Media-Whore D'Oevres

"Barack Obama reaped a record-breaking $10 million in one last swing through Hollywood and Los Angeles fund-raising circles on Tuesday evening, at a series of events that drew a who’s who of industry figures and a performance by Barbra Streisand. Speaking before a crowd of some 800 people packed into an intimate ballroom at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Obama sought to reassure donors concerned as polls show him in a dead heat with John McCain ... Obama noted some of the nervousness among donors, and suggested that there was no shortage of advice coming his way from politically charged industry creative types. 'Whenever I come to L.A. I get a lot of suggestions of what we should be doing,' he said to some laughter. 'I get a lot of suggestions for TV ads. This is killer. This is the one that will put you over the top. The $2,500-per-person event was preceded by a $28,500-per-person steak dinner at the Greystone Estate for some 280 people, who sat in an inner courtyard of the historic Doheny mansion. Obama’s Southern California co-chairs finance Charles Rivkin and Nicole Avant spoke briefly, as did DreamWorks partner Jeffrey Katzenberg. Among those present were Leonardo DiCaprio, Jodie Foster, Tobey Maguire, Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Larry David, Jamie Lee Curtis, Barry Meyer, Chris Albrecht ... Ari Emanuel .. Peter Chernin, Darren Star, Bob Daly ... David Geffen and Steven Spielberg." (Variety)

"By the time I got home last night from the New Yorkers For Children Benefit at Cipirani 42nd Street, it had been announced that the Fed had a made an $85 billion dollar loan or something deal to save AIG from collapsing. That’s three major financial banks in about 24 hours .. was thinking, listening to all of this over our Cipriani dinners (Shrimp Salad, Osso Buco in a Corn Sauce) how as things unfolding as they are in the world around us, all of the children (and the little animals) will be more vulnerable to the harsh realities of the adults." (NYSocialDiary)

"Few Hollywood folks have picked as many showbiz fights as Spike Lee .. More recently, Spike started an international battle with Clint Eastwood. At a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, Lee accused him of omitting black soldiers from his two recent movies about Iwo Jima, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. Eastwood explained that he had left the black soldiers out because none had actually raised the flag, adding that 'a guy like that should shut his face.' Lee shot back, saying Eastwood sounded like 'an angry old man,' and that 'the man is not my father and we’re not on a plantation either.' .. Lee tells The New Yorker that he ended the feud with Eastwood at a Lakers game (presumably during the recent basketball season's playoffs). He said he saw Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, and Eddie Murphy sitting together, so he went up to Spielberg and said, ‘Steven, it’s over with Clint Eastwood.’ Steven laughed and said, ‘I’ll call Clint and tell him in the morning.’ I said, ‘It’s over.’ He said, ‘Good.’ ” (DeadlineHollywooddaily)

"... (A) party celebrating the gummy candy's new 'A Friend You Can Eat' ad campaign at the scrumptious Dylan's Candy Bar. From there it was a 'quickie' to schmooze with Bijou Philips and Danny Masterson at High Bar for the launch of DOW XLA, a new stretchy denim material." (Papermag)

"The trend of artists pulling out their most lauded albums to be performed in their entirety was perpetuated on Friday when, yet again, GZA the Genius revived 1995’s Liquid Swords to a packed house at Irving Plaza .. Though Liquid Swords has a number of Wu member guest spots, only a couple showed up, but those were easily the highlights. The most notable was a spastic RZA appearance on '4th Chamber,' perhaps the first appearance of Bob Digi with the Wu since last year’s fracas over 8 Diagrams. Masta Killa crept in for 'Duel of the Iron Mic,' and people completely lost it when Raekwon stopped by for a gonzo 'Incarcerated Scarfaces.'" (UpTheAntics)

"On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the post-work crowd on 42nd Street was treated to a procession of coquettish cocktail dresses and floor-sweeping evening gowns worn by Manhattan's uptown set as they exited their chauffeured cars--or pedicabs as we saw in the case of one unfortunate couple--into Cipriani's for the annual New Yorkers for Children gala. While some opted for the eye-catching tiered gowns like Julie Macklowe, portfolio manager for Sigma Capital Management and wife of William Macklowe, president Macklowe Properties, who arrived in a voluminous blue dress. Others, like Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, went for the simple sparkly black mini, T-shirt and blazer." (Observer)