VIP Ventures

It’s not everyday that an actress of Jamie Lee Curtis’ caliber attends an event to greet fans in Greensboro. But an event is planned and I’ve got the scoop!

The renowned actress is set to appear on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 3102 Northline Ave., Greensboro.

She’ll be signing her 10th childrens’ picture book, “My Brave Year of Firsts” and greeting fans! How cool is that!?

So if you want to meet Curtis, definitely make plans to go. I wish I could be there but the date coincides with the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which I’m covering.

The Barnes and Noble store will be distributing tickets that will hold places in line for the autograph signing. Tickets may be picked up from the customer service desk at the store beginning at 9 a.m. on Sept. 6.

Curtis, 53, comes from a family of famed actors. Her parents were Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.

I saw her in the film “You Again” in 2010. She appeared alongside Sigourney Weaver, Betty White, Kristen Bell and Odette Yustman. It’s a good movie; quite funny, which is not surprising considering the cast. That’s quite an ensemble of actresses!

Curtis is also known for roles in many movies including “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” “Christmas with the Kranks,” “Freaky Friday,” “My Girl,” and “A Fish Called Wanda.”

Before becoming an established film actress, Curtis had roles on “Columbo,” “The Love Boat,” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

I sent this photograph to supermodel Doutzen Kroes. She signed it and returned it to me. Kroes, 27, is best known for modeling work with Victoria's Secret.

Doutzen Kroes is one of the most recognizable supermodels working today. And thanks to her kindness in granting my request, I now have her autograph!

 She’s achieved fame through her work as a Victoria’s Secret angel. She’s also worked for L’Oreal.

I mailed two stunning photos of Doutzen to The Netherlands, where she was born. After a few months, I received them back signed! It’s pretty cool to mail autograph requests around the world (it’s also expensive!). But receiving such a cool response makes it worthwhile.

Kroes, 27, is a woman who looks great it any type of clothing. I’ve seen her print ad commercials and she appears stunning in everything from denim pants and blouse to a bikini. She dazzles on red carpets and entertainment industry events, commanding attention without saying a word.

Her famous figure has been sculpted in wax as Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in Amsterdam.

She often appears in advertisements for Victoria’s Secret alongside fellow models Miranda Kerr and Alessandra Ambrosio.

Kroes has been featured on the covers of numerous magazines including Seventeen, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, W, Harper’s Bazaar and the crème de la crème of fashion magazines, Vogue.

Thanks to the folks at ClosetsForCauses, eBay and the beautiful Sophia Bush, I now have an incredibly gorgeous new wardrobe item for my celebrity memorabilia collection.

In my last blog entry, I discussed Bush donating numerous clothing items for charity. And I specifically wrote that out of all the pieces being sold, I liked the pink silk dress the most – the one she wore to a screening for The Cinema Society.

Well, the auction ended and I won the dress! I am still so excited! It’s an awesome piece to have and, as always, I love Sophia.

They’ll be shipping my dress shortly; it’s already paid for and has been assigned a tracking number for shipping.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my thoughts once I am able to see it in-person!

The Alisha Levine dress is pink, 100-percent silk and features a gold zipper. I thought the color was stunning and captured Sophia’s elegant charm.

The blue-and-white polka dot jean blazer worn by actress Sophia Bush in this photo is being auctioned off on eBay.

An actress famous for her work in the television drama series “One Tree Hill” has cleaned out her closet in support of a charity.

Fans now have a rare chance to own clothing items worn by Sophia Bush, 29, on “One Tree Hill” and to red carpet events around the world.

On the 75 eBay auctions consisting of wardrobe items worn by Bush, there is a week left to bid and starting prices range from around $10 to $50. The eBay auctions are being conducted by Closets for Causes. Visit the website to learn more at www.closetsforcauses.com.

A percentage of the proceeds from the auctions go to the women’s empowerment organization I Am That Girl.

OK, on to what items are the coolest. I’ve collected celebrity memorabilia for nearly a decade and it’s been a while since such exciting items worn by Bush have been offered to fans and collectors.

Sophia Bush is seen wearing a navy knit dress leaving an interview with Chelsea Handler. The 100-percent cotton dress is up for bids on eBay.

She is one of my favorite actresses, having appeared in the film “John Tucker Must Die” alongside Brittany Snow. Bush has beautiful fashion taste, as did her “One Tree Hill” character Brooke Davis.

Davis ran a clothing company called Clothes Over Bros on the CW television show. Drama constantly surrounded the business but Davis’ clothing designs became popular around the world, inspiring countless young women to dress like Brooke.

The items offered through the auctions are exquisite, meticulously detailed and remarkably maintained. Despite the fact that Bush wore some of these outfits several years ago, in photographs they still have the same magic as when she wore them.

Bidding began two days ago and many items already have bids that are quite expensive. It’s obvious that fans understand how neat and rare the opportunity is. I’ve already placed bids on numerous items, hoping of course to add a unique and fun piece to my collection.

This 100-percent silk dress worn by Sophia Bush at a Cinema Society red carpet event is being sold.

The piece that I’m most fond of is a pink 100-percent silk Alisha Levine dress worn by Bush to a Cinema Society screening. Having collected various pictures of the actress for years, I have numerous photos of her wearing the bright dress on the red carpet. This certainly adds to my excitement. The dress features a gold zipper on the back. If anyone outbids me on this item, they’re in big trouble!

Another interesting item is a navy knit dress worn by Bush in 2011 to an appearance on the television show “Chelsea Lately.” Bush’s dress features a batwing and cowled hem knit overlayer with a sewn-in slip and is 100-percent cotton.

 Also up for bids is a 100-percent silk blue shift dress worn by Bush as she was out and about.

The blue silk dress worn by actress Sophia Bush in this picture is being sold on eBay.

Yet another interesting wardrobe piece for sale is a silk teal dress worn by Bush on “One Tree Hill.” The gorgeous silk dress features a V neckline but the belt is missing. 

I first became a fan of Jana Kramer because of her role as Alex Dupre on the hit show “One Tree Hill,” which was filmed in Wilmington.

Since the show’s end in late 2011, 28-year-old Kramer is blazing a trail in country music and today, celebrates the release of her debut album.

It is available for purchase in stores and for download on iTunes. I listened to it over the weekend and enjoyed it.

She released her first debut single “Why Ya Wanna” in January and Kramer has been receiving positive reviews ever since. She’s establishing herself as a Nashville musician, appearing around town at various venues and attracting fans.

Kramer first appeared as Dupre on the seventh season of “One Tree Hill,” becoming the face of Brooke Davis’ successful clothing line “Clothes Over Bros.” Davis was played by actress Sophia Bush, known for her role in the film “John Tucker Must Die” alongside Brittany Snow.

Kramer’s recurring role on “One Tree Hill” attracted legions of fans, including myself. She soon became a series regular, appearing alongside the series’ main cast members in publicity photos. She left the show shortly before it’s end to pursue her music career.

Her new CD is also available for purchase on her official website: janakramer.com.

If you’re in Nashville, check out Kramer’s album release party on Thursday and take pictures to share with me! Details on all the fun can be found on her website.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

I’ve always enjoyed movies, television and the stars that make them famous. So embarking upon a trip to Los Angeles last week was a dream come true. 

Upon being invited to spend the afternoon at Phyllis Diller’s home and an evening at Anne Jeffreys’ home, I immediately knew that I would treasure the memories for a lifetime.

I was in sunny Los Angeles for seven days enjoying glorious southern California weather, traveling around the area exploring the sights and people that help make Hollywood famous.

I finally had the opportunity to meet Lauren Foulk, my pen pal of six years who lives in Burbank. We are close friends and have many mutual interests in music, pop culture, movies, television shows and celebrities. Having first come into contact with one another via Facebook while I was a freshman in college, I have found Lauren to be an interesting person to correspond with over the years. Before seeing each other face-to-face we exchanged letters and cards, emails, Facebook messages and also talked on the phone.

As soon as she arrived to pick me up at LAX airport, I knew that it would be a fun week. We jumped into the car and headed off for Hollywood Boulevard and for the next six days, nothing but fun times crossed my path.

I was so excited to see Lauren! Here we are in Pasadena after purchasing flowers for Anne Jeffreys.

Among areas we visited include Venice, Burbank, Malibu, Santa Monica, Cabazon, Palm Springs, Glendale, Brentwood and Bel Air.

We saw many exciting things including the famous Hollywood sign, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Warner Brothers Studios, Universal Studios Hollywood, Paramount Pictures, Rodeo Drive and Robertson Boulevard. We were event spotted on “The Tonight Show” giving a high-five to host Jay Leno.

Lauren and I visited the graves of many celebrities to pay our respects including those of Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Carroll O’Connor, Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Peter Falk, Truman Capote, Bette Davis, Estelle Getty, Liberace, Brittany Murphy and Don Knotts.

MEETING THE STARS

Among celebrities that I saw while in southern California are Mario Lopez, Maria Menounos, Glenn Close, Bethenny Frankel, Debbie Allen and latin singer Juanes.

After cooresponding with comedian Phyllis Diller over the years, her personal assistant invited me and Lauren to the entertainer’s mansion in Brentwood for an afternoon of laughter.

My friend Lauren Foulk and I pose with legendary comic Phyllis Diller in the Bob Hope Salon of her beautifully decorated Brentwood, Calif., home.

We walked through the halls of Phyllis’ home in amazement of a career spanning more than five decades. Her home sits behind a gate and is full of gorgeous antiques and mementos.

After talking with 94-year-old Phyllis for about a half hour, we adjourned to her Bob Hope Salon (complete with a beautiful portrait on an easel of the legendary entertainer) where Phyllis played the grand piano.

Phyllis made fun of my southern accent, leaning back to belt out her signature cackling laugh that I’m sure could’ve been heard a mile away. Lauren and I couldn’t stop ourselves from joining in the contagious laughter as Phyllis talked about her hilariously fictious husband Fang and what he had been up to these days.

Actress Anne Jeffreys, 89, invited me to her home on another evening while I was in town. She helped me in a recent auction fundraiser for the United Way of Gaston County by donating handbags she had owned. 

I found Ms. Anne to be a kind, loving, generous person. Lauren and I met her housekeeper at the door of her spacious home with a bouquet of two dozen pink roses.

Ms. Anne decended the staircase in the foyer and immediately greeted us. It was like visiting with an old friend because I had talked with her a couple of times on the telephone leading up to my visit.

We talked for about an hour concerning everything from her lengthy career in show business to our native North Carolina. Ms. Anne is from Goldsboro and enjoyed hearing about Gastonia.

Lauren and I left both homes with a wonderful sense of appreciation for Phyllis and Anne’s generosity. We enjoyed spending time with them very much.

As I reflect on my vacation, I’m very grateful for the numerous opportunities that came my way. Spending time with Lauren was totally awesome and sharing once-in-a-lifetime experiences will always be remembered.

Get ready for the most incredible, star-studded fundraiser Gaston County has ever seen.

When it comes to going the extra mile for the United Way of Gaston County, two famous actresses – Rachel McAdams and Anne Jeffreys – wrote the book.

On May 17, the United Way of Gaston County is hosting a special fundraiser at the Gaston Country Club in Gastonia to raise money for the United Way Women’s Leadership Council.

A silent auction featuring handbags owned by celebrities will be a big part of this special evening. A raffle for designer handbags will also be held.

Rachel McAdams, the fresh-faced actress famous for her roles in “The Notebook,” “Morning Glory,” “Mean Girls” and others mailed a bag overnight to Gastonia. It arrived on Wednesday.

McAdams donated a handbag to the auction that she personally used. The Elie Saab designer bag arrived in Gastonia accompanied by a photograph of the actress and a handwritten note describing where she carried it.

Saab is a famous designer who often clothes celebrities for high-profile events in Hollywood. The designer clothed McAdams in a stunning dress she wore to the 2010 Academy Awards. Other celebrities who have worn Elie Saab designs include Celine Dion, Catherine Zeta Jones, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Halle Berry.

Additional famous purse donors include Ellen Burstyn, Anne Jeffreys, Ariana Grande, Florence Henderson, Mary Wilson of “The Supremes,” Amanda Seyfried, Debbie Reynolds, Beth Moore and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.

McAdams sends her best to the bidders at the auction and wrote on a note that she hopes whomever purchases her bag in the silent auction will enjoy it as much as she has.

ANNE JEFFREYS HELPS OUT FUNDRAISER

Veteran actress Anne Jeffreys, who was among the first people to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has donated numerous handbags for the auction.

She also sent autographed pictures that will accompany the auction items and a personal check for the cause.

Jeffreys went the extra mile for the United Way of Gaston County, making two videos promoting the fundraising event.

Here’s a link to one of them: http://tinyurl.com/72j67zr

I hope that you are able to come to this incredible fundraiser and be part of the fun!

Tickets are $25 each in advance and $35 at the door, if spaces are still available.

For more information or to purchase tickets for this memorable event, call James Burgess at United Way of Gaston County at 704.864.4554, ext. 13.

On May 17, the United Way of Gaston County will be having a fundraiser at the Gaston Country Club in Gastonia to raise money for the United Way Women’s Leadership Council.

There will be a purse raffle. Tickets are available at the event.

Purses owned by celebrities will be sold in a silent auction at the event.

Famous donors include Ellen Burstyn, Anne Jeffreys, Ariana Grande, Florence Henderson, Mary Wilson of “The Supremes,” Amanda Seyfried, Debbie Reynolds, Beth Moore and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.

The handbag donated by Burstyn is quite stunning. Jeffreys donated six handbags, some of which are vintage and were used by her on various television shows over the years.

The handbags donated by Grande and Seyfried are more contemporary in style. Reynolds has donated a most unique purse with a mirror inside, which she has autographed.

Tickets are $25 each in advance and $35 at the door, if spaces are still available.

For more information or to purchase tickets for this memorable event, call James Burgess at United Way of Gaston County at 704.864.4554, ext. 13.