ARE WE IN HELLO KITTY HEAVEN??

First name, Hello, last name, Kitty is 35 years old!!! In commemoration, SANRIO is doing it big with a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty!!  The exhibition is cleverly named, "Three Apples" - a nod to Hello Kitty's weight {as listed in her official bio}! How cute is this?!?  SANRIO partnered with over 80 acclaimed artists who were invited to interpret their creative vision of Hello Kitty in unique, original works that will be on display and for sale!! OMG!

This is a landmark event - the first that SANRIO has ever produced for Hello Kitty fans in North America! The entire exhibition {which officially opened today} will go from October 23rd to November 15th in Culver City, California {~aka~ LA}, is free of charge and will appeal to HK fans of all ages!!

If you aren't based in LA or at least bi-coastal, I suggest you hurry up & pull together a vacation, business trip or something immediately, and get here to see this awesome "Pop-Culture-Meets-Art" masterpiece!  I somehow missed the memo on the star-studded opening night event last night, and I am just too sick about it!  Looks like Paris Hilton and my fellow Taurean & HK lover Kimora Lee Simmons {with the adorable Ming & Aoki} were there.  I'm sure it was a spectacular evening and even more sure that the the gift bags were delicious! {I'll have to do some research to see what was in the bags}!  Suddenly, my weekend plans have changed...I'm going to HK Candyland - I'm so obsessed! I'll be there in my treasured Pinkhead by Tarina Tarantino HK necklace!!


LTLY,


Roni♥



{ Photos via:  The Food Librarian, Just Jenn , Flavorwire and Nitrolicious ! }

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

TRR PREDICTS:

The next big fashion obsession will be all about Dorothy' s Ruby Slippers!

Ruby slippers were in abundance at last night's Warner Brothers and FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) hosted celebration of The Wizard of Oz's 70th Anniversary along with the opening of The Ruby Slipper Collection / Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum & Galleries in LA.

The enchanting fashion-meets-art affair brought some of Hollywood's finest to FIDM in Downtown LA, where the luminous yellow carpet served as our very own "Yellow Brick Road"! There were Dorothy's galore (including a very tall Drag version complete with a little stuffed "Toto" peeking out of her basket), delicious treats, and a colorful new 'Wizard of Oz' inspired Tarina Tarantino jewelry collection. (I was totally lusting over her "Butterfly Necklace", which model Holly Owens circulated the party in- see photo). Nick Verreos, former Project Runway contestant, was wearing a glistening ruby colored heart pin, also by TT, attached to his baby blue and white gingham button-down shirt. Add to that, an historic art exhibit for the salivating shoe-nista in us all! Purely fabulous.

Spotted out were Debi Mazar from Entourage, designers Kevan Hall and Tarina Tarantino, Comedian George Lopez, Kristin Cavallari from the O.C. (and now from The Hills), TV host Amanda Geragos (who was very sweet), among many others. Also spotted were the most ADORABLE items to nibble on, including these little "Mashed Potato Martinis"! Imagine that? Mashed potatoes served in a martini glass, with any topping you could ever want on a potato to choose from. (I'm SO doing that!)

The Ruby Slipper collection featured a collection of Dorothy's "No-place-like-home" slippers (as they would look today), re-interpreted through the visions of 19 celebrated fashion designers including Oscar De La Renta, Betsey Johnson, Moschino and more! Bellisima! Each special pair were shown in a dazzling installation that included the designer's drawing of the shoe hanging from the wall and the actual live pair suspended from the ceiling in a clear lucite bubble with sparkling crystals inside adding shine and sizzle. Some of my stunning favourites were by Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., Jimmy Choo and Roger Vivier!

The Inspirations of Fine Art Collection exhibited spectacular paintings and mixed-media art - all inspired by Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, Toto, Auntie Em, Glenda, and the Wicked Witch of the West! The exhibit will be shown at FIDM for 10 days, then tour the country for the rest of the year, culminating at The Wizard of Oz gala in New York this fall.

LTLY,

Roni♥

DID YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK?

Saw this deeply moving and thought-provoking one-man-show at The Beverly Hills Playhouse this weekend. "Did You Do Your Homework?" written by & starring, Aaron Braxton. Directed by Kathleen Rubin.

"DYDYH?" paints a vivid & jarring portrait of the modern day, urban educational landscape as seen through the eyes of a substitute teacher in Los Angeles. Every one of us needs to see this. It's an eye-opener, and we look forward to seeing this important piece translated to Broadway, television and film!!

If and when in LA, you must see it.

Where:

The Beverly Hills Playhouse Theater

254 S. Robertson Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA. 90211

310-358-9936

$15 General Admission $10 Student

When:

Originally a two-week run starting in January 2009, this show has been extended over 5 times and will now run through the end of May!

LTLY,

Roni♥

FRENCH ARTISTS IN LA

On Saturday, April 4th, DECALAGE DELUXE in association with Ultimate Life Living and The French Consulate, will host the opening reception for this special exhibit that will celebrate french artists in Los Angeles! RSVP here !

LTLY,

Roni

MURAKAMI @ MOCA

The atmosphere was absolutely electric in Little Tokyo this weekend, where MOCA hosted the launch of Takashi Murakami's magnificent multimedia installation for members and friends on Saturday evening. Louis Vuitton followed suit on Sunday night, opening for the 'red carpet set', complete with a performance featuring Kanye West.

The exhibit of over 90 works attracted the bold and the beautiful, the young and old alike. Downtown gypsy-bohemian types mingled with the artsy crowd, who mixed with Hollywood Hipsters and the very Harajuku-inspired (one brave soul showed up in a wedding dress and another had a "baby" doll in a chest-carrier ensemble going on). They were definitely representing Tokyo style!

The beauty of Murakami's vision was genius, overwhelming, and complex. It was all so pretty & colorful in a very 'Candyland meets Willy Wonka' way. After navigating through two cheerfully bright Murakami-print wallpapered rooms, I officially decided that this exhibit made me happy! So happy and even childlike. At times I even wanted to break out and start skipping (although my extra four inches of height talked me out of it)! Uniquely, a very cool Louis Vuitton boutique was also part of the installation, with exclusive pieces (from the Louis Vuitton/Murakami collaboration) and one very cool Mr. Keanu Reeves in the house checking them out. Nice touch. I will never look at my Murakami Speedy Bag quite the same again - it will be cherished as a work of art from here on out!

The Takashi Murakami retrospective will remain in Los Angeles through February 11, 2008, but you need to get over there to see it quick & fast! You can not miss this one. You will be inspired.