All images by Michael Underwood for ABImages

Beverly Hills’ legendary Harold Lloyd Estate (nowadays, known as Greenacres, and owned by billionaire philanthropist, Ron Burkle) was the setting for Town & Country’s annual pre-Golden Globes party – complete with Hollywood stars, power-brokers, a never-ending supply of Dom Pérignon, and enough of Roberto Coin’s red carpet-worthy jewelry to choke a maharaja!

Hosted by Jay Fielden (Editor in chief, Town & Country), Irena & Mike Medavoy (Chairman/CEO, Phoenix Pictures), Burkle, and Ambassador Nicole Avant & Ted Sarandos (Chief Content Officer, Netflix); we were greeted by a phalanx of security (the kind with curly cords coming out of their ears) and a stretch golf-cart to shuttle us up the drive.  My friends, producer Francesca Silvestri and The Insider’s Louis Aguirre, and I opted against the cart, and strode up to the door (my cardio for the month).  Hundreds of candles lit the approach to the door of the Benedict Canyon estate, that chilly night; and more than a few of the guests had donned fur coats and stoles, to battle the weather.

Inside, the foyer was packed to the rafters with the sort of folks who run the business of show – including Harvey Weinstein (co-Chairman, The Weinstein Company), Jeff Shell (Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group), and Jim Gianapulos (Chairman/CEO, Fox Filmed Entertainment).  I made my way through the crowd, to hug host Irena Medavoy, and apologized for missing her get together, the previous afternoon at Saks Fifth Avenue (my flight was cancelled, and my second flight delayed), nearly chipping a tooth on the spectacular Roberto Coin necklace at her throat, in the process.

Some highlights for me, included chatting with jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, who introduced me to Melanie Griffith by uttering the only-in-Hollywood line, “Michael, you know Melanie…”  I didn’t, but do now; and I’ve gotta say, Griffith looked fantastic!  Radiant, in a little black dress, with legs for days.  Later, in the courtyard Francesca introduced me to her friend Kate.  I was just getting my cocktail situation sorted-out, and had been looking down, so when I held-out my hand to say hello, what ended-up coming-out was “Oh my God, you’re Kate Hudson!”  She giggled.  After this, I hung-out in the gardens with the lovely Michelle Monaghan and her husband, Peter White; and lemme tell you, they're as charming as the day is long. 

Later on, after sitting in the solarium with Francesca, Louis, and Greg Calejo, on a couch that also contained Val Kilmer, I was about to waylay a server with a tray of Black Truffle Chicken Pot Pies, when I heard someone utter the name “Lauren Selig.”  “Lauren Selig from Seattle?” I exclaimed.  Sure enough, the real life little-red-haired-girl, whom I’d last seen at summer camp some 25 years earlier, had grown into a beautiful woman and big-time producer (Everest, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).  We had a lovely chat, before I jettisoned to track down another flute of Dom Pérignon.

The journey wasn’t more than ten feet, but took me back out to the courtyard, where I laughed with DJ Samantha Ronson about a photo she’d recently posted on Facebook, that I’d taken of her and brother, Mark, in Las Vegas, back in the early aughts.  Then, Louis introduced me to the tall drink of water that is Ashlan Gorse Cousteau, who regaled us with tales from her recent diving expedition off the Marshall Islands with her husband, Phillipe Cousteau, Jr.  Note: if you’re gonna go scuba diving, it should be with the grandson of the captain of the Calypso.

Back in the foyer, Mrs. Medevoy’s necklace seemed to have come undone, at which point Town & Country’s statuesque publisher Jennifer Bruno and I simultaneously exclaimed that if nobody could find the necklace at night’s end, it’d “…be in my purse!” Jinx! (She owes me a Coke!)  Later, I had a terrific confab with T&C’s Executive Style Director (and jewelry savant) Stellene Volandes, and Associate Publisher - Marketing, Jennifer Orr, who introduced me to the very cool Peter Webster (President/co-Founder, Roberto Coin).

Also making the scene, at Greenacres – Sylvester Stallone and family, Sugar Ray Leonard, Kelly Preston, Colleen Camp, Tyrese Gibson, Ed Ruscha, Topher Grace, Minnie Driver, Jeremy Strong, Fred Durst, Alexandre Desplat, David Spade, and Aziz Ansari.

All told, and riffing on that famous theme song from the golden age of television, Greenacres really is the place to be!

Town & Country’s Roberto Coin-sponsored Pre-Golden Globes Party
Greenacres Estate
Click HERE for info

Get into it!