Partyhopper

The Sundance Awards kicked off with—what else?—a short film. The star of it was a soul-patch-sporting puppet playing the part of an independent film director who made boasts like, "My first film cost $4,000—and I shot it all on my cellphone!" But what all of the films vying for awards lacked in big budgets, their directors more than made up for with heartfelt acceptance speeches. In other words, I didn't hear the kinds of shout-outs commonly voiced at Hollywood awards shows: to publicists, to lawyers, to God—that kind of thing.

Instead, James C. Strause, the writer-director of the Iraq-themed Grace Is Gone, which stars John Cusack, thanked Cat Power for donating a cool song to his movie's soundtrack. And Jess Weixler, who won a special jury prize for acting in the teen-horror-flick-with-a-twist Teeth, praised the JetBlue stewardess who gave her the good news en route to Park City: "I screamed right in her face," Jess recalled.

Christopher Zalla and Gloria Reuben
Photos by Mark A. Neston

Speaking of screaming, I'm still a little deaf from sitting directly in front of Padre Nuestro writer-director Christopher Zalla; his executive producer, Gloria Reuben; and their entourage when their film was announced as the U.S. grand-jury prize winner. They all shouted out loud with delight. Despite the temporary hearing loss, it was a very sweet moment to behold.

The festivalgoers unwind

Once the speeches ended, it was party time: The plastic folding chairs were quickly removed, and in their place came comfy white couches, sushi stations and bars offering "fire-tinis" that actually smoked and bubbled (it was the first time I was ever afraid of a cocktail). "This party always reminds me of a high-school prom," I said to my friend Dawn Hudson, a Sundance jury member who is also involved with the L.A. Film Festival (one of my other favorite film fests). "My prom wasn't nearly this nice," Dawn replied.

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Everyone at In Style’s portrait studio gave a royal welcome to the Queen today. Latifah, that is. The star of Nelson George’s Life Support, the festival’s closing-night film—stylishly dressed from head to toe in all white and accessorized with a pair of drumsticks, not to mention a sizable entourage—swung by to pose for our super-cool Sundance photographer Nino Munoz and to chat with my co-worker Robin Sayers, who has been interviewing A-listers all week long. In Style photo editor Nicole Hyatt rounded up the gang for this commemorative group photo (that’s Nicole kneeling on the far right with her arm around Robin).

Photo by Nino Munoz

"I didn’t know you played drums," I said to Latifah. “I’m just learning. It’s easy if you’ve got rhythm,” she told me. And as a longtime fan of her rap records (I have the dusty vinyl at home to prove it), I know that she’s got rhythm to spare. Aside from showing off her newfound drumming skills, Latifah also gave us a brief impromptu performance, displaying her powerful pipes as she sang aloud to Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man,” courtesy of our in-studio DJ (a.k.a. Nicole’s iPod).

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From In Style's Angela Salazar and Marsha McGregor in Los Angeles: Jessica Alba loves her Rickard Shah shoes—so much, in fact, that the label renamed its classic peep-toe style the Jessica after her.

Jessica Alba

"It's probably because I wore it to death, but it's very flattering," the starlet said with a laugh at the launch of Rickard Shah's limited-edition Icon Collection at the hip Los Angeles boutique Iconology the other night. The event brought out other stylish young stars, such as Eva Longoria, Kate Mara and Milla Jovovich. "You know, we all love fashion, so it's nice to actually have a part in the evolution of a line, especially shoes," Longoria said as she made her way over to hug her pal Alba.

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Gwyneth Paltrow is the most glamorous sight I’ve seen since arriving at Sundance. Since I forgot to pack my camera, picture this: lustrous blond locks, radiant complexion, a simply chic black sweater dress with matching leggings and suede boots. In a word, gorgeous. But something was slightly wrong with this picture, as it turned out.

In Style’s Sundance studio was a magnet for stars like Paltrow

“You don’t want to touch my hands,” Gwyneth told me. “There’s stuff all over them.” The “stuff” was residue from tortilla chips—the Oscar-winning actress had just indulged in a little post-photo shoot snack at In Style’s portrait studio. But crumbs or no crumbs, I can think of, oh, about a million people who would love to touch her hands. I’ve always thought of Gwyneth as being so perfect that she almost seemed inaccessible, so I adore her even more after her tortilla-chip confession. This is a woman who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.

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From In Style's Ali Forman in Park City: On my last night at Sundance, I decided to skip the screening of Hounddog (the Robin Wright Penn and Dakota Fanning film that's been creating such a stir because of its controversial rape scene). I opted instead for dinner at the Asian-inspired restaurant Washo with Jeff Golenberg and Allan Grifka from the Collective Management Firm and Alana Kleiman, a casting director for 20th Century Fox.

The scenery

The four of us enjoyed a delicious meal of tuna tartare, pad Thai, filet mignon with lo mein noodles and sake as we talked about the Oscar nominations that were to be announced the following morning. Golenberg was the only one of us who had a real reason to get up early for them, since he was eager to find out if his client Forest Whitaker had been nominated for The Last King of Scotland. I told him to stay asleep because it would be the biggest surprise if Forest—who had just won a Golden Globe for his incredible performance in that film—didn’t get nominated for an Oscar. (And of course, as we now know, he was.)

At any rate, after dinner our first stop was the ICM party. It had started at 9:00 p.m. and we didn’t arrive until after 11:30, but still hanging out in the VIP area was Michael Angarano, one of the stars of the much-talked-about film Snow Angel. As we walked up to the  VIP entrance,  a man near the back motioned that we were clear to come in. Unbeknownst to us, it was Michael's father! (For some reason, the security guard thought Dad was in charge and let him pick who was "in" and who was "out." Fortunately, Dad liked us!)

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From In Style's Ali Forman in Park City: The Gersh Agency party was a chic event at the Riverhorse Cafe (a Park City staple). Cocktails flowed, appetizers were plentiful and the vibe was ultra-relaxed. Catherine Keener, in town to promote the disturbing An American Crime, was there with her whole family! I ended up getting into a fun conversation with her brother—who was delightful—about dogs (we share a mutual infatuation with ours).

Victor Rasuk and Ali

Elsewhere, the ever-so-cool Sam Rockwell (here for the film Joshua) strolled through the crowd getting his own drinks and taking care of everyone around him as  funny girl Anna Faris, always a Sundance favorite, made someone laugh over in a corner. Looking around, I realized that a lot of the young new faces that people here are buzzing about were in the room: the stunning Olivia Thirlby from Snow Angels, Jess Weixler, star of the controversial film Teeth and Victor Rasuk (already an indie favorite), who was at Sundance with his film Adrift in Manhattan.

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From In Style's Ali Forman in Park City: Utah is not exactly known as a party state, but during the Sundance Film Festival ... well, to say that changes would be an understatement. In fact, the party—or at least the schmoozing—starts on the plane ride there!

Vanished were my visions of catching up on some much-needed post-Golden Globes sleep as I flew toward the quaint ski town of Park City last Thursday night. There had to have been at least 30 industry types I know on my flight (including Leslie Siebert from Gersh and the Weinstein Company's Michael Cole), and we all gabbed about which films we wanted to see, what we had tickets for and what would be the hot party each night. (The films with early buzz included Rocket Science; Interview, with Sienna Miller; Broken English; Snow Angel; Waitress, with Keri Russell; and The Nines, with Ryan Reynolds.)

Ali and Nathan Fillion at the Entertainment Weekly party

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you're probably aware that every year at this time, Park City is invaded by filmmakers, actors, agents, producers, studio execs and the press—as well as by a fair number of wanna-bes in those same categories. All of them descend on the town to hawk their films (or their clients), buy one another's wares, garner attention and make deals. The festival has also become a mecca for various firms—from sunglass makers to cell-phone companies—wanting to get their products into the hands of stars and so-called tastemakers.

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Since today is the one-week anniversary of the Golden Globes—and since I needed to spend the weekend packing for Sundance rather than partying—I decided to check in with some of In Style's reporters to find out about the highlights of all the other after-parties.

OK, so I failed to live up to my rep as a party-hopper on that night. But in my own defense, it did seem like the In Style / Warner Bros. bash was the only real game in town. So many of In Style's guests were sporting a shiny new accessory: a trophy from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. And did I mention that Jack Nicholson was one of the first to arrive? That Jack is just so cool—he's one of the only stars I know who can get away with the sunglasses-at-night look.

Here's the scoop:

RHONDA RICHFORD AT THE PARAMOUNT PARTY: "She may not have been up for an award this year, but Hilary Swank was a winner in my book. I've always heard about how down-to-earth she is. And after meeting her, I have to agree! In between bites of spicy mac-and-cheese, Hilary admitted to needing a lot of carbs to get her through the evening. I also got to catch up with McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey, after meeting him last year at an In Style dinner. Suffice it to say, this was a good night!"

JENNIFER MUIRHEAD ON THE FOX/SEARCHLIGHT SOIREE: "I loved the fact that Kim Raver left and came back twice so she could hang out all night with 24 co-stars Kiefer Sutherland, Marisol Nichols and others, who planted themselves in a huddle on the outdoor patio and stayed until closing time. It's so nice that they all seem to be great friends! Another highlight? Winner Forest Whitaker was still beaming from his win when he arrived; almost everyone at the party swarmed him with congratulatory greetings, including Kerry Washington, Chris Rock and Aaron Eckhart. And watching Luenell (the woman who plays the prostitute in Borat) chat with Rock was priceless: Rock is a master of the big-eyed, shocked facial expression!

ROCHELLE ROSE ON HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S CELEBRATION: "It's fabulous to see fellow Brit Sienna Miller lighting up every room she walks into. She told me the highlight of her evening was 'seeing all the Brits doing so well,' and I thoroughly concur. I knew as soon as I saw DJ Pesce there would be dancing. Rosario Dawson is a girl who knows how to have a good time; she and ex-L.A. Laker Rick Fox seemed to be the last people on the dance floor when the music stopped playing."

VICTORIA NAMKUNG ON THE E!/EMA BENEFIT: The highlight of the night was when Sacha Baron Cohen swooped in with his Golden Globe and fiancée Isla Fisher, who was beaming with pride. Normally the crowds at these sorts of things are fairly jaded, but people literally jumped out of their seats. Everyone was just trying to shake his hand or snap a photo with their cell phone. It was so hectic that I think he had to leave a few moments later. It was like he was the biggest star in the world.

I didn't have a reporter inside the NBC/FOCUS FEATURES/UNIVERSAL PARTY SPONSORED BY CARTIER, but fortunately fabulous actress Melora Hardin from The Office e-mailed me the following report: "It was just beautiful this year: A fully tented rooftop party decorated with swags of material and a raised center stage surrounded by red, stuffed, suede benches displaying INCREDIBLE Cartier jewels previously owned by royalty. I dined on sushi—which was being made fresh—and delicious oysters on the half shell (one of my favorites)! It was a party in the round, with tables set all around large flat-screen TVs every seven feet apart, so everyone was sure to catch all the speeches. I listened intently, jotting down a few tasty morsels. Loved when Meryl Streep said, "It's amazing how much you can get when you clearly, calmly and authoritatively demand it!" Also, loved Forest Whitaker thanking his ancestors for letting him ride on their shoulders and "whispering in his ear."

Melora was the true party-hopper on Globes night. In her e-mail, she adds: "Made a quick stop at the Weinstein party, which was nice mostly because I bumped into Christian Slater on the red carpet, who I hadn't seen in umpteen years. Didn't stay very long because it was freezing and I didn't have a proper down comforter stuffed into my tiny Swarovski handbag. When will an Eddie Bauer camping backpack become chic enough to carry with a gown?! If this cold weather persists, I may be the forerunner of that fad!"

Another celebrity tidbit comes courtesy of actress Rose McGowan, who cites this moment as the highlight of her night: "Lecturing the Olsen twins on the evils of smoking and having them look at me like I was the lamest girl on earth."

-- James Patrick Herman

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m just now getting around to writing thank-you notes to the guests who joined my dinner table at In Style's Golden Globes viewing party—including Molly Sims, Simon Baker and Joy Bryant—and suddenly I’m not feeling very witty or clever. (Even after three cups of coffee and a Diet Red Bull, which usually does the trick.)

Perhaps that’s because these stars all proved to be as sharp as they were stylish. Some cynical observers of Hollywood might imagine that celebrities want to talk only about showbiz (or just talk about themselves), but that notion couldn’t have been further from the truth with my new acquaintances, who are managed by Untitled Entertainment.

Molly, for instance, had Broadway theater on her mind: She was telling me about recently seeing the acclaimed play The Vertical Hour, and she raved about Bill Nighy’s performance. Minutes later, the British actor won a Globe for the BBC miniseries Gideon's Daughter, and Molly clapped and cheered.

Aussie Simon, who managed to predict nearly every single one of the night's winners, spent a commercial break giving me a geography lesson about boho-chic Byron Bay in Australia (one of my favorite places to go surfing) and threw in a brief history as well. And let’s just say that Joy, who was rocking an edgy black Fendi number, has a serious passion for fashion—I could’ve talked with her about clothes and designers all night long.

As a final example to illustrate my point: When I brought up the second film about the making of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood that came out last year and asked nearby Rose McGowan which movie she preferred, her response was: “Actually, I prefer his books.” Needless to say, there was no talk of hot scripts among my tablemates.

While I’m on the subject of giving thanks, I want to give shout-outs to the tireless staff of In Style’s L.A. office, especially Cyd Wilson and Ali Forman—they had the tricky task of orchestrating everything from the seating arrangements to, well, you name it—and bureau chief Glynis Costin, who kindly joined me as a greeter when our after-party kicked into high-gear. While I welcomed entourage-less Penélope Cruz and thanked America Ferrera (clutching her Globe to her chest, she still had that endearingly awestruck look about her) for her touching acceptance speech, Glynis ran off to fetch a drink from the bar for her pal Steven Spielberg.

As you can tell, the staff of In Style goes to great lengths to ensure that everyone has a good time at our bashes. Kudos also to interior designer Thomas Ford, who created a breathtakingly gorgeous room for us to work. And hats off to co-workers Karen Levy, Marsha McGregor, Angela Salazar and Kelly Austin for having the courage (and the compassion) to deal with the scene—yes, it was quite a scene—at the door: The inevitable result of any L.A. event involving A-listers, the fans who love them and the biggest VIP of all, the fire marshall.

-- James Patrick Herman

Having a prime spot on the red carpet at the Golden Globes—which features a steady stream of Hollywood’s biggest stars, all in up-close-and-personal proximity (and in natural light, no less!)—would be like a dream to most people I know. The truth, as crazy as this may sound, is that it’s actually a lot of hard work. Honest! An interviewer like, say, Ryan Seacrest has it a bit easier, since celebrities are more inclined to stop and talk when there’s a TV camera pointed at their heads. But if you’re armed with only charm and a digital tape recorder? Well, then, good luck to you.

Katherine Heigl on the Globes red carpet
Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

Fortunately In Style contributor Brantley Bardin, whom I’ve hired to cover the red carpets of various awards shows over the past seven years, has what’s known as the gift of gab. His interview transcripts consistently make me fall off my chair with laughter. Sadly, I can’t always print the best sound bites—let’s just say that stars tend to open up when talking to Brantley.

Like Katherine Heigl, for instance, who was so relieved to spot him on the carpet that she confessed, “Now that I’m standing here with you, I’m gonna fix my boobs.” Is that trust or what? Salma Hayek felt the same way. When Brantley joked to her that standing on an elevated platform while conducting his Q&As made him feel like a guy who looks down women’s dresses all day, Ugly Betty’s producer smiled up sweetly and said: “It’s OK. I’m sure we’re safe with you—and our secrets are safe with you, too!”

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It may have been freezing outside in L.A. last night, but In Style’s Golden Globes party was smokin’ hot! For instance? Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake were reunited (and it feels so good ... ) in the VIP area, where they clinked glasses, smiled sweetly at each other and shared a brief chat.

Rose McGowan and James
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The truth is, there wasn’t a VIP room, per se—that’s because the whole party felt like one big VIP room. Sean “Diddy” Combs was one of the first to arrive—need I say more? I welcomed him at the door and said, “Thanks for coming, Sean! Now the party has officially begun!” Then Sheryl Crow sashayed in with her date, Dave Tomberlin—Sheryl was partying like a true rock star, and I love this gal for it! They were followed by (in no particular order) Penélope Cruz, Forest Whitaker, Heidi Klum and Seal, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Sharon Stone, America Ferrera, Leonard DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg,  Mary J. Blige, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, and Kathryn Heigl and Sandra Oh, along with their Grey’s Anatomy co-stars: Doctors McDreamy and McSteamy. Like I said, what with all of these high-wattage stars in such close proximity, it was feeling pretty McHot in here.

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Since the actors on Heroes play everyday people—a cop, a stripper, a cheerleader, etc.—who have been given  supernatural powers, they don’t tend to sport the most fabulous wardrobes on the show. But they really turned it out for In Style’s cocktail party at L.A.’s Sunset Tower Hotel on Saturday.

Tawny Cypress, James and Hayden Panettiere
Photo by Gail Horwood

All eyes were on striking Ali Larter when she made her glam entrance and worked the room. Greg Grunberg, who is always seen in a police uniform on TV, looked dashing in a sharp suit and tie. He told me that the members of the close-knit cast love to party together, since they don’t get to share much on-camera time. In fact, Greg is hosting a bash at his house on Saturday that we’ll be covering for an upcoming issue of the magazine. “I’m cooking brisket!” Greg said. (What, no hero sandwiches?) Greg is quite the Top Chef, as it turns out. “He makes me breakfast every morning!” his wife, Elizabeth, told me.

Later, I introduced myself to Golden Globes nominee Masi Osaka (“I can’t believe it’s only been 11 episodes,” he said of the show's sudden success) and to sexy Tawny Cypress by complimenting her on her gorgeous red dress: “It’s actually hot pink,” she said. It was hard to make out the shade because of the lighting, but it was definitely hot, that’s for sure. (She told me she’ll be wearing green on the Golden Globes red carpet today.)

Adorable Hayden Panettiere, who was rocking what appeared to be a high-fashion designer number, confessed to me: “I got this at French Connection.” Spoken like a real-life cheerleader! But young Hayden, who brought her mother, Lesley, as a date, is wise beyond her years: The girl’s already landed a recording contract with Hollywood Records, and she’ll release her debut album in the spring. “It’s a hybrid of pop and rock,” her mom told me. Look out, Hilary Duff!

For more InStyle.com coverage of this event, including a gallery of photos, click here.

-- James Patrick Herman

OK, so they managed to save the cheerleader and save the world (presumably). But can the Heroes of NBC's runaway hit show by that name save themselves from partying too hard just two nights before the Golden Globes?

The cast of Heroes
Photo courtesy of NBC

I plan to find out the answer to this question when I attend In Style's cocktail party to celebrate the show's massive success at Jeff Klein's Sunset Tower Hotel in L.A. on Saturday night. It's a pretty sexy cast, including Ali Larter, Milo Ventimiglia and Adrian Pasdar. Who is your favorite actor—and which character's superpower would you love to have? (Myself, I'm into the Las Vegas stripper with a really, really wild side.) I'll pass your responses along to the stars and let you know what they say!

-- James Patrick Herman

You've heard of Dancing with the Stars, of course. Now imagine Rubbing Elbows with the Stars (and their directors). That's what the National Board of Review Awards at Cipriani was like for me—the Oscars reimagined as an intimate dinner party. As you can see from my photo, I was thisclose to gorgeous Jennifer Hudson. And thanks to Bulgari (the night's sponsor), I was only one table away from all the action.

Jennifer Hudson (and Bulgari's Parentesi full diamond pavé necklace) at Cipriani

I never imagined that I would find myself so near the stage at a star-studded awards show: Best Actor Forest Whitaker was at the table in front of me; Best Director Martin Scorsese was at the one behind me; and My Favorite Parkers (Sarah Jessica and Miss Posey) were breezing right by me en route to the podium. At one point, I looked up to see Steven Spielberg's hands on the back of my chair—it was that kind of night.

But despite all of the Hollywood heavyweights in the crowd, it still felt like a distinctly New York affair. Maybe because I was sitting next to super-stylist Pat Field, who made Meryl Streep look so glamorous in The Devil Wears Prada, and our talk inevitably turned from film to fashion. (Pat told me about her favorite place to shop: Century 21. "I'm there twice a week," Pat said. "The trick is to go in the morning—definitely before noon—and the store will be all yours.")

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What's the only downside of attending a party in Puerto Vallarta? Unpacking. Nothing snaps you back to reality like a suitcase full of dirty laundry, let me tell you.

Fortunately, generous Joely Fisher gifted me—along with her other guests—with some fabulous treats, so opening my suitcase was more akin to cracking apart a piñata. I'm also grateful to the airports in Mexico, since the security officers don't seem to mind if you stash more than three ounces of liquid in your carry-on luggage.

The goody bag
Photos by Mark A. Neston

Which is a good thing, because I probably would have cried if they'd made me throw out my Dermalogica skin-care products or my margarita-scented Philosophy body wash. My stash also included a digital Philips Photo Frame, black Havaiana flip-flops, a gift certificate to Privé salon and a customized DVD case, which had a beautiful black-and-white photo of Joely and hubby Chris (from their first wedding) on the front. Inside the DVD case was a free one-year membership to One True Media, an online service that compiles personal photos, videos and music into a professional-quality DVD or online video.

James makes a new friend at Sea Life Park

Joely plans to send friends a customized commemorative DVD of her "Mexican Love Jam," and I'm praying that it doesn't include any footage of our Dolphin Discovery adventure at Sea Life Park in Vallarta Nayarit. I think I'll die if my inexplicable dolphin-phobia winds up on YouTube.

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If you're like me, you've already broken your New Year's resolutions. ("Party a little less," I told myself. Oh, well, so much for that one!) Fortunately, yoga teacher to the stars Mandy Ingber—whose enviably toned clients include Joely Fisher, Jennifer Aniston and jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer—shared three quick, easy and simple secrets for ensuring that you look and feel better in 2007. And, surprisingly, they're really no sweat at all!

Mandy Ingber and James
Photo by Mark A. Neston

I have Joely to thank for introducing me to Mandy: She kindly treated guests at her Mexican Love Jam to a yoga class (not to mention Hugger Mugger mats, stylish bags to carry them in and lavendar eye pillows to boot), so the least that I could do was to pass on some of what I learned to you, dear blog reader.

I remember when Mandy came over to adjust my pose and asked if there was anything she should know about my body. "Yeah," I said in between huffs and puffs, "it's in terrible shape!" And just in case my boss is reading this: Yes, I was still taking notes while doing downward dog (now that's what I call multitasking!), and amused actress Elizabeth Keener even has the videotape to prove it.

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Melora Hardin, who plays Steve Carell’s tough-as-nails boss on The Office, told me fans of the show are sometimes afraid to approach her. I’m glad I didn’t make the same mistake—this gal is a kick! As you can see from the photo, she doesn’t dress anything like her character, either. Check out the red-hot dress and the sexy heels that PETA would approve of: “They’re beautiful and fancy vegan shoes called Mink,” Melora told me.

Melora Hardin and James
Photo by Mark A. Neston

She and her husband, the writer and actor Gildart Jackson, were guests at Joely Fisher and Christopher Duddy’s Mexican Love Jam in Vallarta Nayarit, just outside Puerto Vallarta. (Coincidentally, Melora—who has been acting since age six—once appeared on The Love Boat, whose starring vessel famously used to dock you know where.) Like our hostess, she has a hilarious sense of humor and professional pipes to boot. In fact, Melora has recorded two CDs of original songs (The Melodrama and Purr), which you can buy on her stylishly retro Website, Melora.com. You can even listen to a few of her tunes—the kitschy-cool “Dial O” is my personal favorite. “My music is romantic but kind of cheeky,” she said. “Think: Doris Day meets Julie London.”

Melora is a budding filmmaker as well. She directed and stars in You along with hubby Gildart, who wrote the screenplay. “I’m in the process of cutting it now,” she said. “It’s a love story—not edgy and dark.” I have to add that Melora is also a doting, hands-on mom to two adorable daughters—yet another thing she has in common with her friend Joely!

-- James Patrick Herman

First, the bad news: I had to work on New Year’s Eve and the following day as well. Now for the good news: My assignment—and yes, I did choose to accept it—was to cover a four-day fiesta in Vallarta Nayarit, just outside Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Yet another story to file under Nice Work if You Can Get It.

As an added bonus, the guests turned out to be some of the nicest entertainment-industry insiders and Hollywood stars (including Mariska Hargitay and her sexy husband, Peter Hermann; Melora Hardin from The Office; Camryn Manheim; Diane Ladd; and Elizabeth Keener, the stylish younger sister of Catherine) that I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing tequila shots with.

Joely Fisher, Mariska Hargitay and James
Photos by Mark A. Neston

The cause for the celebration? Joely Fisher and Christopher Duddy have defied Hollywood odds by clocking 10 years as husband and wife (that’s practically a century in Tinseltown years). So naturally they wanted to share the joy with their nearest and dearest friends—more than 100 of them! That just goes to show you how widely beloved Joely and Chris are. I can’t imagine enticing a planeload of amigos south of the border. I’d be lucky if I could manage to get a handful of pals to meet me at Taco Bell on my birthday.

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