Laurie Sandell

Had a bday in LA

Since I know very few people here, I kept my expectations low, but ended up having a great time. My close friend Paul came in from New York and helped me prepare for a little party I had at my house. He invited his good friend Becky, who is married to the very funny Dave Mandel, executive producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Merrill Markoe, whom I talk about frequently on this blog, stopped by (below right), as did my friends Karen Ramos (below left), Julie May, Emma Forrest, and others. Unlike some parties I’ve had in the past, where I’ve spent the whole time running around making sure people were having a good time, I let this one run itself. Which, I’ve decided, is the only way to enjoy a party. Now it’s time for me to enjoy the last 10 years of my thirties.

A night of music in the Hollywood Hills

C. and I went to a great little dinner party last night, at the home of a talented director/musician. The place was filled with instruments, and apparently, they throw this party every few months, featuring a somewhat spontaneous performance by various guests. At the party I ran into Alexandra, a photographer I met a few years ago, who remembered me and my book; we completely hit it off. After dinner, we gathered in the music room and enjoyed a private show featuring many talented musicians, including Alexandra’s friend Eric Lumiere, who sang soulful, beautiful songs on the piano. I’m sure it went into the wee hours, but I crashed at around 11:30 PM and had to leave.

My new friend Alexandra

The full report from InStyle’s Golden Globes party

On the shuttle bus to the affair

Still buzzing from last night’s extravaganza, which was one of the most fun nights I’ve had in recent memory. My friend Amy Spencer and I watched the show and got ready at my house, stuffing our faces with so much Chinese food I, at least, was unable to fasten my dress until we arrived at The Beverly Hilton. Thanks to C., I was wearing a Leila Rose gown and carrying a Naeem Khan clutch. The jewels–a pair of cubic zirconia “shmimonds” from Bloomingdale’s–were mine.

The night began with a walk down the red carpet shamefully holding our coats as the paparazzi yelled, “Get out of the way!” so they could shoot Diane Kruger. We entered the party via The Godiva Room, a Willy-Wonka-like creation featuring plexiglass cubes filled with truffles and doubling as coffee tables; cascading chocolate towers; stations overflowing with chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, nuts, and every imaginable Godiva product. After adding to my tight dress discomfort by sampling a few truffles, we headed inside to mingle.

Those legs belong to Stacy Keibler!

The first people I saw were Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, who win the cutest Hollywood couple award (mainly because they’re one of the only married Hollywood couples left), and Courteney Cox, who was seated on a couch with her hubby, David Arquette. Amy and I made a few circles around the room, where we spotted Evangeline Lilly, Heidi Klum and Seal, Morgan Freeman sitting with Jeremy Irons, the entire cast of Glee, and Lindsay Lohan–though I didn’t realize it was her until the next day, when I saw photos of her in that crazy getup. Then Amy saw The Edge. Her sister toured with U2 for a year-and-a-half as their masseuse, so we got to sit with him and his wife for a while as every boldfaced name, manager, publicist, and random partygoer stopped by to pay homage.

Sampling a Godiva chocolate-covered strawberry

It was crazy the way people approached him: squatting down at his feet, bowing and putting their hands into prayer position, or bending at the waist as though approaching the Dalai Lama! Eventually we tired of The Edge (that’s a joke) and went out onto the smoking patio–second only to the bathroom for star-spotting. The first person we talked to was Bradley Cooper, whom Amy had interviewed.

We ran into Amy's friend Diego

He was polite but not über-friendly; the experience reminded me of talking to that random hot guy in college who looks over your shoulder the whole time he’s talking to you. We ended up in a little circle of guys that included Chris Kattan, who was talking on hyper-speed and being very funny. Christina Hendricks was draped over a nearby couch with her fiancee, Geoffrey Arend. We went to the bar to refill our drinks and saw the adorable Zac Efron with Vanessa Hudgens, and flirted with Topher Grace. Then Amy saw Chris Harrison, host of my all-time favorite show, The Bachelor, and brokered an introduction. He was in game-show-host mode, all smiles and a million miles away.

When we went to the bathroom we discovered stations manned by professional makeup artists, ready to touch us up, along with baskets of L’Oréal goodies. Back in the main room, I spotted Anna Lynn McCord–from behind, mind you, but I knew it was her–wearing a white, drapey, Grecian gown, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Hanging with Julie Benz from Dexter

Headed back out to the smoking patio and fell into a very long conversation with Julie Benz, who played Rita on Dexter. Turns out she’s obsessed with cooking, to the point that she wants to have her own cooking show.

At the end of the night we exited via The Godiva Room and ended up in conversation with an adorable, doe-eyed woman and her cute blonde boyfriend. Talked to her for a half-hour before we realized she plays Trudy Vogel, Pete Campbell’s wife on Mad Men. The four of us literally shut down the party and exited at around two in the morning, where Amy and I took our requisite photo in front of the InStyle step-and-repeat, then boarded the shuttle bus back to the parking garage. What can I say? It was a stellar, A+ night. THANK YOU, ARIEL FOXMAN!

Guess where I’m going tonight?

OK, not to the Golden Globes itself, but to the InStyle after-party! Which, in my opinion, is even better, since I’ll be nicely well-rested after watching the Globes at home. Yesterday, I went to pick up my ticket at the Beverly Hilton, where the show and after-parties are held; that’s when I snapped this photo. There was security everywhere, and the set and red carpet was bigger and more eye-popping than I’d ever imagined. Not sure, yet, what I’m wearing–I’ll be borrowing something from my roommate–but I’m spending today tearing around town getting a mani-pedi, blowout, and other assorted beauty treatments. I realize I’ve been a horribly delinquent blogger while settling into my life in LA, but I’ll post a full update tomorrow. Unless, of course, I’m still kicking it at an after-after party at Brad Pitt’s house.

More parties, and a trip down memory lane

Last night the fabulous Sally Cohen threw a little party for Blake Nelson before he heads back to LA, and strangely enough, she is living in Larchmont, where I grew up! As soon as I got off the highway I knew where to go. It was strange to drive through town and see that my favorite clothing store, Rags to Riches, has turned into an Ann Taylor, and the ice cream shop where I once worked is now a Starbucks. I hung out with Blake and Sally for a few hours, then Sally took me upstairs and revealed her treasure trove of thrift-store finds, which she sells on eBay. I tried on a few outfits while Blake gave me the thumbs-up or thumbs down, and ended up with the most exquisite sequinned mini-skirt. Obviously I will be wearing it on New Year’s Eve.

The night before I went to another party, with my friend Sarah Jones (P.S. I am so buckling down and writing when I get to LA). It was a birthday party for her friend, the novelist Emma Forrest. I met some very cool people there, many of whom, it turns out, live in LA. I talked for a while to producer Sam Hansen of Mosaic Media, and when it was far too late for this, called him “Chris.” (He took it very well; when he gave me his e-mail address on a napkin he wrote the name “Chris.”) What can I say, I’m an Aquarius; we’re the genius of the zodiac. Details aren’t our thing. At the end of the night, Emma and I figured out that we’re on the same flight to LA! So the universe is sewing up the details.

A holiday/goodbye gathering

Last night a bunch of friends came over to say goodbye before I leave for LA. Of course, I completely forgot to take pictures! Here I am at the end of the night with a plate of pigs in a blanket (I also made artery-slowing Devils on Horseback and guacamole.) My friends Genevieve and Ted got a babysitter for the occasion, and my LA-roomie-to-be, Carole Radziwill, made the heroic trek to Brooklyn in a floor-length fur coat, which she said I could borrow, but I told her I’d rather be naked than wearing fur. Others who stopped by include my former roommate, Paul Robertson (who insisted on regaling Carole with stories about my dish-washing prowess, or lack thereof), another former roommate, Jeff Martini, my Portland-turned-LA-friend Blake Nelson, who was in New York for the holidays (see you in LA, Blake!), neighbors and good friends Derek, Kristin and Keith, Susan Gordon and her man, Marcus, Christa Parravani and Donald Antrim, and Abby Pesta and her brother, Jesse. A fun time was had by all, especially Violet, who was on the mini-hot dog cleanup crew, as you can see.

Glamour has a holiday party

Last night I attended Glamour magazine’s annual holiday party. But this one was a little different, because editor-in-chief Cindi Leive held it at her house! I love when people hold parties in in their homes, particularly in New York, where checking out real estate is one of my favorite pastimes. Plus, who doesn’t want to see the inside of their boss’s home? It was cozy and pretty and cool, with exposed brick and an eclectic mix of mid-century modern furniture. Though I left with a twinge of brownstone envy, it wasn’t so fancy or over-the-top I felt I’d have to run a magazine if I ever wanted to own a place like that. So I popped a good-luck candy dish into my purse to get myself started. Just kidding, Cindi, if you are reading this. Here I am with my editor, Leslie, who works on the cover stories and the popular Dos, Don’ts, News and Views section. We’ve just been having an intense conversation about Tiger Woods, Mario Batali (she had dinner with him recently), the upcoming season of The Bachelor, and my other editor, Lauren Brody’s, boots. (Tory Burch. Want them.) Oh, and string theory.

Holiday party season has officially begun

Last night I went to Jesse Pesta’s holiday party in Brooklyn, and, like last year, it was my favorite party of the year. Jesse is a Page One editor at The Wall St. Journal, and the older brother of my good friend Abby Pesta, who is deputy editor of Marie Claire. His party is great for a number of reasons:

1. He lives in a stunning loft and has impeccable taste. His home is filled with furniture and treasures he’s collected from all over the world (he spent a year-and-a-half in India, time in London and Hong Kong). His bathroom looks like it came from the set of Out of Africa; I took an inordinately long time in there, admiring his clawfoot bathtub. He’s also a photographer, so his loft is filled with gorgeous photos.

2. He has tons of interesting friends. Last night I met a number of Wall St. Journal writers and editors; a woman named Padma who is an anthropologist; and a woman who is writing a memoir about learning to cook, by moving back in with her family in Singapore (she is also headed to Yaddo in March, so we became instant friends). Plus, my friends Derek and Kristin were there, which made me very happy.

3. I have a car and he lives in the middle of nowhere, so I was the hit of the party when I offered to drive people home.

Yay, holiday parties!

A three-party night, and the National Book Awards

Last night was one of those breakout, insanely fun nights you never expect to happen–so much fun. Started with a party at my great friend Neal Decker’s new store, Arthur & Co. Neal is a talented bag designer who has been featured in every top fashion magazine; he’s finally selling his gorgeous bags on 63rd St. And he decided to sell my book at his store last night as well! Here are a few photos from that event. By 8:00 PM, I was on my way downtown to Housing Works Bookstore for their annual Gin Mingle. I knew lots of people there, like hostess with the mostess Alison Brower, and the writer Said Sayrafiezadeh, who is basically my co-worker since we write together every day, and of course the indefatigable Amanda Stern. By 9:00 PM or so, the DJ started to spin, and I tell you, this was the best party DJ I’ve heard in, maybe ever. He mixed 80s tunes with the rockingest modern beats, and we tore up the dance floor for hours. At one point, this dude I’ll just call “Gin,” cause he was drinking lots of it, grabbed me and started swinging me all over the floor.

"Gin" dude

Now, I like to dance, but I also like my personal space, of which this guy had no concept whatsoever. I was rescued by Amanda and her friend Beth.

At 10:30 or so, we decided to head down to Cipriani for the National Book Awards after-party. Was I invited? No. It was a black-tie event with a list at the door, too. But I was with Amanda Stern, and Julie Barer, and Heidi Julavitz, and so I sailed into the party on their collective star power. Then I proceeded to have one of the best nights ever. Talked for a while to the sweet and fascinating Jon Jon Goulian, who is working on a memoir I will be first in line to buy. Annoyingly, I cannot figure out how to rotate the photo so you can see it upright. Said hello to Dave Eggers, who I profiled for Shift Magazine years ago; he told me he was on the verge of writing a graphic novel himself–he started his career as a painter–but realized it was going to take him ten years, so he abandoned the project. Met New York Times writer Allen Salkin, who’d read my book and pulled me aside to tell me how much he liked it. Hey, someone read my book! Hung out with Sean Howe, who’s writing a book on the history of Marvel Comics; how cool is that? Amanda and I left at 2:00 AM, and drove our new friend Sean home. An A+ night I’m sure I’ll be trying to replicate for a while.

Sean Howe

with Jon Jon Goulian