Celebrities, start your engines!
Nothing says self-involved more than giving out awards for Golden Globe swag. That's right, we're giving out awards for gifting suites that give awards to people for being nominated for awards. Phew!
Last fall we brought you coverage of the 2008 Emmy Award Gifting Suites. A new year means more award shows, which means more swag suites, which means more free stuff for stars to collect. Remember the ground rules: Celebrities get a diamond tiara, nobodies get a t-shirt. As we mentioned previously, these suites pop up all over town in the days leading up to the big event. Celebrities from the A-list to the D-list make their rounds to collect freebies and this past week was no exception. So without further adieu, The Huffington Post brings you The 2009 Golden Globe Gifting Suites Awards.
The 2009 Huffington Post Golden Globe Suite Award for "Best Charity Tie-In" goes to:
GBK: Gavin B. Keilly owner and CEO of GBK is the innovator of the giving back suite. The charities that benefited were The Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, actor's Isaiah Washington's Gondobay Manga Foundation, actor Terrence Howard's St. Bernard Project, Homeless Not Toothless and the Educating Young Minds & Hollywood Note Foundation. And yes, Washington and Howard were actually present.
Highlights: While guests munched on Eco Organic food and singer Samantha Mollen sang, they scored rechargeable battery packs for the iPhone 3G, twin stereo earphones from Share Buds, vitamins from Nordic Natural, Metropolis high-end hair styling tools, (they come with a 10 year warranty) Mistura Face Powder, PakSeat backpacks, hair extensions from Hairlocs International, Revitalash eyelash conditioner, shag rugs by Lester Carpet Company and necklaces and rings from Israeli jewelry designer David Tishbi. For the little ones there was eco friendly kids toys and furniture from Jenny Bec's Toy Store (our fave: baby's first Presidential board book, "Barack Obama 101") and luxury skincare line Epicuren debuted it's newest baby skin care line, Epicuren Baby. In a coup for the company, famed photographer Anne Geddes' photos adorns their products.
Original Belly Works handed out kits to create belly casts for expectant moms, thus letting them create the ultimate piece of art. Speaking of art, Jeff Owens Artworks was gifting contemporary abstract metal sculptures while Jelena Rokanovic's JROK Design was offering custom collages.
A Hollywood gifting suite would not be complete without the services of a plastic surgeon. Christine Chiu of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery told us on behalf of husband, Dr. Gabriel Chiu, that, "if you give us five minutes of your time, we'll give you five years back. Instead of spending $20,000 for a facelift-you can spend $2000 on facials, peels and Botox and put off that facelift for another ten years."
Celeb attendees: 2009 Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins, Amanda Bynes, Kate Flannery, Vincent Kartheiser, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Stephen Baldwin, Billy Zane, Jai Rodriguez, Selena Gomez, Jeremy Sumpter, Josh Henderson.
The 2009 Huffington Post Golden Globe Suite Award goes for "Funkiest Suite" goes to:
Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge: You can't get any funkier than a three-story space that's both a daytime office space for Microsoft Zune employees and a nightclub. Held at Zune in West Hollywood, this suite was occupied by vendors and celebs alike during Golden Globe week. (And yes, everyone was gifted with Zune mp3's, natch!)
Highlights: Moni-Moni Italian washed leather vintage luxury bags, Soma Intimates - (move over Spanx!) - featuring slimming panties and bras. Celebs had access to Stella & Dot jewelry that's only sold through stylists, home trunk shows and on the web and Penelope Wildberry tattoo sheepskin boots featuring hand painted designs like skulls and flowers. Marnie Greenwood's "Marnie Rocks" line of jewelry, scarves and other accessories had celebs crafting their own necklaces using personalized details like birthstones, zodiac, letter and number charms. Celebs had the opportunity to give back as Greenwood had stars literally create a "hand" bag by imprinting their actual palms on the bags themselves, which will be auctioned off for Marnie Rocks Beading Cancer, a Texas-based children's charity.
Celeb attendees: Viola Davis, Jessica Alba, Melina Kanakaredis, Paris Hilton, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, January Jones, Michelle Trachtenberg, Debra Messing, Shannon Elizabeth, James Kyson Lee, Craig Robinson, Tom Arnold, Carrie Ann Inaba.
The 2009 Huffington Post Golden Globe Suite Award goes for "Classiest Suite" goes to:
3rd Annual Access Hollywood "Stuff You Must..." Gift Lounge: Celebs were greeted by the genial Ross "The Intern" Mathews from The Tonight Show With Jay Leno - who was the official greeter for Italian food company Bertolli and dished with incoming celebs who then lounged in a faux living room and munched on Bertolli's oven baked meals. "I love giving free stuff to millionaires like a years supply of pasta and universal remotes for their HD TVs," he said. "This might be the only power I'll ever have in Hollywood."
Highlights: CVS/Pharmacy Reinventing Beauty Bar got the celebs red carpet ready while Crunch fitness offered one year gym memberships. Entertainment and social lives were taken care of by IHome's iPod accessories and one year memberships to any AMC theater. Other goodies included diamond rings from D'Unnunzio Fine Jewelry, KoolaBurra Australian-made Sheepskin boots, Keurig premium coffee makers, Blackberry Pearl Flip phones and Aquaswiss watches.
Celeb Attendees: 2009 Golden Globe winner Tom Wilkinson, Zachary Levi, Jennifer Carpenter, Selena Gomez, Christian Siriano, Aaron Paul, Blair Underwood, Cloris Leachman, Stacy Keibler, Linda Cardellini, Maureen McCormick, Rumer Willis, Vanessa Hudgens, Candis Cayne.
The 2009 Huffington Post Golden Globe Suite Award for "Best Baby Gifts" goes to:
The Boom Boom Room's 2009 Pre-Golden Globe Awards Baby and Big Kid Wonderland: Two floors of kid and baby items at the Century Plaza Hotel? 'Nuff said. This is the one suite where crying babies, toddlers throwing tantrums, waddling pregnant ladies and breast-feeding moms were embraced!
Highlights: Chopsticks Training Set from Combi, personalized cards and photo books from Shutterfly, Boujie Baby couture diaper bags, Robeez shoes, Chuck the Yuck designer barf bags (seriously! We are not making this up!), hair clips that actually stay put in baby's hair by No Slippy Hair Clippy, baby friendly cleaning supplies by Dapple Baby (we love the toy cleaner wipes!), developmental toys from BuckleyBoo, fun clothes from Stella Blu, Born Free baby bottles and training cups made from 100% Bisphenol-A free plastic, and the EarCheck Montior that checks for signs of ear infections.
Spa Di Da, the Kid's Spa & Salon was on hand to paint nails, spray paint tattoos and create up-dos for the little ones, Giggles 'N' Hugs Children's restaurant provided yummy pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches while the newly opened indoor playground The Playroom in Sherman Oaks handed out free passes. Celebs had the opportunity to make a donation to the Jayneoni Moore Children's Fund that benefits kids in foster care.
Celeb attendees: New moms Angela Kinsey and Marissa Jaret Winokur (with son Zev in a baby carrier), Tim Allen, Brittany Daniel, Kelly Martin, Holly Robinson Peete, Joey Lawrence, Evan Handler, John Salley, Chyler Leigh, expectant moms Penelope Ann Miller, Anne Heche, Julie Bowen.
The 2009 Huffington Post Golden Globe Suite Award goes for "Best Piggy Back Suite" goes to:
The Think PR 3rd Annual Pre-Sundance Gifting Suite: What better way to get the stars ready for the Sundance Film Festival than by having a suite during Golden Globes week. Talk about maximizing an opportunity.
Highlights: Hollywood got the VIP's ready for the Utah freeze with cashmere traveling jerseys by Yansi Fugel, booty pants by Kelly Nishimoto, hats and shirts adorned with clown and caricature images from Evol, jackets from Southpole and Emu boots made of sheepskin and Marino wool. Bobi's comfy and classy tops, wraps and dresses rounded out the clothing swag. Plenty of eco-friendly products were also on hand including Desert Essence bath products, Method household cleaning supplies, Danny Seo's Wholearth skincare line, Fashionation eco-speakers for your ipod made out of cardboard as well as recycled handbags from Nahuiollin (a tote made entirely out of candy wrappers - genius!). Speaking of handbags, Britain-based Radley, known as the Coach of UK, and Kipling handbags were also on supply. Other goodies included Too Faced cosmetics, POP Beauty, Seven Skies perfume and Think Thin power bars.
Celeb attendees: Amber Heard, Madeline Zima, Brittany Snow, Anya Monzikova, Kyla Pratt, David Blue, Jordan Ladd, Danielle Fishel.
Leah Sydney contributed to this report.