Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said:
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Juvencio Jimenez-Valdez

Unassuming genius Juvencio Jimenez-Valdez discusses his lifelong passion for hair while demonstrating his master coloring and cutting techniques.

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A-List

Jane Fonda at the after party for 33 Variations which opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.  Ms. Fonda’s performance was sublime.  After all of these years as an actress, activist, writer and icon, Ms. Fonda delivers a fresh tour de force performance.  We forget that we are watching the icon Jane on stage because she corporeally immerses herself in the role so convincingly. Old school elegance with chops! They don’t make actors like this anymore!

Samantha Mathis at the after party for 33 Variations which opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Mathis’s is  phenomenal as the daughter growing up in the shadow of an over-achieving mother.

Simone Bent Garity and Troy Garity attend the after party for 33 Variations which opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

ARTS-Los Angeles

Malick Sidibe: The Eye of Bamako. Vintage proofs and 75 year-old photographs capture moments of celebration amid Africa’s postcolonial youth, revolution, from dance hall parties to portraits of nattily dressed teens. Until March 19 at M+B. 612 N. Almont Drive, Los Angeles, California.


A-Interesting

Austrian Cinematographer Thomas Kloss at Company 3 in Santa Monica, California.  Mr. Kloss has shot numerous films and music videos including Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance as well videos for The Pussy Cat Dolls and Marilyn Manson.  He recently shot the Lionsgate remake of ” Conan The Barbarian” which will be released this summer.

AA-Cool

Twin commercial directors Josh and Jonathan Baker at Company 3 in Santa Monica, California.

Film Producer and Financier Pascal Borno and his son Julian Borno on Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.  Julian is an artist and musician.

A-Interesting

David Kramer is the Proprietor of Family Books on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, California.  Family specializes in fine art books, contemporary fiction, music, dvd’s and zines.

Filis Winthrop, Propriteress of Chevalier’s Books on Larchmont Blvd in Los Angeles, California.  Ms. Winthrop’s book store has been open for over 70 years and is where the author James Ellroy (by his own admission) shoplifted books.

A-Social

Actress Olivia Wild at a post Golden Globes party in Los Angeles, California.  Ms. Wild currently stars in the movie “Tron: Legacy”

Film director Kimberly Pierce at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood, California. Ms. Peirce directed the acclaimed film “Boys Don’t Cry” for which Hillary Swank won a best actress Oscar as well as the films “Stop Loss” and “The Last Good Breath”.

A-Cool

Sylvia Strawberry Raskin, CEO of Immediate Justice at Temple of Visions on Spring Street, Los Angeles California.  Immediate Justice empowers young women and queer people of color with the knowledge and skill-sets to generate new images of reproductive freedom that inspire community action and global dialogue.

Artist Douglas Meyer at The Hive Collective on Spring street in Los Angeles, California.

Creative Art Producer Shalena Hughes at Temple of Visions on Spring Street, Los Angeles California.

Percussionist Sunni Solwind at Temple of Visions on Spring Street, Los Angeles California.

Chef and Proprietress Natalia Pereira at her highly rated Brazilian restaurant the Wooden Spoon on W. 9th Street in Los Angeles, California.

A-Style

Interior Designer Nena Woolworth on Kings Road in West Hollywood, California.

Graphic Artist Robin Geng at Barneys New York on Madison Avenue in New York City.

A-Cool

German Painter Egon Zippel at Cafe Select on Lafayette Street in New York City.

Actor Ed Asner  at Creative Artist Agency in Century City, California.

Actor Jason Brandt at Laurie Frank Gallery in Santa Monica, California.

Alex Mallick Williams and Media Director Teddie Davies at Mallick Williams gallery in Chelsea, New York City.  The painting is by English artist, Tobias Keene.

Actor Henry Thomas at the Pali House in West Hollywood, California. Mr. Thomas has appeared in numerous films including GANGS OF NEW YORK , LEGENDS OF THE FALLS  and E.T. to name a few.

Producer Orian Williams at the Pali House in West Hollywood, California. Mr. Williams produced the film CONTROL which profiled Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division. He is currently in production on GAMES THEY PLAY.

A-Social

Actress Rose McGowan poses playfully for Aleim during at Christmas party at a private residence in Soho, New York City.  Ms. McGowan stars in Conan The Barbarian which will be released by Lionsgate next summer.

Film Director Stephen Frears attends a Christmas party in a private Gramercy Park residence in New York City.  Mr. Frears has directed such films as The Queen, Dirty Pretty Things and High Fidelity among others.

Nikki Haskell and legendary music Producer Clive Davis attend a Christmas party in a private Gramercy Park residence in New York City. Other guests included Architect Richard Mier, Actress Uma Thurman, Govenor Jon Corzine, Art Producer Allison Gorsuch and Filmmaker Tala Hadid to name a few.

A-Style

Actress Stephanie Ittleson is ski chic in Vail, Colorado . Ms. Ittleseson wears vintage Descente.

A-Cool

Nicole Fantl and Jonathan Bollier at Lucia Noyce’s dinner party in Los Angeles, California.

Artist Skylar Haskard and Lucia Noyce at a dinner party hosted by Ms. Noyce in Los Angeles, California.

Filmmaker Clyde Mason and Graphic Artist Sukari Keetin celebrate the New Year at a dinner party in a private residence in Los Angeles, California.

Cynthia Cruz and John Maciness attend a dinner party hosted by Lucia Noyce at a private residence in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Cruz works with one of Hollywood’s biggest film stars and Mr. MacIness is a screenwriter.

Musician and Writer Brad Miskell at a private residence in Vail, Colorado.  Mr. Miskell’s  band, “Goodbye, Carbon” will be releasing new tracks next month.

Wendy Smith enjoys a Pilsner at the Alpenrose in Vail, Colorado where she has been skiing since her youth.  Ms. Smith is President of School House Kitchen, a gourmet all natural specialty food line specializing in homemade mustards, jams, jellies and baked goods.

A-Style

Alice Mollenhauer attends a Christmas party hosted at a private Soho residence in New York City.  Ms. Mollenhauer works in finance.

Acclaimed photographer Sante D’ Orazio and Natalie Kill on Greene Street in Soho, New York City.Elle Magazine Fashion Director Kate Lanphear at the Burberry and Elle Magazine Christmas party at the Burberry store in Soho, New York City.Gentleman Kelechi Odu attends the Burberry and Elle Magazine Christmas party at the Burberry store in Soho, New York City.

A-Social

Jewelry Designer Mona Assemi hosted a holiday party trunk show for her new collection at her Soho apartment in New York City.Brian Strong attends FRAMED: Drawings in Motion, an event organized by Smartspaces in Soho, New York City.Sue Hostetler and Stacey Goergen attend FRAMED: Drawings in Motion, an event organized by Smartspaces, for which Ms. Goergen serves as director. Aleim Magazine hosted the cocktail reception during the opening at 200 Lafayette Street in Soho, New York City.Playwright Tristine Skyler attends FRAMED: Drawings in Motion, an event organized by Smartspaces, an organization dedicated to putting contemporary art in the windows of vacant storefronts, and making art accessible to everyone. The exhibition features five hand-drawn animations from a selection of internationally recognized mid-career and emerging artists, including Brent Green, Susi Jirkuff, Kakyoung Lee, Tala Madani, and Raymond Pettibon. The animations can be viewed in the window of 200 Lafayette Street in Soho, New York City.

A-Cool

Roman Alonso at Florenz framing shop on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Alonso is the Creative Director of Commune, a collective focusing on enhancing life through design.

A-Interesting

Conductor Andrej Hermlin of Germany’s leading swing dance orchestra enjoys a relaxing lunch at Pasternack on Knaackstrasse in Berlin, Germany.Fine Artist Bettina Krieg at Suess War Gestern on Wuelischstrasse in Berlin, Germany. “In his book Aesthetics, Adorno writes that Moos’ overgrown wall ruins are both in nature and actually nature themselves. The work of Bettina Krieg is present exactly at this indistinction of nature and culture, where culture becomes organic, an aesthetic notion of nature.”–Adina Popescu. Anna Schetelich is the Proprietress of OONA, the gallery for contemporary jewelry located at Auguststrasse 26 in Berlin, Germany. Ms. Schetelich represents some of the seminal artists in contemporary jewelry design including Saskia Diez, Christian Hoedl and Maiami.

Filmmaker Robert Fenz on Reichenburger Strasse in the Kruezburg district of Berlin Germany. Mr. Fenz is preparing for an exhibition next spring based on his most recent film shot in Cuba and Israel.

Photographer Sam Hodge on the S-Bahn en route to Neukölln in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Hodge’s books can be found in several bookstores across the United States including Dashwood in New York City and Family Books in Los Angeles.Film Theoretician Ursula Tax on Grunberger Strasse in Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany.Cabaret Performer Tilman Birr delivers an excellent performance at the Television Tower in Berlin, Germany.

A-Social

Photographer Rozano Johnson weds Cultural Attache Friedel Schmoranzer at the Television Tower in Berlin, Germany. Fabian Herdieckerhoff, Managing Director of Monceau at Borchardt Restaurant on Franzoosische Strasse in Berlin, Germany.
Singer Alanis Morisette at the home of Angela Lindvall. Topanga, California.Roman Coppola and Jennifer Furches at the home of Angela Lindvall. Topanga, California.Actress Liv Tyler at the home of Angela Lindvall. Topanga, California.

Arts-Berlin

How do we achieve enlightenment? What role is science given in our society, and what role myth? Do we need to find alternative categories for experience and alternative approaches to awakening consciousness? These questions are all raised by the artist Carsten Höller (born 1961, in Brussels) in his show in the Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin. Höller explores the myth of ‘soma’ – a drink with healing properties known among Verdic nomads in North India in the 2nd millennium BCE that promised enlightenment and access to the divine sphere, which was commonly used in rituals. The drink’s main ingredient is no longer exactly known to us; ethnomycologists and philologists generally posit the fly Amanita mushroom as the substance responsible for its effects. Set against this backdrop, Höller has devised a fantastical scenario that stands at the crossroads between art and science, laboratory and dream, supposed objectivity and heightened subjectivity.C/O Berlin presents 120 photographs and films from the oeuvre of Peter Lindbergh. From his classics icons of fashion photography to his Vogue Berlin Series of 2009. Including never before published Archive-Polaroids as well as documentary films, the exhibition provides insights into the photographer’s approach to his work.