January 29, 2016

Leona Helmsley's Eyebrows

I am enjoying the Facebook thread about my Huffington Post, "Jimmy Stewart, Hollywood's 'It's a Wonderful Life' Archangel". Indeed, he was a lovely person.

A funny side-conversation has been Leona Helmsley's eyebrows. What gives? Is it real? Is it a tail? A spider leg or hair extension? Did they have eyebrow wigs back in the 80s?

I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments/ruminations.
Click here

See the green "Comment" box on the top left? You can weigh in there.


In the meantime, one thing we do know: the unnatural page-boy of that eyebrow is very scary.


January 27, 2016

The Nice and The Not-So-Nice: My Brush with Jimmy Stewart & Leona Helmsley


I have a personal connection with Jimmy Stewart and Leona Helmsley. I was with them at The Helmsley Palace. In the same room. At the same time.

Check out my new HUFFINGTON POST: "Jimmy Stewart, Hollywood's 'It's a Wonderful Life' Archangel".


Click here.


January 24, 2016

The Blizzard of 2016

* * What a snowpocalypse!  *  *

The bombogenesis pummelled the Northeast. We have at least 2-feet of snow. 
Stay home.  Crack out the hot chocolate. Love the one you're with. 

Click here ---->   Let. It. Snow.



Here is the view outside of my window as of midnight:


*
                *   
                           *                     **            *       
         * 
                            **            *       
                    *
                                         * 

*    
        **

*                    *


                            **                         *                                       *

     *                                         *               *


      **    
        **

                   **


                            * *                        *  



January 21, 2016

Sneezing and God Bless You


Click here for an audio of sneezing sound effects that will give you the chance to say "Bless you" for 12-straight hours. And imagine ... if you play the audio twice, you will have spent an entire day hearing people sneeze. (My favorites are at 8:27 and 11:47:06.)

You're welcome and God bless you.



Huffington Post: "It's National Squirrel Appreciation Day!"

Just when you think the winter is getting boring, National Squirrel Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to celebrate between now and the lull to Valentine's Day.

Break out the champagne! Toss some nuts! Let's give it up for squirrels!

Click here for my Huffington Post (that has received 1.7 million Facebook posts): 
"Squirrel Appreciation Day: Don't Miss Celebrating!"


January 17, 2016

What Does it Take to Be a Cool Octogenarian?

Betty (my mother, on left) and her friend Constance are 85 and 83 years old respectively. Here they are having ladies' lunch in Manhattan.
Once on the street, they could barely keep away the paparazzi. Snap! Snap! Snap!
                                                                                    Photo: Pamela Kogen

Betty and Constance are gorgeous and generous women. What make these special octogenarians so cool?

1. They are open-minded. 
2. They take care of themselves.
3. They LOVE to have fun.
4. They are full of adventure and would do (practically) anything at the drop of a hat.
5. Actually, if they dropped their hats they probably wouldn't pick them up and wear them. "It will mess up my hair," is a comma mantra amongst some female elders. 
6. They like to smile.
7. They wear go-to-hell sunglasses.
8. The big pearl earrings . . . twins!
9. They talk about the importance of friendship and family ... and they live it.
10. They inspire others.

Betty and Constance are two of a kind. They grace the world wherever they go.

January 13, 2016

Trump for Body Wash + Shampoo

Poolside at Trump International Hotel. And this is what I'm sayin' ... Do we want a president who has his own branded line of body wash, shampoo and conditioner?


Talk amongst yourselves.


JANUARY 14 UPDATE: I looked on the back of the packaging.  The items are MADE IN CANADA!
(So much for stimulating the American economy.)


January 11, 2016

David Bowie Landed from Mars and Changed the World / RIP



David Bowie landed from Mars and changed the world. His artistry, gender-bending sense of individuality, music and style ... you couldn't keep him tethered. 

Click here for "Changes" (one of my favorite songs.) 

TURN UP THE VOLUME.  LET IT / HIM RIP!!!

January 7, 2016

No Shag in Las Vegas: Busy Plush Carpets Hide All Sins

Carpets in casinos are notoriously "busy." These are from The Flamingo, Circus Circus, Caesar's Palace, and Bellagio.



January 3, 2016

"It's a Wonderful Life" ... Ready to Live It?

 
      

Now that holiday season is officially over, we are gorged on drink, cookies, chocolates, and making pretend we are happy to go to just one more party. (I kept telling my husband, "This is the last one of the season. I swear." Little does he know what we already have on the calendar for next weekend.)

By January 1, we are also replenished with hope and joy after watching (for the crazillionth time) such classics as "White Christmas" (with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen), "A Christmas Carol" (with Reginald Owen as Ebenezer Scrooge), "Miracle on 34th Street" (with Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood, et. al) ... and my all-time favorite, "It's a Wonderful Life" (with Jimmy Stewart).

I had the great opportunity to work with Mr. Stewart as his press agent when he appeared in "Night of 100 Stars" at Radio City Music Hall in the early-80s. The star-studded tribute to mark 100 years of the Actors' Fund of America was produced by Alexander Cohen and his wife Hildy Parks (former Pound Ridgers). I had to pinch myself as I watched one of the rehearsals. The hydraulic stage lifted and there was Jimmy Stewart with Betty Davis (who was about 75-years old and looked devilishly chic in leather pants, a fur vest and black beret), Gene Kelly and Myrna Loy. 

Along with "Night of 100 Stars"Mr. Stewart was in town for a 2-part interview we had booked on "Good Morning America." We decided to conduct it in Leona Helmsley's office at The Helmsley Palace on Madison Avenue. Okay ... Leona was a bee-yatch, but I loved that her office was right next to Harry's. They were like boy/girl offices: she had opulent pink moiré on the walls and he had rich mahogany panelling. There was something sort of adorable about it ... except when she opened her mouth. 

I had taken a stretch limousine to pick-up Mr. Stewart and his beautiful wife Gloria at JFK. He was a gentleman from the first minute we met. Mrs. Stewart was elegant, down-to-earth and just as thoughtful. One of the most impressive qualities about Mr. Stewart was walking with him on Fifth Avenue. Star gazers and autograph seekers were everyone. Mr. Stewart stopped for each and every one.  "We love you!" they would say. In Jimmy Stewart's inimitable cadence, he responded, "Why, thank you."

Here was an internationally renowned movie star acting as humble as a regular citizen. He had no airs (like several of the other celebrities from film, television and Broadway with whom I have worked. NO names!) Mr. Stewart epitomized his character George Bailey from "It's a Wonderful Life."

Are you ready to live your Wonderful Life? Start the New Year with clarity of objective. It's a new day and a new year. Live it to the max with humility, gratitude and grace. Use Jimmy Stewart as your beacon.


Blog Archive