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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 26 > Entry
Elton’s Oscar bash
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The sometimes- lethargically paced 79th Academy Awards didn’t faze the folks at Elton John’s 15th annual Oscar Party Sunday night at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.
Of course, an open bar, a lavish dinner of Tuscan salad, risotto, filet of sole or filet mignon and a creamy chocolate dessert plus non-stop celebrity sightings all tend to make even the dullest sound editing award acceptance speech go a bit faster.
To see a gallery of photos from the party CLICK HERE.
Among the celebrities at the Peachtree Road resident’s annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation: P. Diddy, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell, Natalie Cole, Oscar winner Marlee Matlin, Sarah Michelle Gellar, “24” star Keifer Sutherland, “Desperate Housewives ” actor James Denton, “Will & Grace” actor Eric McCormack, Jon Bon Jovi, Kid Rock and Cedric the Entertainer.
Singer-songwriter James Blunt performed a short set for the appreciative crowd.
As always, two table-fulls of Atlantans flew across the country to be a part of the festivities. The Cattleya orchids serving as the centerpiece at each table, along with ivory-handled flatware and gold-rimmed china did not escape the eye of Atlanta florist Robert Long. Long was “just too thrilled for words” that he got to meet film director John Waters and Sir Elton on the same night.
Atlanta real estate developer Charlie Hendon, meanwhile, scored the much-coveted private soccer lessons with David Beckham (the international soccer phenom and his wife, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, longtime friends of Sir Elton, recently relocated to Los Angeles where David is now playing). Price tag on the lessons: $50,000.
Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Gallups, meanwhile, won one of the evening’s signature Chopard watches.
Gallups’ wife, Atlanta pediatrician Dr. Nancy Gallups, clad in an Oscar de la Renta frock, scored a double kiss from the evening’s host as he made the rounds through the party.
“The energy level is really sky high here tonight,” Nancy Gallups allowed. “Elton always appreciates seeing his friends from Atlanta who are so supportive of him.”
As always, Atlanta hair stylist Carey Carter could be relied upon to help keep track of the more tabloid-attracting celebs in the crowd (Tara Reid, for example, waged an impressive battle with the earth’s gravitational pull throughout the evening).
The festivities still dazzled Acworth couple Michael and Linda Scaturro, who were in the crowd 15 Oscar nights ago in Hollywood for the very first EJAF Academy Awards benefit, then held in a hotel with a widescreen TV.
“It’s always a terrific way to spend Oscar night and for such a great cause,” Michael Scaturro told Buzz. “And it’s very cool to see so many people from home who are now a part of this.”
Still, Michael was keeping tabs on Linda who kept busy scanning the crowd for David Beckham.
Cracked Scaturro: “I told her, ‘If you leave me for him, I want half of his money!’ But if she runs off with him, it will give me a chance to bid on that five-night stay at Donatella Versace’s house in the French Riviera!”
Long after Atlantans crashed early Monday morning, the EJAF board members in West Hollywood had a substantial reason to stay awake and celebrate: the 2007 party took in more than $4 million.
“It puts us a million dollars over last year,” EJAF-Atlanta board member Barron Segar told us. “It’s one for the record books. We couldn’t be happier.”
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