Nikki Haskell’s Celebrity Scene: Birthdays, Charities, and the Two Cities I Love

Los Angeles in October is such a wonderful place to be. The weather cannot be beat. I flew back to New York earlier in the month for a birthday party that Joan Collins (http://www NULL.joancollins NULL.net/) was throwing for her darling husband, Percy Gibson. The dinner party of 12 wa  s held in a private dinning room at The Peninsula Hotel (http://www NULL.peninsula NULL.com/new_york/en/default NULL.aspx). The table was beautifully lined with candles and white roses filled square vases. Joan looked spectacular, wearing a black lace cocktail dress. The guests dined on foie gras, Alaskan Halibut, and champagne. Everyone was buzzing about the upcoming election. One of the guests did her hilarious impersonation of Sarah Palin (http://www NULL.nbc NULL.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/gov-palin-cold-open/773761/) and I just know the vice presidential nominee is going to be one of the most seen costumes for Halloween this year.

I absolutely love Halloween. I usually go as a sexy blond showgirl, because blondes really do have more fun, but this year I will be a very sexy Marie Antoinette with the most gigantic white wig you’ve ever seen. Lucky for me I dared to venture into a trashy lingerie store and walked out with such a fabulous costume. Let them eat cake!

I’ve found myself in a whirlwind of charitable events for the next few weeks flying back and forth between Los Angeles and New York. In New York my good friend Denise Rich is hosting Gabrielle’s Gala on October 22, in memory of her daughter Gabrielle Rich Aouad to benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research (http://www NULL.gabriellesangels NULL.org/). Star Jones, Alan Cumming and Denise Richards will be presenters, and the evening will raise funds to research leukemia, lymphoma and other cancer-related diseases.

Shortly thereafter, I am back to Los Angeles for Barbara Davis’ Carousel of Hope Ball for Children with Diabetes hosted by Jay Leno (http://www NULL.nbc NULL.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/)with honorees Paulette and Denzel Washington, and musical guests – those adorable Jonas Brothers and Josh Groban. All proceeds go to the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes (http://www NULL.barbaradaviscenter NULL.org/), which has helped more than 5,000 children and young adults receive specialized care. I am going to wear the most beautiful red gown by a designer named Zuhair Murad (http://www NULL.zuhairmurad NULL.com NULL.lb/). He also made Ivana Trump (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Ivana_Trump)‘s spectacular wedding dress this past spring.

Rounding out my first column for SingleMindedWomen (http://www NULL.singlemindedwomen NULL.com), I must say that lunch at The Polo  Lounge recently was quite the scene. Me and my dear friends Joan Collins, Jolene Schlatter, and Barbara Davis are always at The Beverly Hills Hotel (http://www NULL.thebeverlyhillshotel NULL.com), but this lunch we were sandwiched between Tom Ford, Tom Cruise and Diddy, and Eva Longoria and Victoria Beckham on the other side. I wonder what they are talking about or what gossip is on their minds! When we got up to leave everyone was very friendly as Joan knows them all. We were off to Cafferoma (http://www NULL.cafferoma NULL.com) and who did I run into but regular Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his cronies. What an afternoon!

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Nikki Haskell is a diet advisor, socialite, and internationally recognized hostess.