Last Thursday I was feeling a tad despondent. With everyone away in Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic, my dance card seemed a bit empty. Then I got a call from a friend, we'll call him D, who needed a plus-one for the premier of Entourage season four. In ten minutes my Thursday went from "What should I do tonight?" to "What do I wear?" (I find it helpful to pick out your bling footwear first, then work from there.)
We started with a pre-premier warm-up at the Gramercy Park Hotel. A glass of Champagne in the Rose Bar is always a good way to get the party started. We arrived at the Ziegfield Theater just in time to see the end of the red carpet, pick up some popcorn and take our seats. It was open seating by section, we were in the blue seats in the orchestra. Once we'd settled in I look around and saw Jeremy Piven a few seats to the left. And to his left, Mark Wahlberg. (Note: It is game over if you call him Marky or mention the Funky Bunch. An error someone else made and I could have made as well because I do rock Good Vibrations on my ipod. Feel it baby? ) We watched episodes one and two of the new mini-season. Fabulous.
We then decamped to Roseland, for my first premier after-party. It was a bit like a wedding, with a hot buffet, decorated tables, open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres. The Entourage boys are exactly the same in person as they are on the show. Save for Jeremy Piven, who was much more relaxed in a t-shirt and jeans, with a tan and a little stubble. Much more charming (nay TV premier-hot?) than Ari. They dutifully signed autographs and posed for pictures. I remarked to Kevin Dillon how nice he was diligently glad handing the throngs for 45 minutes. He agreed. When you encounter celebrities, there are two ways to play it. Either gush and ask to pose for the camera phone or be casual, chat and say hi because we're all just people at the same party. I opt for the latter.
I was told the next venue was Marquee for the after-after party. So D and I decided to head downtown for some sustenance first. We pulled up to the Waverly Inn, where John Cusack was having a bite outside. Inside, Mariah Carey was having a private fiesta in the back room, but we found a nice table in the front, ordered up some burgers, mac 'n cheese and a bottle of rosé.
The door at Marquee was a crazy scrum of people pressing to get in, but we waited patiently in the line of cars to pull up in front. (D likes to roll in black SUV with his driver Mr. K.) I hopped out of the car and asked the bouncer "Entourage in the red room?" to which he replied "Turtle told us you were coming." I love Thursdays in New York.
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