Grammy Week. Style & Beauty during the Day. Party at Night

By Laura Medina

During the day at the style, gifting, and beauty suites and lounges, rock stars and celebrities check out the new gears from emerging fashion designers and jewelry designers to make them look rocking on the red carpet and stage.  Newbie food and beverage providers to keep them strong and healthy while they rehearse.

At Red Carpet Events LA's Grammy Gifting Suite, for this year, the choice of charities are SPCLA believing that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection.  Red Carpet Events also support African Millennium Foundation (AMF).  It is a strategic non-profit and non-governmental organization committed to the social and economic empowerment of the people of Africa, especially women. AMF seeks to target poverty, hunger and disease at its very root by providing African women and children with the necessary tools for achieving self-sufficiency.

Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean;  Kaptain of Al Walser, 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominee category “Best Dance Recording is epitome of Grammy style-rocking;  Ryan Beatty  (2012 Teen Choice Award nominee in the "Web Star" category.  His EP "Because of You" made it to number one on the iTunes US Pop Album Chart.) with Red Carpet Events President/Founder, Roger Zamudio; Tia Carrere; and Lou Ferrigno of "The Hulk" enjoyed trying on the jewelry, the skincare, the organic makeup and sampling the healthy and gourmand Krave Beef Jerkies and the seaweed snacks and sipping the aloe vera juice at the Red Carpet Events Gifting Suite.  After making the rounds, celebrities are asked to autograph a deluxe $9,800 Gift Bag carrying over 20 products and gifting trips to 5 different Caribbean resorts with 30 sponsors, to be auctioned off with proceeds going directly to the SPCLA, AMF.

Across town, at The Staples Center, the official Grammy Gifting Lounge presented by MTG supply gear and equipment that presenters and performers, during three full days of rehearsals, need for that big night.  

Headlining this year’s gift bonanza will be the GLALENT Platinum Ion Mist device from MTG.  New Era will be on hand to provide their signature headwear.  Other Lounge gifts will include:  Gibson Guitar, Carlitos Brand hand-illustrated tennis shoes, Diet Pepsi, Luden’s Soothing Throat Drops (and cashmere scarves), the Jäger iOsonic Toothbrush and Teeth Whitening System, D’Milikah Swimwear, the hottest designer sunglasses from SOLSTICE Sunglasses (including a launch preview of Polaroid Plus), Devicewear iPad and iPhone cases, Simone I. Smith Jewelry, Chakalates/Khana Sutra courtesy of Chaka Khan, 4 Leaf Clover  made-in-the-USA handbags courtesy of KeepAmerica.com, LGGK (Locally Grown. Globally Known.) apparel, and Bonita Platinum Tequila.  Additionally, back by popular demand, each Lounge guest will have the opportunity to win a “supersized” gift via a special GRAMMY Gift Lounge Sweepstakes.

 
Talent will also walk away with a preassembled GRAMMY Gift Bag which will represent a diverse portfolio of brands ranging from unique to useful: Live In Fitness Enterprise (LIFE), Travalo Touch Perfume Atomizer, Shavetech USB Shaver, The GoSmart Stylus, Touchfire iPad Keyboard, celebrity acupuncturist/Nutritionist Heather Lounsbury, and Rohto Cooling Eye Drops.

For a touring musician and band, they can always find Heathrow By Invitation, in their GRAMMY Gift Bag, useful.  It is Heathrow Airport’s VIP service where celebrities are
 personally greeted at the aircraft and attended by staff familiar with the protocol of high profile diplomats.  Bypassing the main terminals and other passengers, they can relax in their own personal lounge, in total privacy where all the check-in processes and security are taken care of.  Then, they are whisked by luxury limousine to the steps of your departing flight, or collected directly from the aircraft when arriving or transferring.  It’s a seamless private and personal travel service.

At night, the GRAMMY pre-parties rock the evenings leading up the finale on Sunday night.  It was a good night for a good cause at the inaugural Whole Planet Foundation Pre-Grammy Benefit

With Sambazon Juice's help and with Ed Begley, Jr. and Greg Louganis honoring the Whole Planet Foundation, the concert and the party were there to raise awareness of Whole Planet Foundations micro-lending efforts to struggling companies world wide and to honor cultural icons Darryl Hannah, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson and Jessica Alba.

The headliner was Ozomatli bringing down the house with their multi-cultural hip-hop/funk.  The folks got down with them.  With the focus on Latin American self-economic efficiency, Ozomatli shine a light on Zona Rosa Caffe, gourmet, organic coffee from Latin America.

Held at the legendary East West Recording Studios in Hollywood, people chilled out in the numerous, cozy lounges in-between sets by numerous musicians and bands.  The benefit ran until midnight.

In the parties and concerts celebrating the GRAMMYS, they are usually showcases where up-and-coming talents are on stage where the public, influential industry professionals, record executives, and established musicians and bands can check them out.

BET's "Music Matters" is one of many such showcases.  Thrown in the shadow of The Staples Center, third season finalist of "American Idol," Leah Labelle took the stage in Charles Albert Jewelry.

The last for the pre-GRAMMYS celebrations was a new tradition...Cee-Lo Green and Nivea pre-GRAMMY party at BOA.  The unique cocktail ingredients are based on Nivea's new Lip Butter flavors in: Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss, Caramel Cream Kiss, Raspberry Rose Kiss, and Smooth Kiss.  Those lip balms come in handy when you're on the mic.

OK, now that the GRAMMYS are said and done, it is time and it will be time for the OSCARS.   This is the home stretch, nearing the finishing line, the finale of Awards Season.

Since the OSCARS are a week away, you'll have enough time to collecting and prep for your OSCAR PARTY.

EFFEN Vodka lists a couple of mixers for this event...

EFFEN® Black Cherry Starlet

2 parts EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka

3/4 part DeKuyper® Peachtree Schnapps Liqueur

3/4 part Lemon Juice

2 slices Fresh Peach

2 Fresh Cherries

1 part Club Soda

 

Method: In a mixing glass, muddle peach slices and cherries in juice and syrup.  Add EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka, peach liqueur and lemon juice over ice.  Shake, and strain into a tall glass over ice.  Top with club soda and garnish with peach and cherry. 

EFFEN® Toast of the Town

1 part EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka

1/2 part Raspberry Liqueur

Champagne

Method: In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients except champagne.  Strain into a fluted glass and top with champagne.

EFFEN® Black Cherry Glamour

1 part EFFEN® Black Cherry Vodka

1 part Aperol® Liqueur

¾ part Grapefruit Juice

½ part Lemon Juice

¼ part Agave Syrup

2 parts Sparkling Wine

Method: In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients over ice except sparkling wine. Shake, and strain into a wine glass over a small scoop of ice. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with grapefruit peel.

EFFEN® Couture

1 1/2 parts EFFEN® Vodka

1/2 part Leroux® Triple Sec

3/4 part Lime Juice

1/2 part Simple Syrup

3/4 part Pomegranate Purée

3/4 part Passion Fruit Purée

Method: In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients over ice. Shake, and strain into a low tumbler over ice. Garnish with lime wheel.

This is a GRAMMY wrap-up.  It was one heck of a week, a social whirlwind of concerts and parties but there's no stopping this scribe.  It is time to tackle the Oscars....