In the last week of July, the town embraced summer to the fullest. It seemed everybody was partying outside.
Jessica Simpson made it a family affair poolside last Monday night. She came by an intimate sunset plaza houseparty either to (A) support her father Joe Simpson’s new artist Anya, a new pop singer import from Russia (pictured below with Jessica and Joe Simpson), (B) pick up a $10,000 diamond ring gifted by homeowner, or (C) both of the above. Even in a closely screened crowd of 35, Jessica dashed upstairs to a restricted area as soon as she arrived. Recently released Lane Garrison slid in unrecognized by all (even the event’s pr team), nervously clutching a bottle of water and almost hiding under a fedora. Does he listen to this type of pop music in his car these days? “No, no, no … no cars for me right now,” he told a party goer. Meanwhile, Ellen Degeneres, Portia de Rossi and Sheryl Crow slipped right under the nose of the waiting paparazzi as they made their way to the house next door on foot …
Earlier on Monday, young Hollywood’s frat club started off a lazy summer week with afternoon golf at Coto de Caza. Pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler hosted his annual X Games Celebrity Skins classic. Best buddies Brody Jenner and Frankie Delgado were also joined by Kevin Federline. (Federline’s bloated yellow shirt had many tabloids suggesting he might be pregnant.) At the other end of the spectrum, it was mini-golf: Verne Troyer wielded specially sized sticks …
Andy Samberg, Henry Winkler and Jesse Metcalfe joined an industry heavy screening of actress Charlyne Yi’s Sundance hit “Paper Heart” in Los Feliz on Tuesday. The mockumentary reimagines her real-life relationship with “fellow awkward” Michael Cera as the outcome of a cross-country exploration of the meaning of love. Ironic sighting in the crowd? Shayne Lamas, who once went love hunting on camera herself, winning ABC’s “The Bachelor” a few years ago. Directors Jason Reitman ("Juno") and Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") joined Gloria Allred to support the personally popular Yi’s maiden project as a producer …
Daily paparazzi shots of sisters Paris and Nicky Hilton texting while driving earned the duo a well deserved appearance at Express’ TXT L8TR Campaign Event at Nobu West Hollywood on Wednesday. On screen "Twilight" lovers and off-screen friends Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz showed up for the campaign’s anti-text driving scolding: “Put down your blackberry!” Others reforming their dangerous driving included several whose cell phone numbers remain closely guarded secrets: Mandy Moore, pregnant Camila Alves (“no thank you” on the sushi), Ciara and Rachel Bilson (all pictured above, with Elle magazine’s Joe Zee), along with Gabrielle Union, Molly Sims and the suddenly ubiquitous Annalynne McCord.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, the only celebs at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday party were the first couple of California themselves. Held on the outdoor patio of Santa Monica’s Shangri La Hotel, hours before the Gov turned 62, a few disappointed attendees lamented the company: “It was only politicians, no celebs." Maria Shriver is apparently now a politician, not a celeb.
Kelly Monaco collected celeb pals at the poolside premiere party for “The Collector” on Thursday night. Michael Rosenbaum, Kevin Connolly and A.J. McClean all spent time at her table at the Roosevelt. The film, which hadn’t yet earned $3.6M over the weekend, threw a budget affair, saddled up with Thursday’s Roosevelt regular party, “Hollywoodland." Stars of the “Saw”-esque movie forked over their own credit cards at the pricey Tropicana Bar …
At left: Breckin Meyer and creator Seth Green rolled in to Green’s Robot Chicken skate party with Clare Grant and Matthew Senreich on Saturday night. Ginnifer Goodwin, Erika Christensen and Colin Hanks also laced up for the “all skate” with live tunes by Gym Class Heroes.
Tourists and locals clogging Robertson for a summer Saturday of celeb sightings did not go home disappointed. Lindsay Lohan, the aforementioned AnnaLynne McCord, Disney Channel’s Brenda Song, Maria Menounos, Kristin Chenoweth, and NBC’s Community star Alison Brie celebrated the relaunch of Treesje’s Magnolia handbag at Kitson …
Earlier in the week though, it was a near miss. NYC transplants from across L.A. hungrily welcomed NYC legend “Joe’s Pizza of Bleeker St.” to its new home on Sunset. A few hundred VIP guests crowded the parking lot for a very un-Hollywood “all you can eat pizza party” on Tuesday night. Lindsay Lohan was either homesick or very hungry. She aborted her arrival at the last second, scared away by the waiting flashbulbs, The N.Y. native instead ordered two large pizzas from her car for delivery. Note to organizers: Put her on the list for the next anti-text-driving event.
