Showing posts with label Exclusive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exclusive. Show all posts

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Dick Ebersol Lists $13 Mil Telluride Home (Exclusive)

Dick Ebersol Telluride - H 2011The former NBC Sports chief and wife Susan St. James purchased the ski resort getaway for $10.4 mil in 2004.

THR has learned that Dick Ebersol, who resigned from NBC in May, and his wife, Susan St. James, have put their Telluride house on the market for $13 million.

Located the tony enclave of Mountain Village, the 7-bedroom, log-and-stone house sits among pines and aspens on 1.7 acres with mountain-peak views. According to the listing, doors, flooring and cabinets are constructed of rustic reclaimed wood and "chandeliers and fireplaces handcrafted by some of the West's finest artisans."

According to San Miguel County assessor records, the Ebersols purchased the 12,962-square-foot residence in 2004 for $10.4 million.

Built in 2001, the house also includes 7 full baths and a home theater.

The sale comes more than six years after they suffered the death of their 14-year-old son, Teddy. The teen, along with his older brother and father, were among the passengers in a private plane that crashed at the Montrose Regional Airport in southwest Colorado in 2004.

In July, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld also listed their Telluride residence, an 11-bedroom, multi-building compound on 26-acres for $18.25 million.

The house's listing agent, TD Smith, would not comment on the identity of the owners.


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Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Eat Sheet: How Alain Ducasse Pulled Off the Other Princely Wedding of the Year (Exclusive)

When Prince Albert II married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock at a ceremony in Monaco earlier this month, they couldn't ask just anyone to cater the event, which drew VIP guests, including Karl Lagerfeld, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Roger Moore,  plus thousands of Monegasque citizens cheering on from afar.

So the Prince called on the King … of French cuisine, namely celebrity chef Alain Ducasse, to design his wedding menu. THR’s France correspondent Rebecca Leffler sat down with Ducasse at his Parisian stomping ground the hotel Plaza Athenée where he spilled the (local, organic and sustainable) beans on the royal dinner.

The Hollywood Reporter: How were you chosen out of all of the chefs in France and in Monaco to cook for the royal wedding?

Alain Ducasse: I saw the prince in Paris in February. We both happened to be in town, so we met. When he called me, I secretly hoped it was to talk about the wedding and sure enough, I sat down and he said, "Alain, I’d like to talk to you about my wedding…"

THR: How did you decide what to prepare for the occasion?

Ducasse: I thought about what we could do and what he liked. I said, "Let’s do something simple." He and Charlene wanted to share a part of themselves with their guests. so we decided to use sustainable, local fish and vegetables from their garden -- an extraction of tastes from the Mediterranean sea and land. Charlene likes healthy, sustainable cooking, and the prince is very attached to the protection of marine life and local products, so it was the perfect fit. We had some South African wine to start for Charlene, but other than the champagne and the dessert wine, everything was from the royal couple's garden and from local fishermen. The vegetables were picked that very morning and the fish was so fresh it finished cooking in the bouillon on each and every plate. The meal was 85 percent local fare. 

THR: How did you prepare for the main event?

Ducasse: I ate the same menu 10 times the week before the ceremony. I kept tasting it to see how I could make it better -- what other seasoning I could add or how I could adjust the temperatures or tastes.

THR: And did it pay off? Were the royal couple and their 500 guests happy?

Ducasse: Yes. The family was very happy. The evening was intangible -- it's impossible to describe the magic of the feeling in the room. There were several ingredients involved, but it was all about the magic of the moment. It was a cocktail of words, a rare moment, simple and sophisticated. The weather was perfect -- even the wind stopped blowing before the guests sat down for dinner.

THR: And luckily, the meal you prepared was very light, so was everyone able to get up and dance afterwards?

Ducasse: Oh yes. It was incredibly light. At around 3:30 in the morning, we served a buffet and, for the next three hours, everyone ate more. It was a magnificent buffet.

THR: This isn't the first time you’ve cooked for such high-profile guests. You designed the menu for this year's Cannes Film Festival opening night ceremony and the stars dine in your restaurants all over the world. Why do you think you're in such demand?

Ducasse: Because it's simple: Today, food needs to be healthy, local, sustainable and not filled with too much fat, salt or sugar. It should be slow-cooked and seasonal. And that's my vision.

THR: So you're saying that French cuisine can be healthy?

Ducasse: The image foreigners have of French cuisine is fattening and very fancy food. But it’s not true -- French food isn’t just rich. The word "healthy" doesn’t exist in French. We have many, many words, but not that one. To me, healthy means paying close attention to feeding people.


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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Justin Bieber: 'With Time Off, I'm Able to Think, Pray and Grow Up' (Exclusive)

Justin Bieber has seen more than his share of firsts in the last couple of years: he was the first artist to hit half a billion views on YouTube, the first -- and youngest -- performer to chart seven singles on the Billboard Hot 100, all from a debut album, and, most recently, the first male celebrity (who’s not a fashion designer) to release a woman’s perfume.

PHOTOS: Justin Bieber's Moustaches

And like all things Bieber, Someday is on track to be the biggest fragrance launch ever, with sales topping $30 million, and a portion of the proceeds earmarked for two charities of Bieber’s choosing -- Pencils of Promise, founded by Adam Braun (brother of Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Bieber tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought it would be successful because it’s a good smell, no matter what, but to be the number one fragrance? That’s amazing.” Indeed, according to Give Back Brands, which manufactured the scent, some of its partner retailers, which include Macy’s, Sephora and Lord & Taylor, are struggling to keep Someday in stock.

PHOTOS: Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Premiere

Equally incredible is how involved Bieber was in the production process of the fragrance. Give Back president Robert Hollander says he, for one, was thoroughly impressed: “Justin was incredibly hands-on. From the design of the bottle to the name, every decision that had to be made, he was involved in.”

And, of course, there was the scent itself. To come up with the “fruity gourmand” flavor, Bieber says he sampled other celebrity perfumes. “I tried Britney’s fragrance and a couple others, but I wanted to make something that was my own… I know what I like on a girl and I care more about what a female smells like than a man, so I didn’t really think it was right for me to do a cologne.” (Worth noting: he doesn't rule out a future men's scent.)

PHOTOS: Top 10 Paid Music Artists

Besides, adds Bieber, the purpose of Someday was to give back. “When I was on tour last summer, I had Make-A-Wish in most cities,” he says. “For so many people, their wish was to meet me, and when they did, they were so hopeful and that’s a great feeling. I just wanted to help as many people as I could.”

As for Pencils of Promise, Bieber takes great pride in mobilizing his fanbase to make even the smallest of donations, as the charity’s name encourages. “It’s about encouraging young people to help other young people,” he says. “I try to motivate my fans to make a difference as much as they can.”

VIDEO: Justin Bieber's Ad for His New Perfume 'Someday,' Plus Outtakes

The directive clearly worked on June 23, when Bieber introduced Someday at Macy’s Herald Square in New York to crowds that numbered in the hundreds. “I’m old enough to remember The Beatles in Shea Stadium and I got the same feeling that day,” says Give Back’s Hollander. “The noise was deafening.”

The team considered holding the launch in Times Square, but Hollander says they opted for a more intimate event “so that people could really get a chance to see Justin.” Still, Hollander assures, "There was an enormous amount of security."

VIDEO: Justin Bieber, Jimmy Fallon Make Parody Perfume Video

So when will fans see Bieber next? The 17-year-old is soon to start work on his second full-length studio album, the follow-up to 2010’s My World 2.0, but for now, Bieber is taking a breather (when he’s not crashing weddings with his girlfriend Selena Gomez). “I’ve been working so hard, I’m taking a month off,” he says. “It’s been great to just think and enjoy hanging out with my friends. I’m still growing up, and when you’re working every day, you don’t really get a chance to figure out who you are. So with the time off, I’m able to think, pray and just kind of grow up.”

And rest? “For sure," he says. "I’ve been sleeping in a lot.”


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Monday, July 25, 2011

The Eat Sheet: Chef Alain Ducasse's Favorite Restaurants in Paris (Exclusive)

Alain DucasseThe famed chef tells THR where to eat right now in the City of Lights.

In his new book I Love Paris, due out this fall, celebrity French chef Alain Ducasse shares his favorite 200 gourmet spots in the city. The almost 600-page book may be heavy, but Ducasse’s picks are light, singling out hidden treasures that offer the best produce, poisson (fish) and pastries the city has to offer.

While Ducasse is famed for his luxury gastronomic restaurant experiences and a 25-restaurant empire (including Alain Ducasse at Paris' Plaza Athenee, Benoit bistro New York and miX Las Vegas), most of the chef's favorite spots in Paris are simple, down-to-earth and often undiscovered gems for fellow foodies

"Paris is a very personal place. All of the shop owners and chefs are very different – there are no copies here, no trends," Ducasse says. "The diversity of Paris is unique. It’s like fashion shops – you don't necessarily need to dress yourself in Chanel, you can find nice clothes elsewhere. My favorite addresses are very different, often totally opposite. Paris isn't easy to understand." Voila, a sneak peek at some of Ducasse's favorite spots in the French capital:

La Cour Jardin This summer, Ducasse has invited Lawrence Aboucaya, the chef at one of his favorite Parisian spots Pousse-Pousse, to design a healthy vegan menu for the Ducasse-run restaurant in the Plaza Athenee’s outdoor courtyard. "Lawrence brings a feminine touch – she has more feeling, naturalness, a different interpretation of food than I do," Ducasse says of Aboucaya whose light menu options include an eggplant and almond soup, wild rice and spiced vegetables and a vegan strawberry-pistachio ice cream with raspberry flax crackers. The Aboucaya-inspired nourishing fare has been causing a fit frenzy among health-conscious Parisians and the jet-setters flocking to the Plaza. 25 avenue Montaigne, 8th arondissement

Voy Alimento With all of his world traveling, how does Ducasse stay in shape? He's a fan of the superfoods from Voy Alimento (pictured, below right), a small boutique and restaurant along Paris' Canal Saint Martin. "You can shop there, eat on the premises and leave armed with the day’s menu,” he says of the one-stop shop. Jean-François Hammerle and his friendly team serve up seasonal, creative fare infused with the superfoods sold at the shop. Start with a "Purple Power" drink with Peruvian purple corn then follow with the daily plate, a copious portion of an eclectic mix of vegan concoctions that change every day such as tofu with a nopal cactus sauce, sesame and raw cacao or avocado with spirulina, mango and acerola salad. The no frills find is a hit with nearby locals including French actress Vahina Giocante. 23 rue des Vinaigriers, 10th arrondissement
Frenchie Despite the more than three-month wait for a table, Gregory Marchand's two-year-old Frenchie (pictured, below left) manages to maintain its relaxed bistro feel. With just a few helpers in his tiny kitchen, Marchand (whose wife was once Ducasse's assistant in New York) uses his skillful gastronomic imagination to turn out seasonal fare that gives traditional French cuisine a modern, creative twist. Marchand kicked off the summer with a brand new Frenchie wine bar just across the street that is already packed every night with local fans and global gourmets. Guests can avoid the three-month wait thanks to the first come first serve policy in the chef's kitchen. "It's the Parisian cuisine that foreigners don't typically imagine,” Ducasse says of Marchand's creations, which include tomato salad with Basque cherries and white balsamic, a more daring roasted pig's head with beans and herbs and a memorable panna cotta. 5-6 rue du Nil, 2nd arrondissement

Citrus Etoile "My friend and French chef Gilles Epié went to work in California and brought back a beautiful Californian model from L.A. with him. Now they run Citrus Etoilé," Ducasse says of the Franco-American couple who manage the swank 8th arrondissement spot.  He adds: "Gilles learned a lot about lively and light cuisine during his 10 years in Hollywood and his wife Elizabeth is a friendly American woman with a bubbling personality who offers a warm welcome to every diner." Epié earned himself a Michelin star at age 22 and has been regaling the palates of gourmets on both sides of the Atlantic since including Sophia Loren, Bill Clinton, Sharon Stone and Richard Gere. Citrus Etoile's Franco-Californian menu features warm lobster tail with coconut milk and wasabi, foie gras tempura with a port wine and a John Dory fish with lotus root and "chlorophyll" sauce. Enjoy an exit as sweet as your welcome with chocolate-cherry-pistachio millefeuille or cocoa soufflé. 6 rue Arsene Houssaye, 8th arrondissement 

Le Marché Bio Raspail This market on Paris' chic Left Bank has become the weekly rendez-vous for organic gourmets. It may be the city’s most expensive organic produce, but that doesn’t stop health-conscious locals from waking up early on Sundays for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses and local goods. Juliette Binoche, Julie Delpy and Nathalie Baye are regulars and Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger stopped by for a more low-key early Sunday morning veggie spree after hitting up the Haute Couture shows during Paris fashion week. Ducasse loves the "English muffins, home baked with a smile" plus "roast suckling pig, very good farm cheeses and citrus salad." Don’t miss the Délices du Petit Prince blueberries from Saint Exupéry during their ephemeral summer run, the friendly and biodynamic Au Coin Bio Demeter stand featuring the region’s freshest fruits and vegetables or the Italian stand next door where a real-life couple brings aged parmesan, pecorino, homemade pastas, pestos and other delicacies. 116 Boulevard Raspail, 6th arrondissement


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Friday, July 22, 2011

Lionsgate CEO Selling L.A. Estate (Exclusive)

Jon Feltheimer is asking $14.75 million for the Holmby Hills property near the Los Angeles Country Club.

Lionsgate CEO and co-chairman Jon Feltheimer has listed a prime piece of Holmby Hills property for sale after scuttling plans to scrape the site and build a new home there, according to real estate sources.

The residence on South Mapleton Drive is in a coveted section of the tony street that backs up to the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Golf Course. Feltheimer is asking $14.75 million for the 1.3-acre property, which he purchased for $9.8 million in December 2009.

Though that price increase appears dramatic — particularly during a period of stasis for L.A.’s residential real estate market — the immediate neighborhood has grown in popularity. Less than 10 homes on the street back up to the golf course.

“It’s the sweet spot on the street; that’s why it commands these premium prices,” says Drew Fenton, a Hilton & Hyland real estate agent, who specializes in luxury properties. He had no knowledge of the Feltheimer listing.

Feltheimer’s property is three doors down from the 57,000 square-foot Spelling mansion, which is being purchased for $85 million. The house is also near the estate that Paramount Pictures CEO Brad Grey purchased for $18.5 million in mid-November.

The five-bedroom, 6,392-square-foot home that is situated on Feltheimer’s property will likely be razed once it changes hands. Real estate observers consider it a teardown. The property offers views of the golf course and is next door to another home that traded hands last year for roughly $13.6 million and was recently demolished.

Feltheimer, married and the father of four children, is attempting to unload the residence after deciding against the construction of a new manse on the site — a costly and lengthy endeavor, sources say. He is said to have never lived at the home, which was built in 1927.

Until the executive finds a new home, he is living at a high-rise residential tower on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood. Other residents there include Bruce Willis, Larry King and Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to moving into the tower, Feltheimer previously lived in a home in Beverly Hills.

A Lionsgate spokesman declined comment. David Offer of Prudential California Realty, who has the listing on Feltheimer’s property, declined to comment.
Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com
Twitter: @DanielNMiller


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