Gift Lounges

TV stars give as good as they get at Emmy swag suites

By elizabethsnead | September 21, 2011 12:29 pm | Celebrity, Emmy Awards 2011, Fashion, Featured, Gift Lounges | Leave a comment

Every rich and famous celebrity in Hollywood loves to get free stuff. Doesn’t matter if they’re an A-list movie star or a newbie guest on their first TV series. Swag is like celebrity crack. Once they try it, they always come back for more.

That’s why the celebrity gifting suites – or as I like to call them – celebrity looting suites– are still going strong. And the 2011 Emmy suites held last weekend were no exception.

The hottest (and most conveniently located) Emmy swag suites were the HBO Luxury Lounge – held at the Four Seasons hotel, which was already packed with Emmy nominees in from out of town – and the HP TouchSmart Gift Lounge – held backstage at the Nokia Theatre during Saturday Emmy rehearsals and the actual  Sunday night show. Just like in real estate, successful suites are all about location, location, location.

Over at the HP TouchSmart Lounge,  Emmy nominees and guests were playing the wildly popular video game Angry Birds on the HP TouchSmart PC (they even have a new laptop and tablet rolled into one And no, it’s not in the stores yet). For every star that played Angry Birds, HP donated money based on their scores. The final tally hit over $100,000 and it all went to the Academy of Television and Arts and Sciences Foundation. Needless to say, this charitable touch-n-give aspect drew in lots of stars, including a cleaned-up Charlie Sheen, clearly anxious to get back in the fold.

Movie stars see movies for free, right? Not exactly. Stars usually don’t even stay for their own premieres and 0ften see their films (and others)  incognito at theaters with real people, otherwise known as civilians. That’s why stars love getting their AMC Signature Pass card that gets them (and a guest) in for free to any AMC theatre anywhere in the country.

Akon slid his new AMC card into his tux pocket on Emmy night to keep it safe. Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez told us he uses his all the time. Even Entourage star Jerry Ferrera snagged one for himself and his girlfriend. If you don’t have an AMC card, you can still see free movies (and get free popcorn) by signing up for the AMC Stubs membership.

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Hailee Steinfeld: A kid in a candy store at Extra Luxury Lounge

By mattwalker | March 2, 2011 3:32 pm | Celebrity, Fashion, Featured, Gift Lounges, Hailee Steinfeld | Leave a comment


You certainly can’t blame a 14-year-old  for not enjoying the perks of overnight celebrity-hood. Especially since there are free clothes, makeup, gym memberships, a new Tivo box, and expensive watches, and cashmere involved.

That’s why True Grit Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld was like an adorable kid in a candy store at the Extra Luxury Lounge Oscar Suite  on Saturday (Feb. 27).  Hailee had some free time on Saturday since she wasn’t attending the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica.

So she popped into the suite at the Four Seasons and picked up an Invicta watch, Level 99‘s new wide leg slacks and jeans, hip new flavors of Trident Vitality gum, a gift certificate to Sports Club/LA, some New Era caps (favored by Justin Bieber) , a new smart Premiere Tivo box (that lets you steam and download from Netflix, Blockbuster, Pandora, YouTube and Amazon) cashmere from Magaschoni, Chambord liquer and vodka (for her Mom!), FlipOut sandals and a bag full of fabulous L’Oreal makeup, skin and hair care products including Infallible lipstick, Youth Code skincare, Eversleek Shampoo, and Studio Secrets easy to apply One Sweep eye shadow.

She also got an UPPAbaby high end stroller (picked by CSI Miami star Emily Procter for her new baby girl) and a YouStar2 video game that lets you insert yourself in your favorite movies.

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Oscars Schmoscars: Check out the Indie Spirits Elle Lounge

By mattwalker | February 27, 2011 1:29 pm | Celebrity, Featured, Gift Lounges, Independent Spirit Awards | Leave a comment

Ever wonder what it’s like to hang out — even briefly — with the stars at the Independent Spirit Awards? Well, here’s a taste of the backstage action at the exclusive Elle Lounge, where celebs came in from the cold (literally) to warm up, have a drink, munch some tasty nibbles and pick up giveaway goodies from Aveeno, BCBG Max AZRIA.

Check out all the fun with Mad Men star Jon Hamm, hugging his pal Jeremy Renner, actresses Amber Tamblyn, Zoe Saldana and many more. We also spotted famous film faces Anna Kendrick, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Lynch, Rosario Dawson, Vera Farmiga, Kate Walsh, Joel McHale, Aaron Eckhart and Jesse Eisenberg.

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‘American Idol’ judge Steven Tyler: Keep that bubbly away from me!

By mattwalker | February 24, 2011 12:55 pm | American Idol, Celebrity, Featured, Gift Lounges, Steven Tyler | 1 Comment

Steven Tyler is taking no chances. The sober American Idol judge requested that the Moreno champagne bar be covered with a tarp at Roger Neal’s Style Hollywood Oscar Suite during his visit earlier this week.

Tyler, who turns 63 in March, and his beautiful  brunette girlfriend Erin Bradym, 39, sipped Hint Water and Izzy sodas instead. Tyler spent 3 months in rehab last year when he slipped after 20 years of sobriety.

But the lack of bubbly certainly didn’t dampen the rock star’s enthusiasm. During a G.M. Collin Skincare Phyto Stem Cell facial, Steven shouted, “This is my ‘Oh My God’ moment! This is better than sex!”

Meanwhile, Erin picked out a whimsical Red Lips crystal bag by Timmy Woods because, “It looks just like Steven¹s lips.”

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Where will Gilles Marini sleep in New York?

By mattwalker | January 18, 2011 5:04 pm | Celebrity, Featured, Gift Lounges, Golden Globes, Oscar | Leave a comment

Two days before the Golden Globes, the annual HBO Luxury Globes Lounge at the Four Seasons was once again packed with A-listers who came for L’Oreal makeovers and left with goodies like Activision’s DJ Hero, Guitar Hero and Warriors of Rock games, Boiron homeopathic medicine, Magaschoni cashmere and Uppababy strollers.

Two of the hottest gifts at the Luxury Lounge were the two-night stays (plus four hours of car service) at The Surrey Hotel on the upper East Side and The James Hotel down in SoHo, New York. “Brothers and Sisters” French hunk Gilles Marini was speechless over his luxury hotel stay. I don’t know about you but I would kill to stay in the same hotel as Gilles. And “How I Met Your Mother” Jennifer Morrison was already planning her next Big Apple trip.

Also smile-making: everyone got free 1-year complimentary memberships to the Sports Club /LA, where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes regularly take Rev (spin) classes.

Next up was the adorable Hallmark Recordable Storybooks like “My Little Princess” and “Counting Kisses.” Mommies or Daddies can record themselves reading the book and then their kids can listen to their parents’ anytime they want. Interestingly, “Bachelorette” Ali Fedowsky (who was wearing a very loose fitting dress) and her fiancé Roberto Martinez were anxious to get these. You don’t think?

William Shatner – infamousk for his unique spoken word songs and reading Sarah Palin poetry on talk shows — picked up two storybooks. We’d so love to hear his storybook recording. Anyway, wW\e couldn’t help thinking what perfect gifts these books would be for Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz and Jane Krakowski, who showed off their baby bumps at the Globes Sunday night.

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Neil Patrick Harris sentenced to Netflix for life!

By mattwalker | January 18, 2011 4:25 pm | Celebrity, Celebrity News, Featured, Gift Lounges, Golden Globes | Leave a comment

Why do the stars who aren’t even nominated for aGolden Globe or an Oscars love the awards season? Because they all get invited to the Globe and Oscar Swag Suites, er, Celebrity Gifting Lounges, that are still popular ways for big and small brands to curry favor with celebrities.

One popular suite on Golden Globes weekend was The Access Hollywood 5th Annual Stuff You Must Lounge at the Sofitel Hotel in West Hollywood. Proceeds from this event go to the Lollipop Theater, an organization that brings movies to kids with life-threatening illnesses in hospital around the US and Best Buddies, dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

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