By Judi Jordan exclusively for Latin Heat
Rich Red Design, Decadent Delights– ‘Rare’ and Rose Champagne Could Take the Sting Out Of Losing
This year, the fabulous Post-Oscars Party, “The Governor’s Ball” of the 87th Oscars® ceremony on Sunday, February 22 aims for cozy comfort and an unapologetic air of 1950’s reminiscence. Every year the ‘Dolby Ballroom’ atop Hollywood and Highland is transformed into a unique venue place for 1,500 lucky guests.
From the giant holograms of Gone With The Wind stars Clark Gable and Hattie McDaniel, to the bars covered with hundreds of autographed lipstick kisses from long-gone starlets, a vintage air prevails.
Attendees will lounge on deep booths surrounded by misty reminders of Oscar’s golden past. Over a hundred and twenty beautifully framed images of by-gone Oscar nominees will be displayed around the space, and handed to guests as parting gifts. Every detail of the Oscars® is obsessively considered, and the envelopes and winners cards are no exception. Although visible up close to only a few, the heavyweight ecru, gold-treated Art-Deco inspired winners’ envelopes and cards are meticulously made by hand—and meant to last–by invitation master Marc Friedland, who has been working with the Academy for five Oscars®.
In a reflective mood, Jeffrey Kurland, the creative Oscar Governor in charge of the demanding event, wished to create a reflective, welcoming and relaxing ambiance—he succeeded; plundering the official Academy of Motion Picture’s photo archives, Kurland found his classic inspiration.
Appropriate– given that several of the top nominated films; Selma, The Imitation Game, and The Theory of Everything are films with a strong ‘footprint’ in the past. Official Oscar florist; Mark’s Garden designed lush, tactile, artsy, vintage arrangements of purple callas, orchids, hydrangea and succulents that convey the particular melancholy magic of the evening—and provoke thoughts of those whose presence will be missed on this special night. Topaz taffeta, textured burgundy and spice colored table coverings, tiffany lamps and other low lighting keep the mood confidential.
It’s a room to laugh and cry in, sweet, sentimental and sad, and easy to re-create at home with candles and dark red taffeta table covers for your own ‘Oscar homage’ with photos of your favorite Latino greats. Remember Ricardo Montalban, Ramon Navarro, Cesar Romero, Rita Hayworth, Dolores del Rio, Katy Jurado, Cantinflas, Lupe Ontiveros…and please don’t forget Elizabeth Pena!
THE BUBBLY: The Oscars® evening begins with four excellent Champagnes by legendary French Champagne vintner; Piper-Heidsieck. Their ‘Rare’ 1988 and ‘Rare’ 2002, Brut Cuvee and Rose Sauvage. The gorgeous ‘silver tiara’ on the 1988 and 2002 ‘Rare vintages make this a champagne for a very special night. You must taste it to understand its whisper of mango and kiwi, almond and fig.
THE COCKTAILS: Drinks at the Whisky Bar where a variety of exotic cocktails are made with exclusive Johnnie Walker Platinum label, and top shelf Ketel One.
THE FOOD: Dazzling, delicious diversity by The Oscars® food Czar, Wolfgang Puck, celebrating his 21st year creating the Governors Ball menu. The 50 dishes offered include Puck’s classics–smoked salmon Oscars, chicken pot pie with shaved black truffles, mini American Wagyu Cheddar burgers and new tastes— including lobster “BLT”; beet latkes with pastrami duck and apple mustard; deviled eggs with spiced crab, baked potato and caviar, lobster salad with artichokes, and Dover sole with orange miso vinaigrette. Veggie specials include chilled sweet pea soup with black truffles, artichokes with asparagus, fava beans, baby beets and citrus vinaigrette. Innovative desserts include peanut butter strawberry lollipops, truffle coconut macaroons, Mexican spiced chocolate brownies, violet crème brulee, milk chocolate panna cotta with raspberry and cherry, and Puck’s traditional 24k gold chocolate Oscars.
THE WINE: Sterling’s Oscars® Exclusive – specially blended Gold Standard Reserve White and 2012 Red Carpet Reserve Red; created to compliment the many dishes of Wolfgang Puck.
Now that you have the Oscars® Ball 411, create your own ‘At Home’ version; you know where to find the Oscars®–on February 22nd, ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
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