HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2007/10/04/life_and_arts/malibu_seen/kim1.txt

Malibu Seen
By Kim Devore / Entertainment Columnist

Thursday, October 04, 2007

HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

Los Angeles Confidential seems to be everywhere on the party circuit these days. The fatter-than-a-phonebook glossy has been gathering Hollywood's A-list together for bash after stylish bash. LAC recently gave us all a chance to tour one of the city's newest hotspots, the hip, new watering hole called Bar Nineteen12 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Kerry Washington and pals pranced down the red carpet while the Nineteen12 kitchen pulled out all the stops. And this is one divine dive that makes food fun. Servers made the rounds with yummy heirloom tomato shooters and bacon and quail egg muffins, kobe beef siders and tasty spoonfuls of French bouillabaisse. You can't call them uncreative on the beverage front either. Revelers lined up for shocking pink prickly pear margaritas, which looked like something Barbie might drink on her 21st birthday. Another popular offering came in the form of Jell-O blueberry vodka shooters on a stick.

Tom Arnold, who broke out his best damn bowling shirt for the occasion, was busy yucking it up in one corner while manager Philip Spee directed tours. "This hotel has such a vast history," he said. "So many legends have come through here. We wanted to create something young and hip that would be complementary to the rest of the hotel and pay respect to its traditions." That being said, it seems they're off to a good start.

The Confidential folks were back in action a few days later when Liane Weintraub and Shiva Rose hosted an end-of-summer beach barbecue. They set up shop at French Connection on the beach to benefit Art of Elysium.

There was plenty of pomp and circumstance during Emmy week as well when the mag feted cover gal Ellen Pompeo and her posh looking pals at One Sunset in West Hollywood. The Emmy and El celebration featured Pom Pom specialty drinks like the Golden Emmy, made with a pour of pineapple juice as well as a Splash of Pompeo, a sweet combo of Grand Marnier and pomegranate juice. The sleek retreat was packed to the gills as Ellen's co-star Sandra Oh and locals like Linda Thompson partied into the night.

Eric Benet cozies up to Manula Testolini at the L.A. Confidential bash in Bev Hills.

Courtesy of FGPR