its Copacabana bash at the Barker Hanger.
Guests were greeted by fruit-festooned beauties and Ricky Ricardo look alikes lumbering around on wooden stilts. “Welcome to the Copa,” they cried from above. “Get ready to party.” And that’s just what this group had in mind-to party, meet, greet and eat.
Inside, the hanger was dressed up with towering plastic palms, neon parrots, carnival dancers and food and drink as far as the eye could see.
The silver shakers prattled away as celebrity mixologists like Alex Kingston manned the massive ice-covered martini bar. Most vodka-drinkers clamored for the trendy sour apple variety. I, on the other hand, opted for something a bit more basic because, well, there’s just something about that radioactive shade of green.
After a sip or two, everyone headed for the chow lines and there was a tidbit for every taste. Largo served up loads of flash-grilled ahi, Arnie Morton’s brought the beef while Chin-Chin served up chicken salad. Sushi Roku was on a roll, Mr. Cecil had racks of ribs, even Krispy Kreme was out there raising dough.
After a bit of this and a lot of that, the well-fed gang waddled off into the night. I decided to top it all off with a chili cheese dog from Pinks and a chocolate-covered fortune cookie. My secret message? “You will be kept far from danger.” Hmmmm, danger, yes. Calories, no.
BEST DRESSED
Oscar wasn’t the only coveted prize making the rounds this week. Cinematic style-makers Karen Patch and Judianna Makovsky were honored by the Costume Designers Guild during its 2003 Bvlgari Award celebration at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Makovsky brought her magic touch to “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and Patch made dysfunctional funk a favorite in “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Cher, meantime, who is fearless when it comes to fashion risk, put in a surprise appearance for her old pal Ret Turner. Turner helped the diva share her assets with the rest of America during her “Sonny and Cher Show” days. He went home with the guild’s Career Achievement Award.
ROCK ON!
Congrats to local rocker Tom Petty who was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame this week. Petty and his Heartbreakers joined soulman Isaac Hayes, punksters the Ramones and new wave heroes the Talking Heads as part of the Rock Hall’s Class of 2002.