Thursday, December 12, 2024

Hollywood Awards Circuit Below the Line: GBK Gift Suite Gives Small Vendors, Entrepreneurs Chance to Shine with Celebs

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The Golden Globes are over, the Critics Choice Awards have passed,  and the Oscars are yet to come.  One of the stand out events was GBK Productions luxury lounge, which was held at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills.  GBK, founded by Gavin B. Keilly, is always the premiere lounge of any awards season —  so much so that Spike Lee stopped in and made sure to support Peace 4 Animals a world respected organization established in 2012 by esteemed animal advocate Katie Cleary.

What we love about GBK is that it brings in small vendors and entrepreneurs to mix with big names. You meet those most interesting people from around the country piloting their own businesses. On the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards, we ran into eventual Best Supporting Actress winner Regina King. At the Emmys’ GBK suite last fall, Regina bought 100 artfully designed backpacks from small Jacksonville, Florida company Blessed Design. We asked her how it all went. “I loved those people, and their designs. We gave all the backpacks away,” Regina said.

So celebrities can really help the products.  Chaz Dean WEN Hair and Body care was on hand with their own mini salon and previewing their new winter line.   To get in shape Fit-Farm spa/resort in Nashville, Tennessee had the VIP’s create their own personal fitness plan.  “Vice” director Adam McKay tried the Story Electric Bike, they give a bike to charity for every bike sold.  The Artisan Group founded by Valerie S. Guerrero, is always elegant and filled with lovely products from all over the country.  Linda Cardellini loved Yomo Studio Jewelry and perused Seraph design clothes and accessories, Wonderlash, Go Donut smartphone stand as well. Prospeck, a Canadian start up company, offered their Spektrum computer glasses which helps with eye strain.  Keidrich Sallati, as did all the other celebs, ‘test drove’ the Kahuna Chair which offers the coolest, soothing best 4D massage out there, as well as their new LED anti-aging mask.

And more: The Queen of Wakanda, Angela Bassett, just loved the popular Comfitude blankets and chatted with the President of the company, New Yorker Jimmy Steindecker.  Danny Huston confabbing about Italy with the Italian luxury resort of La Corte Dell’Astore, which looks just stunning, no wonder it is a go to destination for savvy travelers.  The lovely “Dumplin” star Danielle Macdonald was excited about going to the hot spot Turks & Caicos Sailrock resort.  Steven Cunningham’s handcrafted quality Warther Cutlery, Nicole Frank’s TWE Wardrobe Evolution for women, Snow Teeth Whitening, Total Life Changes skincare/teas/coffee/oils and delicious Heitz Cellars wines were all popular stops.  Anthony Anderson spent much time at the Knot Standard menswear room, stylish clothes for men. Jennifer Contini’s aka Jenakziti Painted Hearts, showed her off hip, pop fun art, which have long been a staple in Manhattan, Hamptons and more.

And everyone got a little tipsy trying JCB truffle or caviar flavored vodka. Their carafe is a knockout, too! The JCB folks made it a little hard to concentrate toward the end– just try some and you’ll see: Oscar-Emmy-Tony winner Viola Davis tested the product to see if she could get away with murder! (You don’t remember a thing!)

Tons of other celebs and VIPS always show that GBK’s suites are the ones that the A list never miss!

Leah Sydney
Leah Sydneyhttp://traffz.byethost10.com/
Leah Sydney writes from Los Angeles for Showbiz411.com. A seasoned journalist with a long history during the halcyon days of the NY Daily News, Leah is a member of the Critics Choice and Rotten Tomatoes.

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