My Vegas experience is nothing short of a miracle. It was so amazing, so full of non-stop special experiences, I found it hard to write it down. But I know Don would never forgive me if I didn’t (joking). The trip was a 50th Birthday present from my husband (George). I was reluctant to go since the economy has been so bad and he has been working under a 35% salary cut for over 6 months. He simply said, “You only live once!” I mentioned to a friend that I was struggling, wanting to be practical and she immediately offered to purchase our Showgirl tickets for us! Lets say at that moment caution was thrown to the wind!

At the airport and on the plane I met 6 people going to see Showgirl, 2 of them smug Muthas. Ask my husband, I talk to anybody and everybody I meet! As we checked into Caesar’s, I learned the registration clerk was originally from, PA. We chatted and next thing you know we were upgraded to Junior suite! We did, some sight seeing and when we got back to our room, there was a package and a note for me. It was card from Rosie at the registration desk wishing me a happy birthday and thanking us for being so kind to her and a set of stone Caesar Palace beverage coasters!!!

By this time I hadn’t slept in well over 24 hours. In addition to the show I was meeting a friend I’ve Facebooked, text and spoke on the phone with for almost a year. We weren’t supposed to meet until Monday, but decided we just couldn’t wait. She gave me directions where and when to meet her outside Caesars. We waited and the texts began to come,” just a few more minutes…I’m walking..” Then out of the door pops that gorgeous mane of hair with that unmistakable gorgeous smile…Bette Sussman! Finally, the hug I’ve been waiting to give for what felt like forever. We joke about the fact that her actual home is 2 hours from ours but we had to fly clear across the country to finally meet!! You all know what a stunningly beautiful woman she is but I can tell you/ she is also one of the kindest, most generous, funniest and incredibly supportive people you could ever hope to meet. I will be forever grateful for the amount of time and the number of incredible experiences she shared with us throughout our visit.

We did so many things while there, including the Grand Canyon, the skywalk, I rode a horse to and along the edge of the canyon. We had our picture taken with a lion cub. (We actually got to meet and pet 2 cubs because the first one wouldn’t settle down for the photo!) Of course we did all the touristy stuff and did all the recommended things from friends and family.

When my Birthday arrived I was over the top, I was going to see both my Bette’s perform!!!!!!! We had dinner at Sushi Roku, a big deal if you know George’s aversion to seafood and particularly sushi. We underestimated the time a little and were hurriedly trying to leave the restaurant, but the staff had a surprise for me, three types of ice cream on a plate with drizzeled chocolate that said Happy Birthday!!

We got to theater and purchased a program. We were taken to our seats in the 16th row center. The seats were amazing, the view and acoustics were perfect! As we were sitting there a woman approached (I didn’t get her name) and spoke with my husband, she handed him an envelope and told him when the show ended to wait and she would come and get us! Needless to say I was stunned! There was quite a conspiracy of kindness that worked to surprise me with meeting the Divine Miss M!! Just prior to entering the theatre, my husband informed that efforts were being made to have me meet her but since he hadn’t heard he was sure it didn’t work out. At this point it didn’t even matter to me. I’ve had so much fun, I was going to see Shayna Steele, Kamilah Marshall, Jordan Ballard and Bette Sussman play a set the club Freakin’ Frog after the show. Everything up to this point had already been so far beyond any thing I could ever have dreamed.

The show started and the band began to walk on the stage we waved and Bette Sussman acknowledged us in her unique funny way! When the Divine One took the stage it was nothing short of magical. Of course it felt as though she was singing directly to me. I was mesmerized, it was magical watching both Bettes, the Harlettes, the Caesar Salad Girls, the band, The Fat City Horns…all of it! It was the fastest yet longest 90 minutes of my life if you know what I mean! The audience was electric, several standing O’s, she had us eating out of the palm of her hand! It was nothing short of spectacular. What an extraordinary group of talent all in one place, performing seamlessly like this is what they were born to do.

When the show ended and we waited, I realized how lucky I was not to have been expecting to meet Miss M up until the last minute, I didn’t really have much time to get too nervous! We were taken to the infamous elevator and the green room. We waited and in a few minutes in pops Bette Sussman, she and my husband were beaming with the knowledge of how well they surprised me. As we waited I noticed Olivia Newton John, Bob Mackey and Tony Basil. They were all in conversations but Ms. Newton John took a second to acknowledge and say hello to us!

I looked around the room and there she was…Bette Midler! I finally realized it wasn’t a dream! This is real!!! We were called to come meet her, by this time Bette Sussman had gone to her dressing room. I introduced myself and much to my surprise she said, “Oh yes, I’ve heard about you.” My immediate response was to say “Oh no, should I leave now?” she laughed and told me no, it was all good things! I asked if she had been to NYRP since her birthday and she said she hadn’t. I told her about the BLB donations, she put her hand to her heart and seemed to fill up a little and said, “For me? That is so wonderful!”. I told her about the box, mostly I told her about the note I taped inside. The end of the note said, “Consider this the hug I would so dearly love to give you in person. My circumstances as they are now won’t allow for a trip to Vegas let alone a Smug Mutha’ package.” She laughed and agreed to ignore that section when she gets it! We talked about the show and both of us told her how good it was. I asked her if she would sign a program for a friend of mine whose mother is terminally ill. I explained that a few years ago when my mother died this friend took me to see KMB to lift my spirits and I know I can’t change things for her but this would give her at least a smile. She asked my friends name and wrote a personal note to her. Before she handed it back to me, she gave me the biggest hug and said” this is so kind of you.” We got the picture taken and my husband asked if he could give her kiss for making this day so special for me. She said, “Of course you can!” As I turned to leave she gave me another hug and said, “I hope we meet again soon”! As we left the room, Bette Sussman met us and lead us out to the casino floor.

There we met Jordan Ballard. I introduced myself and told her we are friends on FB and she says yes we are!!! It was on to the Freakin’ Frog for the next show! I will write about that next. For now it’s off to bed. To Don, and all my fellow Betteheads that have encouraged me to write this, thank you, how wonderful to relive it!

(Art Work: Barbara Anthony)

Bettehead Wendy Poo is trying her best not to show up on the show “Hoarders” so she’s trying to get rid of some Bette magazines and clippings due to the amount of space she has in her apartment. Please help the poor girl out…she’s one of the good ones!!!!

Love, Mister D

PS: Maybe she could send us a direct link???? Here it is: Click Here

Vanity Fair
Book Review: Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire edited by Graydon Carter
Feb 7, 2010

How would you answer these questions?

* What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
* When and where were you happiest?
* What is your current state of mind?

That’s the task Vanity Fair put to 101 luminaries, in Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire. The responses may surprise you. Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter must have had great fun choosing the celebrities to include. Because we know of these people, their responses are especially revealing.

This questionnaire originated as a 19th century parlor game among young Marcel Proust’s contemporaries. While he didn’t develop the questionnaire, Proust did fill it out age 14 and again at age 20. He published his answers in an 1892 article titled” “Salon Confidences written by Marcel.” As Vanity Fair has been asking these questions since 1993, this new collection gives us an inside look at some of the lofty goals and reveals insecurities among today’s celebrities. And it’s a great way to pass the time!

Among my favorites:

* Author Margaret Atwood regrets not becoming an opera singer.
* Nora Ephron deplores her inability to resist a questionnaire.
* Maureen Dowd‘s greatest regret is lipstick traces.
* Eric Clapton would like to die while fishing.
* Bette Midler’s most treasured possession is her sanity, although she’d like to have the ability to read a spreadsheet.

The addictive list of questions is printed in the back of Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire for you to fill out. Now in the 21st century, it would be fun to use it with friends, and see how much our focus and values have changed today. Lipstick traces and wishes for a peaceful death, or “an empty house and a good book” as Midler said, would probably still rank high on the list.

Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire is a pop-culture treasure and includes Robert Risko’s amazing full-page color caricatures of these notable celebrities.

When I left you ladies and germs in Part One (Click Here), I was galavanting around Caesar’s right after having my photo taken with the Divne Miss M, Bette Midler. And here is the picture to remind you once again that it did happen…it’s also my visual pinch:

Now anyone who has been in Caesar’s Palace knows it’s like a maze trying to find your way around there. I usually have a great sense of direction and even I got lost most of the time. After I met with Bette, I was so excited and quite ashamed to say, a little inebriated, that I could not for the life of me find my way back to the room. But then I remembered, I knew where David’s (the statue) penis was…and I knew to go gayly forward from there and that would take me to the elevators to my room. Well, of course, I found it and headed to the Palace Towers. Yes, I lived in a Palace…could you imagine less?

(David’s penis points the way)

Well, I made it up to the room and was on such a high I couldn’t go to sleep, so we all watched “Zombieland” which was about DittoHeads who infiltrated Vegas because Rush Limbaugh was one of the judges that night for the Miss America pageant….of course, we, the good Americans, had to slay them all. At least I think that’s what the movie was about…I was having a hard time concentrating.

Oh I forgot to tell you guys that I met a wonderful BetteHead by the name of Ron who brought me some rare Bette gifts that I hope to share on Bootleg Betty eventually. He came over the night I was to meet Bette and we had a nice chat…great guy. We shared some Bette stories, drank a few drinks, and then we went our separate ways. I just wanted to mention him, because he was so nice. We’ll run into him later again.

The next morning I was a big baby and didn’t want to do anything. I wanted to look my best for the BetteHead dinner and for Bette’s last night. Plus I was supposed to meet with Bruce Vilanch. I run his official website, so we were going to get a photo together and chat for a minute. I was also supposed to meet with Eric Kornfeld although I had no idea how this was going to happen. All three of us seem to run into each other naturally so I had no worries there. Maybe I should have. Anyway, Becky and Barry kept pestering me to go look at the lions, cubs, and dolphins, so I tried to pretend I had a piercing pillow headache. This is my acting technique which did not work….:

(Mister D with a piercing pillow headache)

I was a good sport, however, and went with my friends walking in Vegas…but I ate and drank a lot. I knew by the time we went to the BetteHead dinner there would only be room for drinks and that was okay with me. Drink, Drink, Drink, Drinking Again was my theme song in Vegas….having a few, buying a round for total non-strangers….just to get them off my back. I really enjoyed the two for one places…joyous times. By the way, here’s one of the tigers I think Bette Sussman took care of….My God she has a hairy thumb:

Anyway, let’s move this story along…we got back to the palace and got all spruced up for the dinner at Lago’s Buffet in Caesar’s Palace that BetteHead Becci had arranged. She also had arranged for the Harlettes, Jordan Ballard and Kamilah Marshall, and Bette’s background singer, Shayna Steele, to surprise us at dinner which they so kindly did. It was great meeting everybody (yes, I’m going to attempt naming everyone): Becci, Troy, Kim, Peter, Ron, Jennica, Christina, Rebecca, Barry, Janine, Jenny, Larry, Kathy, Jordan, Kamilah, and Shayna….a few were missing in action and I blame the maze that is Caesar’s. But thank you Lago’s for being so kind to us. Our waiter even took our photo:

Anyway, everybody was so kind and I’m so glad I got to meet all that I did…there were even a couple of more in the venue who introduced themselves. Just really cool. Thanks for a great night. Also many thanks to Janine Wilson for giving out some of her CD’s. Check her out she’s awesome!

Here are some more photos of me with the goils:

(Showing some love: Kamilah, Mister D, Shayna, and Jordan)

(Mister D and Shayna Steele: After she signed her CD and gave a few away)

After this little lovefest, we all headed to see Bette’s final performance. This time I sat with Barry and Becky about 4 rows back in section 5, I believe, a very odd angle, but interesting. Very close. I still considered my seats the night before that were further back, center, much, much better. Before the show started I spotted Bruce Vilanch and Marc Shaiman, later Marie Osmond sat in the row behind us. Becky ran around to get her autograph cause she’s a little bit country and so is Marie, ya know? Wayne Newton made a grand entrance by walking all the way to the front and then back to the back where his seat really was….guess he wanted to be noticed. Others spotted were Paula Abdul…oh well, I can’t remember anybody else. That’s enough.

The show was flawless and you couldn’t have asked for a better audience. There were several standing ovations. I have to say the only disappointment for Betteheads that night was that “Hello In There” and “WAMLAW” were both cut to make room for Jake Shimabakura and Bette’s “In My Life” and his solo of George Harrison’s “When My Guitar Gently Weeps.” It was awe-inspiring. Not many stood up, but I sure did….it was breathtaking. Bette did get emotional during “Glory of Love” and could not finish the last few notes. She also cried while introducing Gladys Knight and while singing “Wind Beneath My Wings.” The crowd ate it up! You could hear people from different corners screaming “I love you Bette” or “We love you Bette!” It was enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. And in a flash, it seemed the show was over…all 2 hours of it. Yet, like all Bette shows, you clamored for more! But this time The Showgirl was gone for good. Yet we all know she will reappear again better than before. Long Live Bette Midler!

After the show, we chatted with a few Betteheads….I ended up missing Bruce and Eric. Bruce got mixed up about the night we were supposed to meet and Eric scolded me because he said I should have called him after the show. Frankly, I forgot I had his number. Oh well, there’s always Hulaween or the Spring Picnic. Slowly, but surely the night winded down with a few Betteheads heading to Paris for drinks and fun until we could hardly speak. Everybody was leaving the next day, so there was an air of sadness or that old feeling of here we go “back to reality.” Yuk!

(Homeward Bound: Becky and Mister D)

All in all it was a great time and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The next day we headed back to Nashville where it was cold and snowbound. No pants on the ground (suspenders!), no penises to lead the way home….it was just like a click of the heels and we were, well, HOME……and even that felt good.

PS: Eric did send me the lyrics to It’s Getting Hot In Here (Eric Kornfeld/Bette Sussman):

Love, Mister D

(Entertainer Bette Midler accepts handkerchiefs from her show girls during the final performance of Midler’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” on Jan. 31 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Photo by Duane Prokop.)

Caesar Salad Girl, Carol Hatchett, kickin’ up her heels in divine Miss M’s Las Vegas Extravaganza
BY: LYNN MARIE
Entertainment Magazine

Goodbye Celine, move over Donny & Marie, the Divine Miss M. has been taking the Las Vegas strip by storm for the past year with The Showgirl Must Go On currently playing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

Bette is joined on stage by the Harlettes, a 13-piece band –which includes a six-piece horn section from the Las Vegas band “The Fat City Horns”—and 18 female dancers, who tackle the lively and energetic choreography created by the legendary Toni Basil (of “Mickey” fame). One of these spectacular dancers is Carol Hatchett from Chicago, Illinois.

Ms. Hatchett grew up in the Chicago area and studied at University of Illinois – Chicago. After graduation she knew she wanted to dance and she knew she needed to go to New York or Los Angeles.

“I wanted to dance so much, explains Hatchett.” I went to New York for a summer extensive program and studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, I loved New York but it wasn’t for me, explains Hatchett, so I said I’m going to try Los Angeles when I graduate and I relocated there, it was fantastic. All of a sudden you are performing with all the people you seen in videos and television and you are auditioning and all that is very exciting.”

“When I first arrived in Los Angeles, I danced at the hottest club at the time which was The Palladium.” While dancing at this club she met Toni Basil who is choreographer for the current production show in Las Vegas.

“Toni has been my mentor in Los Angeles, she pulled me in and said this is how it goes, explains Hatchett.” From there she became Ms. Basil’s assistant and eventually got the audition of a lifetime for Bette’s show in Las Vegas. Basil encouraged Hatchett to audition for the show.

Hatchett was a late bloomer she started dancing when she was 15 years old but she knew from that point that’s what she wanted to do. “I fell in love with dance and haven’t stopped. I can’t imagine doing anything other than dancing,” explains Hatchett.

Hatchett turns up the passion and drama in Bette Midler’s The Showgirl Must Go On. “I have been very blessed to work with some of the best entertainers in the business. I’ve learned a lot, a whole lot, on so many levels working with Bette. There is an old school process with Bette that hardly anyone does anymore,” explains Hatchett.

“There’s rehearsing and revamping and visualizing and changing. She has all these elements that not many artists do these days. She takes the time to make stories and make the magic. That is really what we are doing even though it sounds a little corny that is what we are doing on stage. A lot of storytelling; that’s what I have learned working with her, not just show up, phone in, it’s much more than that and she is current on current events. Every time we come back to Las Vegas it is fresh and new. I don’t know anyone that works as hard as Bette. Everything is constantly evolving and changing and growing; it’s all her, genuinely her.”

“I try to implement this philosophy on my own projects; I’ve barely touched on so much she has given me. I want to take everything I can from this experience. I’m excited to be working with the Divine Miss M at this time of my life as I’m trying to step out as an artist myself with my singing and songwriting. You always want to be personable and “in touch” with your audience, explains Hatchett “I want to take Bette’s magic with me.”

Hatchett advises any up and coming dancer to “never give up.” I feel very blessed and I do find myself pinching myself. You should never give up on your dreams whatever it is that you want to do or become as an artist, you should always keep that in mind if you work hard enough and if you believe. You really have to work at your craft and become an original. There are always roller coasters in your career, explains Hatchett, there are going to be up’s and downs.”

Bette still embodies all that is glittery and glamorous about old-school Hollywood. It’s no surprise that each of her fabulous costumes sparkled under the spotlights. She took the stage for more than 90 minutes. The unflappable Bette sounded, looked and moved better than ever. She has these little quips thrown in between songs and a knack for interacting with the audience. She sings, she dances, she acts, and she tells bawdy jokes and all this at the tender age of 63. Her breathless enthusiasm is truly a breath of fresh air.

You know it’s strange, but I can’t ever remember anything. And I’ve tried every trick in the book to help my memory along…notepads, tape recorders, post it notes, even photos, but nothing seems to do the full trick…so I rely on what little short-term memory I have, friend’s recollections, and if I can find any of the other doo-dads I’ve listed, well I enlist their help, too. It takes a city, people. Therefore please bare with me as I sort my own story out for your pleasure…and, well, mine, too! A Lot can be blamed on my health and drugs…okay, not drugs, for that would make me cool, but old people’s medications for depression, anxiety, thyroid, and other assortments of ailments, but I digress…as Miss M would say. I’m a smorgasbord of human illnesses, but I’m known as a big fighter and survivor. I refuse to let all that conquer me. So on with the story….who made me bring this up? I think it was George Washington and that damn cherry tree’s influence. I cannot tell a lie and I cannot shut up.

Now I have met Bette 4-5 times over the years (not counting Hulaweens), so I thought I would ask if I could meet her the last night of “The Showgirl Must Go On.” Of course, I thought the answer would be “no” since it was the last night, but I was told there would be no problem. Then the week of the show, I got an email from Bette’s people saying it was a problem and we’d have to figure something else out. I said it was okay if it couldn’t happen, but it turned out that Bette wanted to see me…it had been some years since we last talked and we did hit it off quite well. I was ecstatic. The only way to do it was if I came to the show Saturday night as well as Sunday night. Saturday was the last night for guests whether they be Smugs or VIP’s. So I said I would be willing to come Saturday night (twist my arm why don’t you?) by myself and Barry and my friend Becky could do something else. So I threw Barry and my best friend, Becky, under the bus for a Saturday night with Bette Midler. Well, wouldn’t you?

(Becky and Barry before being thrown under the bus)

When we arrived in Vegas, the main trouble I had was keeping my pants up. Many on Facebook already know this story. I’m between waist sizes. Not only did I lose my pants in security at the airport, I also lost them one night at Caesar’s walking to our room while I was carrying two bags. My pants literally fell to the floor and Barry caught the notorious moment on camera for posterity. I have no shame. Here it is:

Most of my trip revolved around Bette, I have to say. I was not a good walker, so Vegas was not for me unless I was drinking a yard of pina coladas or some other fruity drink. I was just so out of shape. But I’m working on that diligently now. One of the first things I did was hit the Bette store. I bought over a hundred dollars worth of stuff even though everything was on clearance. It was just so tempting – Programs, tote bags, hoodies, T[shirts, coffee mugs, etc…and yes I will use every bit of them. Then I picked my ticket up at Will Call and the guy kept going on about how lucky I was. I noticed I was not with the Smugs, but found out I was in the VIP section….whatever that meant. At the time I didn’t know.

Later that Saturday night I felt so alone going to the show, I guess because I was alone. I was escorted to my seat which was about 16 rows back. They call it the director’s row or something because it gives you the best view in the house stagewise….dead center…I mean I could see and hear everything perfectly without straining left or right…it was just awesome. Later Glenn Close and Mitzi Gaynor sat in my row. I said my hello’s quite demurely since I didn’t want to intrude on their privacy too much. But it was neat being in their presence. For once I felt glamorous and yearned for rabbit stew….did I say that? By the way, the programs I bought in the Bette store were free in the concert hall. Why me?

The audience was not at their best that night….no standing ovations, but hearty applause. Bette gave it her all. The only change I had noticed was that she sang “friends” 3 numbers in and had dropped “in the mood” or “stuff like that there.” Anyway, it was a welcomed change. I had always thought “Friends” should have been in the show anyway. At the end of the show, someone was to come get me but nobody came. The usher came and told me I had to leave, but I told him my dilemma and he showed me where the elevators were. Just as I was walking to the elevators the lady who was to get me came and said sorry, but I was last on the list and to please put my VIP tag on. I hate being ostentatious so I had not taped it on me. I was too nervous to unpeel it so 2 Betteheads helped me out….Randy and David, I believe. I also met another Bettehead backstage, John who was very nice, however they got pulled in before I did, so we didn’t get to talk long.

Bette Sussman made her entrance into the Green Room and started talking to Julie Golde who wrote “from a Distance” and was telling her about the surprise guests appearing the next night. Susswoman said to keep it a secret, so then I felt it was my turn to chime in. I said “Thanks for that little tidbit, Bette!” She turned around and saw me and screamed out “Goddammit, Don Bradshaw, you little MF’er, I better not read that in Bootleg Betty tomorrow! How ya doin? Give me a hug! So we hugged one another and told each other how good one another looked and she did look stunning. She always looks good…just a naturally beautiful woman. We talked a little and then Shayna Steele walked in whom I’ve never met…she recognized me and we exchanged pleasantries. She said she’d be seeing a bunch of us the next night at a Bettehead function…so all that was cool. Now she was stunningly beautiful up close. We chatted a little about her CD and then she had to run.

Then it was wait, wait, wait….I watched people have their photos taken with Bette one by one…there must have been 30-40 people back there….including Laker’s and TV star Rick Fox, Eliza Dushku, and Mitzi Gaynor. I don’t know how Bette did it for that long, but she kept her graciousness intact. I figured by the time she got to me, she’d have a temper tantrum. I would!

As my time approached, Bette’s assistant came over and greeted me with a hug and a kiss and Marty Hom the tour manager shook my hand and asked how I’d been doing. He said he expected to hear no bad things on BLB about anything in the Green Room (and yes he was kidding!). Like there was anything bad to report. This is the most professional team in show business. I talked with Jill for a minute about spending too much at the Bette Store, but she was pleased. I was pleased that all the Betteheads T-shirts were almost gone cause those came about because of BLB. Not to mention a few other ideas.

Now it was my time. Marty goes something like here’s your last guest Don Bradshaw and Bette looks at me for a minute and goes to herself….”I know you….Don, Don, Don Bradshaw….DON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bootleg Betty DON…..it’s been years!” I said “Probably 5 years.” She said, “No, it’s been longer, I remember, more like 6!” I said, “if you say so, it sounds about right to me.” She then asked how I was doing after I told her how much I enjoyed the show and told her how ravishing she looked. Of course, I told her I was fine, but my lips were about to fall off because the desert air was so dry. Then she said, “that’s not what I heard.” Then I said, “Oh, I’m fine” and she then said, “No, your health has been bad, what’s going on?” WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! What was I supposed to do???? I told her I had been clinically diagnosed as a major depressive, had high anxiety problems, and fibromyalgia, and was fat. She then told me what a young, good-looking man I was and that I didn’t have to be living so badly….she quoted a little from The “Saga of Baby Divine” (Make your life a rare entertainment) and started in on the virtues of exercise and eating right. Of course, I was hanging on every word she said; she’s my mentor. But I must have started acting like a child and doing that heavy sighing thing and going “I know, I know, I know” like a kid, because she started mimicking me by sighing real loud and jumping back and forth on her tippy toes and shaking her head with her hands limp at the wrist. I just started laughing. She just said I’m giving you good advice and you should listen. I said I would and that she would notice a difference the next time. She said once again that she couldn’t get over how good I looked though…I just needed to lose a little weight. Then it was photo time. Afterwards she asked me about Bootleg Betty and if the kids still loved me? I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but I said “of course they do, but they love you more” and she smiled! She then asked about my hair and said what a lovely color it was and wanted to know if I bleached it or if it was real? I said, “it’s real…it’s just old man’s white.” She said she just loved it. I told her about our BLB birthday fundraiser and that a memory box was waiting for her when she got back to New York. She was very appreciative of the money the fans mustered up during these hard economic times. It was time to go by then, so we hugged goodbye until the next time. I promised it wouldn’t be such a long interlude.

As I was leaving, it dawned on me that I was Bette’s last official guest. Oh, the pressure! She was Johnny Carson’s, Neil Young was Conan’s, and then there’s ME, and then there’s Me, and then there’s Me (sung like the old Maude theme song). Anyway, I turned around once more to get a glimpse of The Showgirl, but all the lights were off and The Showgirl had been whisked away. The usher beckoned me to follow him back to the elevators so I could leave.

Then I hopped and skipped all the way back to my room. Tomorrow was the last night….a meeting with the Betteheads and The Showgirl finale. Stay tuned for Part II!

*Must credit Eric Kornfeld for that idea!!!!

Poison Ivy
DKNY Spring 2010: “White is the New Black”
Feb 3, 2010

With Fashion Week kicking off Feb. 11, Poison Ivy was in a fierce state of mind as we trekked over to DKNY’s Madison Avenue store in the Upper East Side Tuesday night to attend a special trunk show featuring highlights from DKNY’s Spring 2010 Collection. Most exciting was that a portion of the night’s proceeds benefitted New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit founded by Bette Midler, which revitalizes parks and gardens in neglected areas of Manhattan.

“White is the new black,” said presenter Curtis Farnham, showcasing Karan’s Grecian “chalk” dress that he suggested for anything from a summer white party to a wedding.

“You can be an urban bride,” he told attendees.

Other prevalent themes in Karan’s Spring collection were grays and pumices (middle photo), and we personally fell in love with an Adam Lambert-esque white denim jacket with chunky collar.

Karan also filtered a few prints and stripes into the collection (bottom photo), as customary, which her three models showcased effortlessly.

We love it!