The Insider: Contributed by jamesedstrom12

Woman Come Out For City Meals On Wheels

jamesedstrom12 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:12:00 GMT

**** 23RD THE POWER LUNCH FOR WOMAN **** Story And Photos By: Ann Watt **** Phyllis Newman With Kate Baldwin Judith Jamison With Deborah Roberts Kate Baldwin Tyne Daly Paula Zahn Michael Bolton Kathie Lee Gifford Diane Sawyer Jessye Norman Who's who from the worlds of business, media, entertainment, government, and the arts gathered at Cipriani's 42nd Street for one of the most significant social and service-oriented events of the year. In the 23rd year of the Power Lunch for Women, Gael Greene and the James Beard's organization continued to call upon some of the most influential figures and high-profile female executives in New York City to raise awareness and money for the city's aging residents. On Friday, November 20th, CityMeals on Wheels raised enough money to provide over 200,000 meals for New York 's frail homebound aged. Since 1981, Citymeals-on-Wheels has provided nutritious food and regular companionship to elderly homebound New Yorkers. While the by-invitation-only "power women" pay $350 per ticket, male guests pay $10,000 to attend the women's lunch and support Citymeals-on-Wheels. Honors were bestowed to Joan H. Tisch, Vice Chair, Citymeals-on-Wheels and Joan Weill, Citymeals' President Emeritus. Emceed by Paula Zahn, the luncheon had in attendance notables in the entertainment field including, Broadway League president Charlotte St. Martin, singer Michael Bolton, actress Phyllis Newman, Kathleen Turner, Tyne Daly, singer, actress, and television personality Kathie Lee Gifford, award-winning actress Jane Krakowski, American opera singer Jessye Norman, ABC news magazine 20/20’s Deborah Roberts, Gloria Steinem, "Good Morning America" anchor Diane Sawyer. "Finian's Rainbow" star Kate Baldwin, provided entertainment for the event. CityMeals-on-Wheels delivers up to two million meals and, because of restructuring in the state, they are the only ones who provide meals on holidays and weekends. They refuse to tell a 90-year old woman she only gets five meals a week. As they continues in that conviction, the Power Lunch's annual guests keep coming back—and keep lunching and giving so others may eat.

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Russell Brand Meets Katy Perry's Family

jamesedstrom12 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Katy Perry Pop star Katy Perry has introduced her new boyfriend Russell Brand to her parents, but Katy's pastor dad isn't convinced Brand is the right man for his daughter. Katy recently took the comedian to meet her parents Keith and Mary, who run an evangelical ministry. But Perry's dad is hoping the 25-year-old eventually finds another man to settle down with. He tells the News of the World, "I have met Russell. I'm not thinking he's the guy who will be her husband, but he's a nice guy." Photo By: RD/Dziekan/Retna

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Filming Halted On Tom Cruise New Movie

jamesedstrom12 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:50:00 GMT

Cameron Diaz Filming has been stopped on the new Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz's movie "Knight And Day" after two people were injured on the set when seven bulls escaped onto the streets of Spain. The animals were being used to recreate scenes from the country's annual Pamplona bull run. They fled onto the streets of Cadiz until they were recaptured 40 minutes later. Two women were hurt during the stampede, according to local police and officials, leading the mayor's office to call off shooting until safety procedures are re-evaluated. A spokesperson for the mayor of Cadiz says, "Nothing will be filmed in Cadiz until we have a new plan that guarantees the safety of local residents." Producer Calle Cruzada insists he did not know how the bulls managed to escape. But the incident will further the fears of an anti-bullfighting organization, whose members have begged Cruise and Diaz to pull out of the movie. On the set of "Knight And Day" in Salzburg, Austria CAS International released a statement last week, which read, "Apart from the fact that bulls are abused for this movie, we also fear that after seeing this movie, even more American and other tourists will participate in the bull runs in Pamplona and elsewhere in Spain." Cruise and Diaz were due to fly to Spain to start filming their scenes next weekend. Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna

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Jerry Springer Hitches A Ride To Studio

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:46:00 GMT

**** TALK SHOW ICON JERRY SPRINGER HITCH HIKES! **** Jerry Springer Jerry Springer, in LA to appear on the Dancing with the Stars Finale and to tape skits for Conan and Leno, found himself in an emergency today. His limo broke down and caught on fire in the middle of the freeway. Late for the taping of Leno, Springer solved the problem by hitching a ride in a friendly Toyota and made it to the taping on time. Thank goodness for friendly Springer fans willing to help out a stranded traveler.

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Splash Bar Hosts Launch For Gay Life Nyc

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:51:00 GMT

Alyson Williams Lilias White Marty Thomas April Nixon April Nixon along with Marty Thomas, Lilias White and Alyson Williams performed at the Launch Party for GayLifeNYC.org at Splash Bar in New York City. The site is a non-for-profit Entertainment News and HIV/AIDS Health Resources website. Photos By: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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Closing Night For Broadway's Girl Crazy

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:16:00 GMT

**** WALTER MCBRIDE ON BROADWAY **** GIRL CRAZY CURTAIN CALL **** Gregory Wooddell And Mylinda Hull Wayne Knight Wayne Knight With Ana Gasteyer, Chris Diamantopoulos And Becki Newton **** THE AFTER PARTY **** Gregory Wooddell Jerry Zaks Sam Prince Becki Newton With Chris Diamantopoulos Wayne Knight Mylinda Hull With Reg Rogers Neil Haskell Marc Kudisch And Ana Gasteyer Rob Fisher With Helene Davis Chris Diamantopoulos Chris Diamantopoulos along with Rob Fisher, Helene Davis, Wayne Knight, Marc Kudisch, Ana Gasteyer, Jerry Zaks and many other Broadway icons attended the closing night After Party for the Encores production of 'Girl Crazy' at the NY City Center in New York City. Photos By: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.

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Susan Boyle Performs On The Today Show

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

Susan Boyle Thumbs Up For Susan Boyle Susan Boyle performed on the Today Show in New York City this morning. Susan was all smiles for the roving cameras on this cold Big Apple day. Photos By: Derek Storm / Retna Ltd.

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Le Cirque Opens It's Doors To Late Crowd

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:52:00 GMT

Morgan Miller With Le Cirque's Sirio Maccioni Celebrity restaurant Le Cirque, the epitome of haute cuisine and elegance is broaching new waters. For the first time ever in its distinguished history, co-owner Mauro Maccioni with the blessing of his famed father Sirio is opening the venue's historic doors to the late night crowd. He has engaged young, up and coming party curator Morgan Miller to do a weekly late night fete that will take place llPM till ??? on Friday nights. Miller is a rising fashion photographer discovered by Peter Beard whose rolodex would make any publicist green with envy. Miller tested the waters by doing the first ever late night Halloween party at Le Cirque that went beyond anyone's expectations: over 700 young, costumed notables came, necessitating the opening of the main dining room to accommodate the overflow. Mauro was ecstatic. It took a year of talks and emails between Miller and the Maccioni's to get them to agree to Halloween. They needed no convincing afterwards. However, the restaurateurs are proceeding with caution: Miller will do a weekly party that will possibly expand to three to four nights after the New Year. The restaurant is also introducing its first-ever late night bar menu that is shrouded in secrecy. Mauro wishes for these fetes to recall the heyday of The Stork Club, El Morocco and Copacabana. They would also like to see NYC's ever fickle after hour scene return uptown instead of the Meatpacking district. For the debut party this past Friday, many bold face names came, including Ralph Lauren model Philippe Reynaud, Alexander Forbes of the Forbes mag empire, celebrity chef David Burke, Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and Julian Lennon, who came to support his friend, Francesco Civetti, who is not only Asia Argento's brother-in-law but was dee-jaying for the night. Photo By: Seth Wolfson

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O'casey's Georgi Vodka's Holiday Turkey

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:20:00 GMT

The Georgi Girls Martin Silver With Paul Hurley Paul Hurley, Owner of O'Casey's Irish Bar and Tavern in Manhattan is bringing a new twist for the Thanksgiving Holiday by unveiling the nation's first 100 proof turkey which is infused with fruit flavored and 100 proof Georgi vodka. The Turkey takes three days to prepare for the Holiday and contains five different flavored vodka's. The 100 proof vodka is infused in the bird for three days before the final cooking. Peach, Lemon, Orange, Cherry and Apple flavored vodka's are also part of the turkeys base. 100 proof vodka is also lightly placed in the gravy as well. No one under 21 is allowed to join the feast. The bar is also including a free taxi ride in the city for those who order the holiday specialty. The turkey was unveiled at a Media Conference with 100 proof vodka being infused today at O'Casey's Tavern on 22 East 41st Street between Fifth and Madison Avenue. Call to make a reservation at 212-685-6807. The day before thanksgiving is known as one of the busiest drinking days of the years and the partying does not stop for everyone. Mothers Against Drunk Driving had concerns about this delight during it's concept. Dozens of bar patrons have already pre-ordered the turkey. The Turkey will be available for the first time for consumption and eating at the same time. Georgi Vodka plans on placing the recipe at almost every liquor store in the nation to boost Thanksgiving spirit's. Photos By: James Edstrom

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Ten O'clock Classics 6th Annual Event

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:42:00 GMT

A Shy Lou Reed With Dominic Chianese And Ronen Segev Guitar legend Lou Reed, New York's first Public Advocate Mark Green, Tennis legend Yannick Noah, Ben Jelen, Dominic Chianese and other special guests attended the Ten O'Clock Classics (TOC) 6th Annual Gala Event in support of their musical education programs at The Union Square Ballroom in Manhattan. TOC raised money through a silent and live auction with items such as a Justin Timberlake autographed piano, a Lou Reed autographed guitar, NY Giants tickets and field game passes and tickets to The Today Show with a behind-the-scenes tour, just to name a few. The seated dinner included a much anticipated performances by Ben Jelen with children from the Mount Carmel Holy Rosary School in East Harlem, 12-year-old prodigy violinist Alice Ivy-Pemberton, French tennis legend and singer Yannick Noah and world renowned opera singer Ailyn Perez. Additionally, paintings by celebrated Hamptons based artist Michelle Suna was on display and for sale throughout the event. a Portion of sales from her paintings will go towards the fund raiser.Ten O'Clock Classics (TOC) is a non-profit group seeking to eliminate the financial barriers that keep talented, underprivileged children in New York City from fully realizing their artistic potential by providing them with the resources needed to study classical music. This gala, TOC's sixth, raised funds for their program and allows TOC to provide many services free of charge, such as music lessons taught by graduates of the Juilliard School, instruments for home practice, educational outings to concerts at venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and outreach concerts for large groups of children at public schools. At last year's gala, Ten O'Clock Classics raised nearly $200,000.Founded in 2000 by concert pianist Ronen Segev and led by Chairman of the Board, David Picket, TOC is comprised of the finest young concert artists in the world. Hailed as "The Hip of Classical Music" by The New York Times, TOC has performed in venues throughout the world including New York's Carnegie Hall, Cortot Hall in Paris, and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. TOC's outreach concerts include performances at Studio 54, Gotham Properties, Crunch Fitness, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, MAKOR, Le Cirque, Union Square Ballroom, and numerous other venues. TOC brings Classical Music to a broader audience by presenting top-quality performances in non-traditional venues. By having world-renowned musicians and celebrity hosts perform on young people's turf, the musical experience has much more meaning. TOC's educational initiatives include providing weekly private music lessons and instruments free of charge to NYC school children, and performances and lectures at schools throughout the country. For further information, visit: www.tocmusic.com Photos By:Jakes van der Watt

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Hugh Jackman Heals Moms Relationship

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:22:00 GMT

Movie and Broadway star Hugh Jackman is healing the long running rift with his mother after she walked out on him as a child. The couple has been spending time together in New York City. Hugh's father was left to look after him and his four siblings after his mom Grace moved out of the family home when he was just eight years old. Grace and her estranged husband, Chris, later agreed Jackman's sisters would be raised in their mom's native England, while Jackman and his two brothers stayed in Australia with their father. Jackman has since admitted he doesn't blame his mom for deserting them, because she was suffering from undiagnosed post-natal depression. It seems the actor is putting everything behind him. He has been photographed enjoying his mom's company in New York City, and she's been helping him care for his two adopted children while his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, is in Australia. Photo By: Walter McBride/Retna

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Jude Law Throws Oranges At Students

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:11:00 GMT

A group of New York City students incurred the wrath of sexy Broadway star Jude Law after taking photos of him exercising on his apartment balcony. Jude allegedly pelted them with oranges. New York University freshmen Priya Vij and Erica Rose were very thrilled to discover Jude had moved in next door to their dorm in Manhattan's posh Washington Square Park. After passing on the information to her friends, Vij regularly invited them to her room in the hope of getting a glimpse of the British star. She tells the New York Post, "There is pretty much chaos on every floor when he comes out. "We have the best view on the floor. It is exciting to have a celebrity living right next to you. He is really attractive. He's rugged and scruffy." But Law doesn't seem to appreciate his fan club very much, and showed his distaste when the group started taking pictures while he worked out. They say he threw oranges at their window. Fellow student Neha Najeeb tells the New York Post, "He noticed we were there and we started waving at him. Then he went inside and came back with two oranges. He threw them at our window, but he missed. "(Another time)... he hit the windows - there was orange pulp on the glass for a week - and then he went back to working out. Now we don't like Jude Law anymore." Photo By: Sara De Boer/Retna

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Robert Downey Jr. Might Take After Jay Z

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:56:00 GMT

Robert Downey Jr. Robert Downey Jr. is considering retirement if his upcoming "Sherlock Holmes" movie flops at the box office. The very talented star is adamant that if his new detective movie doesn't do well on its release next month, he will think about finishing his film career because he will not be obligated to do any sequels. But Downey Jr. is admitting he might follow in the footsteps of rapper Jay-Z by announcing his retirement and then bouncing back months later with an exciting new project. He tells Entertainment Weekly, "I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don't know, maybe a couple more times. It's something I'm so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay. "If 'Sherlock Holmes' performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years. But we'd like to go ahead and suggest the Jay-Z model wherein one announces his retirement, soaks in all the requisite fanfare, and then behaves like it never happened. It's really the best of both worlds." Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna

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James Caan Files For Divorce Once Again

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:48:00 GMT

James Caan Hollywood star James Caan has filed for divorce from his fourth wife, for the second time. The acting legend and costume designer Linda Stokes first parted ways in 2005 after ten years of marriage, but patched things up within a few weeks. They have two sons, James, 14, and Jacob, 11. Caan has now cited "irreconcilable differences" to a court in Los Angeles California. Caan is reported as saying "We will remain great friends."

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Marie Osmond's New Lifestyle Collection

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:29:00 GMT

Beautiful Marie Osmond Marie Osmond Marie Osmond celebrated the launch of the Marie Lifestyle Collection at the Hallmark Crown in Henderson, Nevada. The talented singer is just ageless! Photos By: RD / Kabik / Retna Digital

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Tila Tequila Opens Up About Everything

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:06:00 GMT

**** In this weeks issue of Steppin' Out magazine, Tila Tequila sits down with Chaunce Hayden exclusively since her NFL boyfriend Shawne Merriman allegedly tried to kill her and talks about the following: Her best friend Megan McCain and her family. On wanting to kill herself. Why she hates MTV and the producers of her show. Why she hates Playboy. And why she hates a certain school. **** Tila Tequila ON TWITTING THAT SHE WANTS TO KILL HERSELF: Things happen to people in life. It builds their character and makes them stronger. You can only go up from bad situations. At the moment I'm going up. I'm a human being. I get happy and sad. Nobody cares when I twitter that I'm happy. People only focus on the negative things. I had a bad day and a lot of stuff was going on when I wrote that. I was just going through a hard time. People think I do things for attention. Hello! That's how I became who I am. That's how I was discovered. I'm known for talking a lot and random mood swings. That's how I was discovered by MTV. ON HER MTV SHOW BEING CANCELED: The show didn't get canceled! That's a misconception that everyone has. I quit. I walked away from a very fat pay check. I just walked away. People think I'm a fame whore. But they don't realize I walked away from fame. I wanted time for myself. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to be normal for a little bit. I had a lot of show offers that I turned down. Many, many things I've turned down. People think my 15 minutes are up, but they have been saying that for 5 years. I've been saying no to everything, I don't care what they pay. WHY SHE HATED "SHOT AT LOVE" ON MTV: When I was filming "Shot At Love" it was the unhappiest I ever was in my life! After two seasons I thought the show was really gross and disgusting. I didn't like the way the producers exploited me and my image. It's like when you read a book it's great. But the movie version is done so differently that it's not what you expected. When I first thought about having a bisexual show I thought how cool and helpful it could be for people. I thought it was important. But after season 1 and 2 it just became so out of control with me in the middle. It's not what I signed on for so I walked away from it. I didn't feel like exploiting people or myself. It was like a mind f**k. All reality shows do is ruin people's lives and the lives of their families. It's a dead end street. ON HER BOOK "HOOKING UP WITH TILA TEQUILA" BEING FOUND ON A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: This kid wrote me to say he got in trouble for having my book with him at school. I wrote him back and said, "Wow, your school is fucking idiot, because it's a f**king book. You want kids to read a fucking book, than let them read a f**king book, you f**king moron! I'm so sick of old adults who are f**king up the generation. They're so stupid. I can't believe how small their brains are. ON HER FEUD WITH PLAYBOY AND HUGH HEFNER: I don't really have a good relationship with Playboy. I did Playboy before I was Tila Tequila. I thought it was amazing when they took my photos. But it's unfortunate what happened. Once I got famous they took all the old photos they took of me and exploited the hell out of me. That's not cool. If they wanted another shot they could have set up another photo shoot and portrayed me as I am today. Instead of using 10 year old photos. I wasn't happy about that. They just didn't want to pay me. I felt really ripped off by it and how I was treated. That's why their magazine is falling apart. It's going to be out of business soon. AND FINALLY.......... Tila Tequila tells Chaunce Hayden "The McCain's are like the family I never had!" Tila Tequila: People keep judging us! "Oh my Gosh, Tila Tequila and Megan McCain! They're so different. It's so weird." But actually, if you strip away everything, we're exactly the same. The things that I get criticized for in the pop culture world, she gets criticized for in the political world. All the people in the political world talk s**t about her hair and the way she dresses. But she's still just a girl. With me, I get called an attention whore. So we really bonded. Plus, she's also a Scorpion. Her birthday is the day before mine and we're both really feisty and really aggressive. We don't put up with anybody's crap. Chaunce Hayden: What do the two of you talk about? Tila Tequila: We talk a lot about really intellectual stuff actually. It's weird. It's a really nice bond. She's always there for me. If I need help for anything she's there. When I had that problem with my ex-boyfriend recently and everybody turned against me...even though nobody knows what happened....Megan stood by me and even made public comments on my behalf to defend me. That's a really good friend. She put her own reputation on the line for me. We'll always be really good friends. Chaunce Hayden: How does John McCain feel about your relationship with his daughter? Tila Tequila: The McCain's are very loving people. Regardless of their position in life, at the end of the day they're human beings. Their just parents and that's their daughter. So in that way, they love her unconditionally. They're supportive of things that she does. She tells me her mom talks about me and what she thinks of me. Chaunce Hayden: And? Tila Tequila: I asked myself.... She said, "I showed my mom what happened to you (regarding Shawne Merriman) and she thought it was just horrible. She thinks you're such a sweet girl. She can't believe that could happen to you. She was really upset by the bruises. She thinks I'm such a sweet girl. In fact, the McCains said that if I need a place to go and get away from everything I can go stay where John McCain stays in Arizona. That place where the President's stay or whatever. They're such sweet people. The McCain's are like the family that I never had... that I wish I had. Believe it or not, Tila Tequila is very close to the McCains! Even though I voted for Barak Obama, I really learned to respect John McCain a lot. Chaunce Hayden: Would you change your vote if you could? Tila Tequila: No, only because of Sarah Palin. If John McCain didn't have Sarah Palin as a running mate I would have voted for John. Sarah messed everything up. She wasn't a good thing for them. I'm not too found of that woman.

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Rita Cosby And Howard K. Stern Suit Over

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:48:00 GMT

Award Winning Rita Cosby According to the New York Post, actress and model Anna Nicole Smith's former lawyer abruptly dropped his gay-sex libel suit against New York Times best selling author Rita Cosby on Friday. Howard K. Stern sued Cosby over published claims that he was videotaped having sex with the father of Smith's baby. The $60 million case was heading to trial until the one-page settlement agreement was filed in Manhattan federal court after the end of the business day. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, and lawyers for both sides didn't return requests for comment to the New York Post. Stern is due in a California court next month to face charges that he and two doctors supplied the former Playboy Playmate with mountains of prescription drugs before her overdose death in 2007. Photo By: James Edstrom

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The Star Studded 2009 Cnn Heros Awards

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:17:00 GMT

**** THE STARS SHINE AT CNN HEROS AWARD BASH **** AnnaLynne McCord Randy And Erika Jackson Rainn Wilson Greg Kinnear Jenna Fischer Debi Mazar Masi Oka And Noriko Abe Louis Gossett Jr. Terrence Howard Kate Flannery Neil Patrick Harris Anderson Cooper Carrie Underwood Ricki Lake Pollyanna Rose And Billy Burke Leona Lewis Carrie Ann Inaba Melinda McGraw Cat Cora And Jennifer Cora Cat Cora along with Jennifer Cora, Carrie Ann Inaba, Debi Mazar, Terrence Howard, Kate Flannery, Carrie Underwood, Leona Lewis, Ricki Lake, Pollyanna Rose, Billy Burke, Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper and many other stars attended the 2009 CNN Heroes Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photos By: RD / Gerda Wolff / Retna Digital.

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Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:08:00 GMT

Andre Agassi Andre Agassi Andre Agassi signed copies of Open: An Autobiography at Costco in Las Vegas, Nevada today. The tennis ace was all smiles for the cameras. Photos By: RD / Kabik / Retna Digital

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Andrienne Bailon Parties At Lax Nightclub

jamesedstrom12 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:51:00 GMT

Stunning Adrienne Bailon Adrienne Bailon Andrienne Bailon hosted an evening at Lax nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada. She really looked stunning and it looks like the crowd was really wild. Photos By: Scott Harrison / Retna Ltd.

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