Archive | May, 2007

Manson marches on Paris June 5

28 May

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The self-proclaimed “Vampire of Love” arrives in Paris this week for a concert on June 5 at Bercy. MM is promoting his new album, Eat Me, Drink Me. Tickets can be purchased at FNAC.

Speaking recently with Le Parisien, he elaborated on this vampire persona:

“A vampire is a character that only comes out at night-time, and ultimately preys on young women. And drinks blood. This idea of consuming someone, whether it’s literal or a metaphor, is quite romantic,” he said.

Literal or metaphor, eh? Seek help.

Regarding his new relationship with a barely legal teenage actress:

“I’ve found my double, my twin, with my new girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood,” says the 38-year-old rocker.

“She’s l9 and certainly that’s very young,” he added, “but that’s not a problem for me. She likes the same things as me. She understands I like to get up when night falls and go to sleep at dawn.” Wow, now thats a keeper.

The couple created a new scandal recently with the music video for “Heart Shaped Glasses,” in which they purportedly had real sex. While the camera doesn’t go below the waist, Evan Rachel Wood’s screams seem to many as, well… genuine. They are also covered in fake blood half of the time (check it out). This girl’s parents must be proud!

Look for Manson to be camping out in a coffin at the Plaza Athenee (during the day of course).

I’ve seen that penne before

28 May

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Maybe it was all the champagne, but it took me a long time to realize I had been looking at virtually the same menu in a host of Parisian hot spots. In case you are as slow as moi, the Costes brothers own half of Paris, and don’t bother changing the menu on their swanky parade of establishments (see the running list below).

Boring for us, big bucks for them: their approach has turned out to be a profitable business model.

The brothers Costes own 80% of the operation that makes the 1,800 little rolls and 1,500 pastries the Costes restaurants serve daily, 33% of the company that supplies the smoked salmon and other prepared foods, and 50% of the condiment supplier. All the Costes establishments are obliged to buy from these suppliers, no matter which member of the extended family is the majority shareholder. That’s a brilliant bump to the bottom line when the €10 slice of chocolate cake at Georges costs a little more than €2 to make!

1. Hotel Costes

2. Cafe Marly

3. Georges

4. L’Esplanade

5. L’Avenue

6. Cafe Costes

7. Cafe de la Musique

8. Etienne Marcel

9. Hotel Costes K

10. Cafe Beaubourg

I play rugby, but you may recognize me from…

28 May

Dieux du Stade – Julian Hans & Grégory Mahé

PetiteBrigitte just had a moment of enlightenment: I found the perfect job! Watch this clip for a good laugh.

Les Dieux du Stade (Gods of the Stadium), is a semi-nude calendar featuring the French national rugby team. The erotic poses and hot photography has led to the annual calendars becoming widely sought after among heterosexual females and homosexual males worldwide (mostly the latter, which is evident on any walk past the bookstores of the Marais). Started a few years ago by Stade Francais owner Max Guazzini, the calendar is aimed at bringing a wider audience to the sport.

Well, I’m not going out to St. Denis anytime soon, but my eyes are certainly wider.

So hilarious.

Indian Playboy rocks the Monaco Prix

28 May

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(Yacht featured in background of photo, taken from 2007 Kingfisher calendar)

Kingfisher mogul/playboy Vijay Mallya, aka the King of Good Times, threw the biggest bash of the Monaco Grand Prix on board his superyacht Indian Empress. Don’t think his wife was there.

Mallya, who is known for his overly glamorous lifestyle, organized the party on the 95m yacht, currently said to be the 5th largest in the world.

The guest list included Bernie Ecclestone, Tadashi Yamashina, Flavio Briatore, and Jay Z. Early arrivals scarcely had time to catch their breath and grab some champagne before a troop of Indian ballerinas and dancers, Lina Dance, stormed the room to perform a routine worthy of any Bollywood movie. Shortly after, DJ Aqueel and his colleagues began to spin their records as guests hit the dance floor.

Looks like our favorite old dirty playboy, Flavio Briatore, might have danced too hard: he was the one casualty of the evening after stepping on a piece of glass.

The yacht boasted an open air jacuzzi, free-flowing bars, and luxurious loos. Good thing the 16 cabins were locked, or there would have been many stowaways! Then again, with a dude like this at the helm, better think twice:

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Fernando Alonso: ay papiiiii

28 May

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Sexy spaniard, Fernando Alonso, took his second Monaco GP title this weekend, and the 25 year old was basking in McClaren team glory with teammate and #2 Lewis Hamilton.

Not so fast el nano!

World motorsport’s governing body, FIA, said in a statement Monday it was reviewing evidence from Sunday’s race. Alonso finished 4.095 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was told by McLaren to slow down.

“He was obviously close to me, and I was told to take it easy,” Hamilton said Sunday. “At the end of the day, I am a rookie. I am in my first season in Formula One and I have finished second in only my first Monaco Grand Prix, so I really can’t complain. I’ve got No. 2 on my car. I am the No. 2 driver.”

That’s fascinating and all, but my interest lies in the after-party at Jimmy’z!?!

And the winner is….

28 May

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Romanian film 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Fest! Made on under 1 million euros, the win is being hailed as a fairy tale ending for director Christian Mungiu’s second feature.

 The film, titled after the age of the aborted foetus in the movie, stunned hardened festival veterans and was a favourite for the prize among the 22 films in the competition.

Film industry bible Variety called the film a revelation.

“Pitch perfect and brilliantly acted, ’4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’is a stunning achievement, helmed with a purity and honesty that captures not just the illegal abortion story at its core but the constant, unremarked negotiations necessary for survival in the final days of the Soviet bloc,” reviewer Jay Weissberg wrote.

Remembering Cannes

22 May

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Just to clarify:

We here at La Vie de PetiteBrigitte are NOT obsessed with Brigitte Bardot. We do, however, credit her as the ultimate muse of 50′s and 60′s French riviera glamour. We do not follow or endorse any of BB’s current pursuits!

That being said, BB gave a RARE interview to CNN this week, discussing her bittersweet memories of the Festival de Cannes.

The couple du jour arrives in Cannes

22 May

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Not sure how I feel about Brad’s slicked up hair and prettyboy vest, but Angie looks like the divine goddess that she is. The couple are in Cannes to promote two films: Angelina’s A Mighty Heart, and Brad’s Ocean’s Thirteen.

Today Angie announced a 1 year break from filming.

Bollinger unveils new Calorific Champagne

22 May

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This week Bollinger, my new favorite French champagne house, will break with decades of tradition and launch a no-sugar-added champagne targeted to ladies. Get out your shopping list: it’s called Ayala Cuvée Rosé Nature.

Now there’s no excuse, so drink up! A flute of this champagne will add a mere 65 calories to your diet, instead of the normal 89. Bollinger says the taste is very comparable to the real stuff, and provides the same alcohol content. So we can stay skinny AND get drunk.

Sound too good to be true? Here’s how it works:

Around three level teaspoons of liquefied sugar – called the dosage – is normally added to most champagnes at the last moment before bottling to balance the flavour and make it more palatable.

Bollinger leaves the dose of sugar out.

Elizabeth Ferguson, a spokeswoman for Ayala, said: “This is basically a testament to the quality of the perfectly ripe fruit. The dosage is put in to cover up any faults with a champagne– but we are using the best possible fruit which is why we are not having to do it.”

Brilliant timing. Now we can look like her for bikini season!

Topshop coming to Paris

20 May

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Forget H&M, Paris is getting a Topshop!

The British retailing group, Topshop, has announced plans to set up shop in Paris with a new flagship store. Owner Phillip Green is said to be scouting property, with the intention of opening a store in only a few short months! (Also look for 3 new stores in NYC within the year).

Are we thrilled or what?!

All this amidst the buzz created by Kate Moss‘ collection for the store that debuted this May, generating 3 million pounds in its first week and exceeding retailers forecasts. The 50 piece collection made it into Colette, where lines of customers wrapped around the corner of the building hours before the store’s opening. By lunchtime only a few pairs of red skinny jeans were left!

Kate was reportedly paid 3 million pounds for the collection, which seems to have been well worth it for Topshop.

PetiteBrigitte surveyed the collection at the flagship store on Oxford Street in London. Nothing too inventive, but apparently just what buyers were looking for: a piece of Kate’s closet. Some reviews were less than flattering, including a one-word note from the New York Times: “Snore.”

PetiteBrigitte, however, snapped up a few items, including a trademark Kate waistcoat, studded suede belt, long bias skirt, and halter jacquard mini dress.

The glam from Cannes

20 May

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Get me to Cannes this instant! The 60th festival de Cannes has gotten off to a hot start, and the temperatures shall keep rising as the premiere of Ocean’s 13 approaches (the entire cast, including Brangelina, will glitz up the red carpet).

The fest kicked off with Jude Law and Norah Jones in their much anticipated film My Blueberry Nights (directed by Wong Kar-wei). Luke-warm reviews for Norah, but Jude looked hot. Then, the amazing debut for Michael Moore’s SiCKO– haven’t read a bad review yet– even from FOXnews!

Celeb roundup:

  • newly single Jessica Simpson schmoozing with the Weinsteins…. who invited her?
  • James Blunt partying hard with Playboy bunnies and a topless Pam Anderson before ex-GF Petra arrives this week
  • Pam Anderson in her failed attempt to look like BB, gets booed by the crowd for arriving late
  • a spontaneous concert by Bono and U2
  • Minnie Driver looking anorexic
  • Seinfeld, dressed as a bumble bee, zipping down from the roof of the Carlton to the street below (?)
  • the eternally boring Diane Kruger as Master of Ceremonies

Chris Cornell rocks Showcase

16 May

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With a voice that defies 42 years of hard living, Chris Cornell killed it on Tuesday night at Showcase. It was a solid performance!

Playing to a sold-out crowd, the former lead singer of such bands as Soundgarden and Audioslave entertained the crowd with a culmination of songs spanning his colorful career. Backed up by his new musicians (who look very young and thrilled to be working), Chris even revealed some new songs he’s been working on… one of which was downright mushy. Of course, his wife and two children looked on with adoration from their perch in the VIP.

Unfortunately, the band didn’t stick around for the after-party at Chris’club, Black Calvados. They ate dinner in the upstairs restaurant, and then hit the bus for an overnight haul to London. Chris says he will return to Paris to close out the tour.

For those of you not familiar with Chris, get with it. He did the theme song to James Bond: Casino Royale. Plus, the guy is downright hot. With looks that could make him Brad Pitt’s brother, and one of the sexiest voices in the industry, it was all I could do not to toss my brassiere on stage. Take me! Take me now!

Yours truly,

the homewrecker.

Oh Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart

12 May

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Cecilia Sarkozy looked casual and chic on stage with her on-again-off-again husband, Nicolas. But is their marriage back on track? And could this kind of relationship ever get a man the Presidency in America?! Nooo way.
Here is an excerpt of an excellent Herald Tribune article:

Mme Sarkozy left Nicolas for another man in May 2005, leading to a seven-month separation. Then French magazines followed her every word and movement. Why the omerta this time? Much of the French magazine industry is owned by friends of M. Sarkozy. According to every opinion poll since January, he was a good bet to become President Sarkozy. He is known to have a long memory for journalists who anger him.

So what is going on? Is Cécilia Sarkozy going to be the first lady of France after all? Yes, it appears that she is. Will she be a conventional first lady like Bernadette Chirac, organising the collection of centime coins for charities? “The whole idea bores me to tears,” Cécilia said in an interview in March 2005. “I am not politically correct.”

Salma goes shopping, looks like blueberry

12 May

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Salma Hayek is the newest addition to our Parisian expat community!

The very pregnant starlette/producer has been spending a lot of time in Paris since announcing her pregnancy and engagement. She was out this week with fiance, Francois Henri Pinault, for lunch around the Louvre, and then hit Avenue Montaigne for some shopping.

Looks like Baby might makes its first appearence this summer in France!

Mrs. Vanessa Paradis – Depp … finally

10 May

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He said he didn’t want to marry her and change her beautiful last name, but superstar hottie Johnny Depp seems to have changed his mind.

“Spurred into action” by the recent near fatal illness of their daughter, Lily Rose, to E. Coli poisoning, the long time partners have decided to wed. And rumor reports suggest it could be as soon as this summer.

The fiercely private couple will have a small ceremony within their 50 acre compound in the South of France. The palatial grounds comprise 1 main house with 4 secondary lodgings, as well as a small chapel. Local villagers of the small town are allies of the couple, and have remained tight-lipped on the recent rumors.

Nice to see a couple enjoying the simple life— now let’s just hope the media leaves their little village alone! (the location is usually kept out of articles by request, but leave it to the Daily Mail to blow it!).

Costume Institute Party of the Year: French en Forme

8 May

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The French were out in force in NYC this week for the annual Costume Institute Gala. This year’s honoree was Paul Poiret (60 years after his death). He is credited as a revolutionary designer in women’s fashion– releasing women from the confines of a corset.

  • Charlotte Gainsbourg & Yvan Attal were not the most glam couple of the night, but they pulled it off nicely in Balenciaga. Cute Enough.
  • Marc Jacobs doesn’t seem to have returned to Paris following his release from rehab, but was looking sober (and ultra-tan) with Winona Ryder on his arm.
  • Carine was looking very femme fatale, trademark messy hair in tact, and had the arm of my personal gay crush, Tommy Ford.
  • Salma & the Frenchman made a rare public appearence, and her black velvet dress had a slimming effect on the majorly pregnant starlette.
  • Best Dressed of the Night: Eva Mendes, Queen Rania of Jordan (as always), Cat Deeley
  • Worst Disasters beyond belief: Margherita Missoni, Kristen Dunst, Parker Posey, Juliette Lewis (surprise?), DVF
  • Breath of Fresh Air: Camilla Belle
  • Would have looked better naked: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld
  • Stars we wish hadn’t been invited: Jamie Burke (the hair!), Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, K. Dunst
  • Worst Dressed Men: Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), Lapo Elkann (Agnelli), Hamish Bowles
  • Hottest Men: TF, Zac Posen, Liev Schreiber, Roland Mouret

Loving London & Lusting for Beckham

7 May

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Wow! An exhausting, whirlwind 3 nights in London has left Petite B incapacitated for the past 2 days!

Less than 3 hours after arriving in the city via the Eurostar, I was in an elevator with David & Victoria Beckham. Celebrating his birthday with a lavish shopping spree, the hot couple made a pit stop at the new Haymarket Hotel, just as I was checking in. The two spent several hours relaxing in a luxurious suite before heading out to a surprise dinner at Cipriani. Sporting Nicole Richie sized sunglasses, I starred endlessly at the newly blond Becks, who looks even more dreamy in the flesh. Unfortunately I realized several hours later that my tinted glasses were completely see-through. Oops— no wonder Victoria shot me a look!

Victoria was actually in good spirits, and giggled as she tripped out of the elevator and clutched on to Becks.

Several hours later and ever the pro-journalist, I was hovering in the lobby with a glass of champagne as Becks & Posh made their exit to a flurry of paparazzi waiting outside. Stopping in the lobby to straighten her dress, the two looked stunningly chic as they made a dash for the Bentley (see pics). Unfortunately my pro cameraman was MIA and I blurred all my shots (best one below). Bloody hell!

According to the Mail, this was their Birthday agenda:

With the hotel bill of £2,500 at London’s Haymarket Hotel, a restaurant bill of £25,000, a private jet costing £8, 000 each way, the specially-commissioned diamond ring costing £40,000 and drivers and security arranged for the trip, the total bill for David’s birthday trip came to more than £100,000.

On a less grotesquely superficial level, Becks reportedly started crying after receiving a touching toast from his wife at dinner. Awhh…. sexy and sentimental! PB is officially in love. Who cares if he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed?

The Haymarket Hotel, sister to the famous Soho Hotel, is owned by Firmdale hotels and decorated by reknowned interior designer Kit Kemp– her best chef d’oeuvre to date. The service was not seamless, and the pool was still closed, but all was forgiven when the concierge sent up a bottle of Moet & Chandon with strawberries. Definitely the hottest hotel at the moment, and Petite B wouldn’t think of going anywhere else on her next trip.

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HAYMARKET HOTEL

1 Suffolk Place London SW1Y 4BP
Tel: +44 20 7470 4000 Fax: +44 20 7470 4004

 

Email: haymarket@firmdale.com

 

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