New York Times...Arts & Leisure Weekend! January 8th-11th...

The New York Times hosts its 9th Annual Celebration of the Arts LIVE at the TimesCenter commencing January 8th - 11th.

The stimulating week-end event features scintillating interviews and open dialogues with New York Times journalists and a handful of high-profile talent and thinkers from the arenas of art, film, theater, dance, music, television, literature, media and politics.

Here are a few highlights of the thought-provoking discussions slated for the exciting event.

Thursday January 8, 20096:00 PM – 7:15 PM

Never Settle

Guests:
Glenn Close, , Rose Byrn, Tate Donovan, Todd a Kessler, Glen Kessler, and Daniel Zelman.

One of the Emmy-winning stars, a handful of actors, and the creators-writers-producers of the FX series “Damages" - the legal thriller set in New York - talk about driven characters and high-stakes battles.
Interviewer Bill Carter.

Friday January 9, 20096:00 PM – 7:15 PM

PILOBOLUS DANCE THEATRE

The dancers & artistic directors of the innovative dance troupe reveal a behind-the-screen look at their newest collaboration - “Darkness and Light" - and discuss steps the company has taken to become a pioneering 21st -century American arts organization.
Interviewer Robin Pogrebin.


Saturday January 10, 20092:00 PM – 3:15 PM

TAVIS SMILEY

A Voice for Change

The broadcaster, author, advocate, philanthropist and host of the award-winning PBS late-night talk show gives his perspective on the news and issues that are shaping American life today. Interviewer Matt Bai.


Saturday January 10, 20096:00 PM – 7:15 PM

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

The smart indie pop group comprised of four former Columbia students discuss how they got together, the success of their debut album, and where they’re headed now.
Interviewer Ben Sisario.

Sunday January 11, 200912:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Obama's 1st 100 Days

Guests:
Peter Baker, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, and Jeff Zeleny

The team of Times reporters assigned to cover the new Barack Obama administration discuss what to expect in the President-Elect’s critical early months in office.
Interviewer Richard L. Berke.

Sunday January 11, 20092:00 PM – 3:15 PM

Jazzy Numbers

Guests:
Gal Costa & Cassandra Wilson

The subject is Tropicalismo and home-grown American jazz: two Grammy-winning vocalists, one Brazilian and one New Yorker by way of Mississippi, listen to recordings that have meant the most to them and riff on what matters in music. Interviewed by Ben Ratliff.

Info: http://www.artsandleisureweekend.com/

http://www.julianayrs.com

Brad Pitt...embarrassing lost interview. Ouch!

Brad just might make my worst-dressed list to be unveiled Feb 1st!

On the eve of the release of - "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - Showbiz Tonight (a News Magazine show) dragged out an old clip of Brad Pitt waxing philosophical about his acting aspirations and the vagaries of fortune and fame.

Oh my gosh - what an embarrassing ten minutes-or-so on celluloid - for the once-studly young romantic leading man!

Sporting a pair of ubiquitous horn-rimmed glasses (Poindexters), and a dippity-do haircut, the heart-throb's hands consistently flapped in the breeze, as he elucidated (!) his thoughts in a whispy faggy little voice, sure to have raised eyebrows in living-rooms around the country.

On a couple of occasions in the conversation, the then-wimpy actor used a dated hand expression - pronounced quotation marks in mid-air - to get points across to the host.

But frankly, the boy wonder looked positively silly, as he rambled on in a most disconcerting way.

Even the host poked fun at the elusive star after the segment was broadcast to viewers.

When the spot wrapped, I even shook my head in disbelief.

How did Pitt ever end up on the road to stardom in view of the silly-as-a-goose persona that he once projected in those heady days of his naive youth?

Well, you know what they say!

It's who you blow - not what you know - eh?

A tip for you Brad.

Gobble up all the copies, pronto!

And, burn before screening, too!

Brad, buttons pulling at the vest are a fashion no-no!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Curious Case of Benjamin Button...oops! Blooper, did you catch it?

On the eve of the glittering premiere of the feature film release for - " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - the producers trotted out Brad Pitt on the red carpet to promote the intriguing F. Scott Fitzgerald story adapted for the screen, newspapers around the country were blitzed with eye-catching ads heralding a Benjamin Button "industry buzz" touting potential Oscar nods, and so forth and so on.

Pity they spent so much money on promotion and patting themselves on the back!

After all, into the first few minutes of the film, an obvious "blooper" indicated to me that some very sloppy filmmaking threatened to keep the Oscar at least an arm's length away.

Insiders - who have taken in the big-budget feature from Paramount & Warner Brothers - undoubtedly spotted the glaring gaff onscreen right away.

What exactly is a blooper?

Many familiar with the process of shooting a movie are undoubtedly aware that scenes are put together "piecemeal".

Generally, a director from the old school sets up the camera for an establishing shot, which is also known as the "master".

For example, if a scene takes place in a trendy cafe, the audience is first treated to a bit of footage that establishes the location of the characters in the storyline.

Then, the camera may zoom in for a close-up of the lead actors.

Usually, a two-shot is filmed showing the characters engaging in conversation - at which point - the director sets up the camera to capture each actor individually.

Later, in the production studio, an editor will "seamlessly" piece the clips together to give the appearance of an on-going chat between the characters.

As the scenes are being put in the can - a script supervisor and a staffer in the "continuity" department - take note of the clips that have been shot, what footage needs to be filmed to ensure the segment makes logical sense when edits are conducted later in the production studio, and so forth and so on.

On occasion, there are slip-ups.

For instance, when one segment is shot for a bar scene, there may have been a beer bottle on the counter.

During the course of the "set-ups" (when cameras are placed in position, lighting is established for the shot, etc.) the lowly bottle of ale may have been innocently moved by a crew member.

The end result?

As a filmgoer is watching the film, a beer bottle vividly appears on screen one moment, then vanishes the next.

This is a called a "blooper".

The one in "Benjamin Button" was quite glaring to me!

Anyone who took in a screening this past week may recall - that in the opening scenes of "Button" - a baby is left on the doorstep of an institution.

When a resident of the facility spies the child, she swoops it up into her arms, and sneaks it into her private quarters.

As she is coddling the child, there is a knock at the door.

Without much thought, she opens the top drawer of a dresser nearby - tucks the child lovingly inside - then slides it closed.

"Queenie" proceeds to open the door a crack and chat with an elderly woman.

At this juncture, she is inclined to get back to her duties tending the residents.

Now, Queenie half-turns toward camera at the door - glances at the child in the open drawer for a second - then exits.

Now wait a minute.

Did you catch that?

Before Queenie answered the door, she closed the drawer with the baby hidden inside the cozy little space.

But, when she turned back to gaze toward the dresser, the drawer was open revealing the child contentedly laying inside.

Did the drawer magically open by itself?

Obviously, someone on the set made a big boo-boo!

Or, there was a problem with footage back at the studio, so producers opted to edit the two scenes together in spite of the fact they did not "match".

I expect the filmmakers thought no one would notice?

Now that the Oscar ballots have been mailed out, and nominations are being considered by the Academy, I have to seriously wonder about one thing.

Can the powers-that-be give an Oscar nod to "Benjamin Button" in spite of the fact the director, the film editors, and producers screwed up so miserably in respect to a basic fundamental aspect of filmmaking?

Only Oscar knows for sure.

The envelope, please!

*A review of Benjamin Button will follow
http://www.julianayrs.com

Harry Potter...fan will publish Lexicon for popular movie franchise!

In retrospect, it appears that a claim by J.K. Rowlings that she won a court battle last year over Harry Potter copyright issues, may have been a trumped-up spin on the actual court ruling to save face for the author.

A case in point.

Last year, J.K. Rowlings filed a lawsuit against a young writer in a bold-faced effort to block his efforts to publish a useful tool to enlighten fans about terminology used in the Harry Potter fiction materials.

In the contentious court battle that followed, a myriad of intriguing aspects of law came to light.

For example, lawyers for Ms. Rowlings argued strenuously that the "Lexicon" crafted by Steven Vander Ark violated copyright laws and that - in sum - Vander Ark was seeking to obtain ill-gotten financial gains by virtue of the fruits of Ms. Rowlings creative labor.

In response, Vander Ark - a mild-mannered librarian - broke down on the witness stand under the stress of the allegations.

According to his testimony, he was not seeking to "steal" any material from Ms. Rowling - or claim any of the original fiction materials - as his own.

In sum, he stressed for the record that he merely drummed up the idea in a good-faith effort to publish a sort-of encylopedia of words and phrases, so that fans of the popular best-selling series could better understand the fiction materials onscreen and off.

During that trial, I penned a post on the maneuverings that went down in court.

Post:

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/04/jk-rowlingsbig-meanie-with-big-bucks.html

Shortly after that first round of legal tit-for-tat, it was announced that Rowlings had prevailed in the action.

Curiously, in a sort-of footnote, it was noted that an "agreement" had been reached between the two parties.

Huh?

Just this past week, the obvious conflict resolved itself in my eyes, when Steven Vander Ark announced that RDR Books will publish his unauthorized guide to the Harry Potter fiction series and other related materials.

At that press conference, Vander Ark and the publishers noted that the revised manuscript met with the guidelines of the court set forth in the prior litigation.

Ha!

Obviously, in order to "settle" the suit, both parties agreed to specific terms.

J.K. Rowlings would claim victory in respect to the basic copyright issue, while Mr. Vander Ark would be free to publish his own "Lexicon" on Harry Potter materials provided the manuscript fell within the guidelines set by the Judge.

Personally, I am looking forward to Vander Ark's encyclopedia so I'll be able to fathom a lot of that troublesome - but intriguing - gobbley-gook spounting from the mouths of the Potter characters ad nauseam!

Juicy gossip on Daniel Radcliffe: http://www.julianayrs.com/

Julian Ayrs 1st Annual 10 Worst-Dressed list! Cher, Oprah, and...catwalk catcalls!

Michelle sprints to podium to snatch up Best-Dressed prize!

Busty congestion & hooker lips puts Oprah on worst-dressed!

Mr. Blackwel king of the haiku quip!

One fashion victim is a Cleopatra wanna-be - another - an awkward jumble of fetish and purity.

Without doubt, the out-of-step painted ladies, are worthy candidates for the much-anticipated 1st Annual 10 worst-dressed list of 2008.

On the flip side, there is a silver lining, though.

In contrast to the red-carpet disasters aforementioned, a bevy of beauties at the other end of a chic spectrum, trip-the-catwalk fantastically with elegance and style.

So, with a nod to Mr. Blackwell, I am introducing a scintillating 10 Best-Dressed list in tandem with a "worst"-dressed run-down on the flip side.

Mr. Blackwell – a celebrated fashion designer – passed to spirit earlier this year.

During the course of his rich full life - the mischievous man with the laughing eyes achieved wide acclaim in the arena of Women’s Wear - having dressed a handful of high-society patrons, Nancy Reagan among them.

But, it was a fluky offer that descended out-of-the-blue one fine day that forever cemented his name in exclusive fashion circles.

Rising to the task of naming the best and worst dressed women in America for a features editor, the visionary fashion icon scored a big hit with the media, fashion designers, and the public alike.

In the form of a Haiku barb, Blackwell managed to astutely capture the essence of a subject’s fashion savvy, and the caustic fashion quip was born.

Several weeks ago, after penning a post on Fashion Tips, I was singled out by a blogger on the Internet as "the next Mr. Blackwell”.

A former model (who segued into fashion writing) I jumped into the fray with glee, delighted to take on the challenge.

My column, Dressing Right, appeared in a daily (Southam News) in Vancouver (B.C.) and ably prepared me for the task at hand.

Although US, Star Magazine, and People recently singled out a gaggle of "best" and "worst" dressed femme fatales this past week at year’s end, there were a couple of problems with their assessments, in my opinion.

For starters, the editors focused the spotlight on expensive gowns worn at high-profile functions or red-carpet events that did not accurately reflect the star’s individual style or taste. Indeed, the extravagant rentals, were getting the big push by up-and-coming fashion designers anxious to get noticed in the glare of all the Hollywood Tinsel.

Notwithstanding, gowns they plucked up from relative obscurity (Gee, where have I heard that expression before) were if-y choices. Whoever selected the entries knew nothing about fashion.

Heidi Klum, for instance, was propped up in a self-indulgent number memorable for its vulgar overuse of fabric.

Secondly, swooping down on a celebrity out-of-the-blue – without any context or hint of a fashion history to refer to – is a definite no-no when it comes to determining an individual’s style and fashion savvy.

A "best"-dressed candidate’s placement on such a list cries out for a number of key factors to take into consideration – body shape, complexion, lifestyle, consistent displays of fashion sensibilities to-and-from work, picking up the kids at school, at Hollywood premieres, and so forth and so on.

With that in mind, I plunged ahead and rustled up right-on-the-money 10 Worst-dressed and 10 Best-dressed lists for 2008.

10 Worst-Dressed Women (2008)

Cher
(Vegas Songbird)

A Cleopatra wanna-be mummified in 70’s fashion formaldehyde.

Paris Hilton
(poor little rich girl)

A Swedish milk maid gone amok at Frederick's of Hollywood.

Lindsay Lohan
(Party Girl Extraordinaire)

A pasty fur tart with all-the-wild-eyed innocence of a "tina" junkie.

Stripped down, on the down low, a sleazy sexpot without any gams or glam!

Emma Thompson
(stand-out fashion crimes against the Nation)

An over-ripe ingénue wrapped in swirls of bargain-basement K-Mart sheets, prone to tease with hooter-style booby-traps up top.

Oprah Winfrey
(pictured above)

Gifted gabber with no talent for playing "dress up”

A puffy éclair cinched in at the cream-filled middle with a zesty crown of chocolate shavings on top, one day, a jilted bride dashing home barefoot to gorge on southern fried chicken, the next

Sigourney Weaver
(a gangly spaced-out melodrama)

In one red-carpet appearance, appeared for all-the-world like a beanstalk with peek-a-boo limbs.

The gutsy machine-gun toter, for the most part, is alien to any fashion sensibilities past present or future.

Whoopi Goldberg
(court Jester or clown Prince?)

A grand lady of comedy in a hefty bag – punctuated with off-the-wall ties and bland layers of lackluster fabric on a secret mission to conceal congealing fat folds, that lurk beneath a gruff surface.

Even a gown (?) on the mannish mannequin is a fashion victim disaster no matter how you cut the cloth.

Pamela Anderson
(VIP for the Tattoo set)

Never one to be upstaged by a feather boa, the sexy siren is a flesh pot top-heavy babe, with hints of Bridget Bardot in a disappearing garment act.

Barbara Streisand
(Golden pipes and snoz for schlock)

A bellowing shrew keen on political top notes, swaddling in cutesy little girl fantasies in an upbeat make-up mood one day, prone to end up languishing like a beached whale in the shifting sands of Malibu, on another.

Ellen DeGenerres
(page boy with snappy shoes!)

A throwback look which harkens back to the dykes of the sixties - sparked up with cool argyle sweaters, polyester slacks in bland shades, and snappy sensible shoes - crowned with a butch haircut sure to attract any lipstick lesbo.

10 Best-Dressed

Nicole Kidman
(cruising without Top Gun to lofty heights)

A risk-taker from down under, occasionally over the top, who is often prompted to venture into wild couture territory on the heels of some whimsical fashion trend she's uncovered.

Invariably, Kidman successfully carries off the exploratory probe with her own inimitable style.

Michelle Obama
(pictured above)

Though crowned Blackie "O" by cynical fashionistas, Obama's hubby is "no" Jackie Kennedy by any stretch of the fabric.

Comfortable in her fashion skin, individual in her style, the 1st Lady elect always manages to pull off a casual chic befitting a carefully-constructed image, sure to fall short of ever embarrassing any self-respecting American. (photo above)

Candis Cayne
(Dirty Sexy Money)

A statuesque swirl of sensual style - showy, sexy - sure to turn heads when she sashays into the room.

Ariana Huffington
(Queen of the Blogosphere)

A thoroughbred sensibility with a keen eye towards a practical business "look", Huffington can mix 'n match with the best of 'em - and in the process - light up the world of rich media, faces of mealy-mouthed moguls, and fawning bloggers around the net.

Kathleen Quinlan
(Never promised a rose garden)

Subtly attired in ensembles for a woman of a certain age, Kathleen is a shining example of how to highlight assets without maxing 'em out in designer duds too splashy for a specific occasion.

Kate Bosworth
(Stylish lady)

A beauty with brains.

A midas touch when it comes to pushing a fashion envelope that excites! tittilates! Wows!

A role model for starlets chomping at the bit in pursuit of elusive fame.

Elaine Wynn
(Queen of the Desert)

A down-to-earth fairy-tale Princess in charge of her tactile senses.

With a dollop of luxury, and a modicum of fashion savvy, Mrs. Wynn trots the jet-set gangplank with understated elegance, individual style, and with a poise that is unmatched on the Vegas strip (and elsewhere).

Penelope Cruz
(exotic gem!)

Petite, pretty, and radiating youth and vitality, Ms. Cruz likewise steps into a fashion sensibility daily that sets her apart from other talents reaching for the brass ring.

An exotic gem with the world at her feet.(and a posse of men, no doubt)

J Lo
(the other half of a fated duo)

A flowering fashion icon with a flair for the feminine, a flourish for fabric and color, the dishy dame matures every day like a fine bottle of wine!

Kim Kardashian
(a flair for adventure in fashion)

High-spirited clothes horse that packs a wallop in the charm department. With an intuitive fashion sense under her wing, Kim pushes the limits not only in an adventurous way, but with the ultimate aim of avoiding faddish threads that might otherwise tarnish her polished image

http://www.julianayrs.com/

*Men's Worst-dressed list unveiled February 1st!

Mens Fashion...stylish topcoats are practical too! Go for Classic silhouettes...

A few weeks ago, my eyes went wide as I spied a handsome full-length topcoat, dangling on a hanger at a bargain-basement price!

I dickered a little when it came to flashing the cash, though!

After all, residents of the City of Angels had been languishing in the sweltering heat for weeks.

Splurging on outwear appeared to be a costly waste of resource in these troubling financial times, too.

But, a little voice inside urged me to "go for it".

"Maybe you'll need to jet out to New York. This designer beauty won't only keep 'ya nice and toasty, but afford you the golden opportunity to traipse the Upper East Side in style."

So, I snapped it up - although I felt a little silly went I stepped out into the bright light of the sizzling hot fall day- with the ubiquitous fashion statement under my arm.

Sure enough, my investment paid off this past ten days.

While most folks were freezing their butts off and scurrying for warmer climbs as the biting winds and intermittent snow flurries blew in from the desert, I strolled along comfortably and lapped up the festivities the Yuletide season had to offer up all around me.

But fashion savvy guys have known all along that a topcoat or overcoat (whatever you want to coin it) are not only a stylish addition to a well-rounded wardrobe, but amount to a practical article of clothing, too.

And, a head-turner.

Today, I caught a sharply-turned out dude sporting a camel hair number that was a knock-out (the jacket, silly).

But, the pricey designer outerwear was a bit on the high maintenance end, what with dry cleaning costs and extra caution required to avoid nasty spills during the course of the day.

In contrast, a Black or Navy one is ideal.

Go for a form-fitting one, or one on the bulky side that is roomy enough to toss over your suit-and-tie ensemble, in the event the weather gets inclement.

Fashion tip!

Try to avoid snapping up a topcoat with too many flourishes that date it.


For example, avoid oversize belt buckles, padded shoulders, and design details that cast an aura of trendiness.

For good reason.

Once the fad has passed, you'll have to donate it to a Goodwill charity or "Out of the Closet" - and after-the-fact - fork out additional greenbacks for one that doesn't scream "fashion victim".

Go for the classic silhouette, after all, it's a timeless "look" that emphasizes style, elegance, and understated chic.

By the way, a full-length overcoat gives a man great presence and an air of prestige when he confidently strides into the room.

But it's how you "inhabit" the well-crafted threads that sets the men apart from the boys.

A dramtic fashion statement for a woman capable of pulling it off!

www.julianays.com

Oprah Winfrey...1 of 10 worst-dressed women in America!

Oprah, you're supposed to wear the gown, not carry it!

Well, the clock is ticking away, and we're getting down to the nitty gritty as 2008 fades into oblivion!

On December 31st, my 1st Annual 10 Worst-Dressed list (in tandem with the scintillating 10 Best-Dressed) will be unveiled.

With a nod to the King of Haiku Fashion barbs, Mr. Blackwell!

Cruise by and check out who will strut down the fashion-victim catwalk with the likes of talk-show-host gabber extraordinaire, Oprah Winfrey.

Just a teaser, folks!

As Coco Chanel once astutely opined:

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

Cruise on by on New Year's eve when it is revealed who was and who wasn't, dahlink!

Julian Ayrs 1st Annual 10 Worst-Dressed list gives nod to Mr. Blackwell

(undisputed King of caustic quips)

http://www.julianayrs.com

Barack Obama...60 Minutes interview reveals down-to-earth personality traits!

Instead of broadcasting three segments on separate issues on 60 minutes last night - as usual - the top-rated news tabloid devoted a full hour to Barack Obama.

Okay, a little of the spotlight was cast on 1st Lady elect Michelle Obama at the end of the informative investigative probe that enlightened a few I am sure, myself included.

Actually, I just about fell out of my comfy armchair when a couple of Barack's straightforward responses hit a little too close to home.

For example, when asked if the President-elect would do "dish" duty in the White House, Michelle shook her head aghast, "no".

Meanwhile, Barack was secure enough in his manhood to pipe up, without batting an eye.

"I like doing dishes," he noted for the record, as he glanced for approval from his hubby.

According to the wiry democrat, the chore was a "soothing" one.

My sentiments exactly.

As is the case with laundry, I find doing "your own" not only allows for a moment or two of quiet reflection in-between spin cycles, but ends up being "good" for the soul.

What is the down side of his sudden fame, the host pointedly asked at one salient point in the intriguing foray into his private life.

"A loss of anonymity," he cracked back without hesitation.

For instance, being in a fishbowl has cramped his humble style.

"I like to take walks."

Michelle rolled her eyes as she sat noticeably poised and prim and proper at his side.

Spotting her displeasure, he teased a little.

"Wouldn't you go for a walk with me, baby?"

"No."

Apparently, Michelle is not a walker.

I guess Barack will have to head out on foot by his lonesome as secret service tail close behind in the limo with Michelle comfortably ensconced in the plush back seat, eh?

Personally, I agree with Barack.

There's nothing like a long stroll in the park or a hike out on a rustic trail to get the cobwebs out, or facilitate a private moment or two to think one's thoughts.

In fact, many great men throughout History have been known to venture out on long walks, with more than mere health concerns foremost in their minds.

During those precious moments alone, many world leaders - for instance - have managed to conjure up a turn-of-a-phrase or an inspiring quote for an up-and-coming speech.

I expect from a couple of the comments Barack made last night, that he's quite the romantic, too.

Just betcha, he has a pet name for Michelle - like snookums - or something silly like that.

Boy, would I love to be a fly on the wall come bedtime when the Obama love birds snuggle up by a cracking fire and engage in a little nookie on a romantic candle-lit night.

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Kabir...Karma quote!

Kabir - respected Master and inspired Prophet - once said on the subject of Karma and the issue of reaping what you sow:

"If you plant cactus, how do you expect to grow mangoes?"

Elaine Wynn...lands spot on 10 Best-Dressed list! Classy lady...

The lady is tall, poised, outgoing - and betcha didn't expect it - quite down-to-earth.

And, a real fashion horse in an elegant understated way.

Of course, the woman of-the-hour in Las Vegas is Elaine Wynn, wife of mercurial Steve Wynn (Las Vegas Hotel Impresario).

The morning times did a bang-up job on a feature they published on Mrs. Wynn in the weekend edition of the paper, worth taking a gander at.

When I crossed paths with Elaine Wynn at the ENCORE opening on Monday evening, it was not necessary to make a play for her attention or grapple for a quote.

Actually, I was content to casually saunter into the celebrations and drink up the festive goings-on all around me.

The unflappable hostess with-the-mostest spotted me jotting down notes as she alighted like a graceful dove next to me on the Casino floor.

"You're writing good things, I hope," she laughed innocently.

Our eyes met briefly.

Immediately, I was taken by her warmth.

My thoughts were on the sumptuous trappings, actually.

"Notes on the decor," I chirped enthusiastically.

With little more ado, Mrs. Wynn breezed off on a waft of mystical air, as I focused on the task at hand.

Occasionally, though, I spied Steve Wynn's better half observing me from a distance with a curious expression on her face.

Frankly, I found it refreshing that Elaine Wynn - despite her wealth and high station in life - reached out, was approachable, and at ease in her lofty Universe.

Couple that with her keen fashion sense, and impeccable taste, and it's easy to fathom why Elaine Wynn has landed a spot of my 1st Annual 10 Best-Dressed list to be unveiled on Wednesday, December 31st.

As Humphrey Bogart would say:

"Here's lookin' at you, kid."