Cosmopolitan Hotel...Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kanye West attend Grand Opening!

In December I reported on the dazzling two-storey Cosmopolitan Hotel which threw open its doors amidst a lot of hoopla and on the edge of tough economic times still holding strong around the country.

In spite of a lot of tourist belt-tightening this past year - and the inclination of many to book into accommodations where bargain prices currently prevail - the Cosmopolitan managed to lure in a posse of show-biz luminaries for the Grand Opening which proved to be quite a shot in the arm for the non-Vegas-style establishment (backed by German financiers) out to carve a special niche in the ever-popular desert oasis

Regular Hotel guests rubbed shoulders with high-profile celebs like bodacious babe Beyonce, bad girl Rihanna, TV Idol Judge Jennifer Lopez (with low-key hubby Marc Anthony in tow), Markie Mark (oooops! Mark Wahlberg rather), charismatic actress Cameron Diaz, and Ashley Owen (to name a trendy few).

Oh, it almost slipped my mind!

Gwyneth Paltrow floated in (Country Strong) with kiddies Apple and Moses (!) in tow.

Jet-setters - with an ear for eclectic music - also flew in to catch Kanye West in concert at the hot spot revving up on the main strip these days.

Coldplay (Gwyneth's main squeeze is the lead singer) was also booked in to the visually-stunning environs to the delight of fans!

I predict the Cosmopolitan is going to take off in a big way in 2011.

By the way, the Marriot Rewards card may be used at the Cosmopolitan.

So, go rack up a few points, eh?

http://www.thetattler.biz

Eclectic Boy Bands are a lure!

Donald Trump...green-eyed monster takes swipe at Vegas CityCenter! "Do" worse catastrophe...

The "Donald" - self-proclaimed developer extraordinaire - has been taking swipes at the spanking-new CityCenter here in Las Vegas which is scheduled to unveil one of its sumptuous centerpieces - the Aria Hotel - amid a lot of hoopla and fanfare tonight just shy of the witching hourt.

Say it ain't so!

The complex is a stunning architectural delight  literally transforming the Vegas skyline before our very eyes.

On Larry King Live! - the ever-pompous, slightly-stuffy, full-of-himself  know-it-all - labelled the dazzling complex an "absolute catastrophe".

Did I tune in a little late and miss something?

Surely it was his "do" that he was referring to!

On the heels of bad-mouthing the project on CNN, Trump - known for erecting monuments to his ego - was so possessed by the green-eyed monster that he found it necessary to call up one of the local gossip mavens and expand on his acid-tongued criticisms.

In today's "Vegas Confidential" column - published in the Las Vegas Review Journal - a columnist known-locally as "Norm" quoted Trump verbatim.

"The biggest problem is it costs so much," Trump lamented (as if it was any of his business!)

"It costs billions more (!) than anticipated and it's going to be hard to recover from that."

Hogwash!

A vulgar man with taste up the wazoo - and  a tendency to over-decorate - Trump has some nerve criticizing a handful of developers who have already proven their aesthetic capabilities (and fiscal responsibility) by virtue of the dazzling "greeen" gem that now rests in the "heart" of the city.

In all reality, Trump is just a migraine in a nerve center down the street, who'd be wise to shut his yap.

Vegas has been pining for a jump start - of the kind that CityCenter can deliver up right now - provided selfish mouthy a**holes like Trump don't screw it up.

The man should be strung up by the ba**s.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have any.

All mouth, and no potatoes, if you ask me!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Pavilions...managers with bad attitude & intimidating Afro-American security guards scare away customers...

The Grand Opening" for the newly-renovated Pavilions in West Hollywood was a festive event for neighborhood shoppers who were treated to coupons offering up free merchandise, scrumptious food samples lovingly prepared by a handful of celebrated Chefs, and even on site wine-signing events featuring Napa Valley wine producers of note.

Regular readers will recall a couple of features I penned and posted - when the doors of the aesthetically-pleasing grocery - swung wide-open once again and droves of excited customers swarmed in to take a look-see and snap up the inviting offerings.

Post: 07/22/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/07/pavilionsspanking-new-grocery-swings.html

Post: 07/26/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/07/pavilionsgrand-opening-dazzles-queer.html

Unfortunately, just a scant two weeks later, customers are grumbling about employee attitude.

The way a couple of the managers have been haughtily striding about the store, sizing customers up-and-down, you'd think they were blessed with a ten-inch dick swinging between their legs.

For loyal Pavilions fans like myself shopping at that location for over twenty years (and other long-time residents in the neighborhood) the snotty attitude is off-putting to say the least.

But, it is undoubtedly a handful of tall Afro-American security guards all-decked-out in black-tailored suits (who stand stone faced at the entrances and exits of the store), that are causing shoppers to whisper disapproval inside-and-out the grocery.

Tight shoes, or a bout of diarrhea (bad sushi?), may account for the unpleasant scowls are their emotionless mugs.

I doubt that scenario, somehow.

In gentile WeHo, the Pavilions henchmen are a blight on the landscape, without doubt.

Pavilions, you're hardly out of the starter's gate, and you're scaring away customers.

Wake up and smell the Starbucks java, that no one is buying.

http://www.julianayrs.com

Pavillions...Grand opening dazzles! Queer Eye Chef appears today for wine sampling (July 26th/4-7 pm)

Wow!



Pavilions newly-renovated store in West Hollywood (under construction for the past year) opened with a big splash over the weekend!



If you recall, I penned a post a couple of days ago about the upcoming unveiling (which has been much-anticipated by residents in neighborhoods with access nearby).



Post: 07/22/09



http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/07/pavilionsspanking-new-grocery-swings.html



What a great reader response!



To tout the grand opening, there have been a handful of chi-chi wine-tasting signings over the weekend to the delight of the locals.



A highlight event is obviously the one featuring the "Queer Eye Chef" tonight (July 26th) between the hours of 4-7 pm.



Wine turned out in the Russian River area of California is being toasted.



The "new" outlet @ Robertson and Santa Monica Boulevard is obviously the gem in Safeway's crown.



When I popped in to the grocery store this morning, Shoppers appeared to be walking on air in a dream-like state, as they gazed starry-eyed at the smorgasbord of tempting delights on display all around them in the beautifully-lit aesthetically-pleasing store.



The extensive collection of quality liquor is now housed in well-crafted mahogany showcases.



And, there is a walk-in cooler featuring chilled wines with labels that sing out from around the globe.



At the Sushi Bar, the staff were splicing and dicing and wrapping (and what-have-you) as curious lookie-loos gazed on in wonder at their precision hand skills.



A Galeto bar looked tempting, too.



In the produce section, discriminating chefs will obviously be thrilled with the wide selection of vegetables and fruits not often available around town in less-stocked grocery stores.



When I stumbled across the bakery at the back of Pavilions, I was knocked out by the wide variety of bread and rolls on display, set in a quaint homespun environment that appeals to the senses.



Although this outlet always maintained one of the best selections of fresh flowers and exotic plants in the lower mainland, the greenery has expanded none-the-less.



Judging by the response from shoppers swarming into the store this morning - and all the ooh's-and-aah's being uttered around me - Pavilions' entrance into an upper niche in the grocery realm is going to be a big success.



See 'ya there!

http://www.julianayrs.com