The Fake Angeleno

DPS West Drinks Recap

The Dorothy Parker Society, L.A. Chapter convened last night at the Beverly Wilshire for several hours of scathing holiday wit and cheer.  A good time was had by all, and it almost felt like we were back on West 44th St. with Kevin and the gang. 

Of course, the unrelenting flow of bright, dumb-eyed, proto-starlets and the infrequent trickle of fading A-minus-listers past our table was a constant reminder that we were socializing on the set of Pretty Woman. 

I was also told the drinks were mixed fairly weak -- a telltale giveaway of being obligated to drive home from Beverly Hills instead of spilling into a cab headed away from Midtown. 

In addition to the usual suspects, we had the pleasure of meeting DPS West's newest member (and ex-New Yorker) Dan Cox, lately of Fishbowl L.A.  Dan and Jessica and I enjoyed swapping NYC  war stories, as Dan took the blue ribbon for best anecdote.  He actually lived in the Algonquin for a couple months while on assignment.    

Next DPS event will be in mid-January.  Watch this space

Dorothy Parker Society L.A. Meets Tonight In Beverly Hills

As if hearing the anguished cries of Bing Crosby's abused children seeping through the sub-text of the umpteenth mall-sound-system-rendering of White Christmas didn't stress you out, it's raining today and you could very well be headed towards a massive car accident.  This means you need to come join us at the Beverly Wilshire for the latest meeting of the International Dorothy Parker Society, L.A. Chapter.

Details here.

The LA Chapter of the Dorothy Parker Society will meet on 12/17 at 7:30 pm for a drink at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel 9500 Wilshire Boulevard,Beverly Hills, minutes from Dorothy's many houses off Canon Drive, where John O'Hara would often entertain her with his buddies who met there weekly for drinks and mayhem.

After a quick drink, we will walk down Wilshire Blvd to admire the holiday windows of Saks and Barneys. The closest LA gets to Manhattan at holiday time, especially if the weather is cold enough for coats.

Last Weekend's Dorothy Parker L.A. Walking Tour: A Huge Success!

Of course, this being L.A., there was a fair amount of driving involved. 

Gretchen at Live from Los Angeles has written an awesome and comprehensive recap, complete with photos of several of Parker's homes plus a Google map of the walking tour route.

I highly recommend checking it out!

LINK: [Dorothy Does LA -- LA Style]

Dorothy Parker Society Walking Tour in WeHo Tomorrow: 9/27

If you find yourself at loose ends tomorrow morning, the DPS West is holding a walking tour of Dorothy Parker's West Hollywood starting at 10 AM.  I'm on docent duty at 914 N. Roxbury Drive -- and you can't miss me.  I'll be the agreeable chap holding up the black umbrella and ready to chat about the house Mrs. Parker and her husband Alan Campbell rented in the mid '30s -- their most happy and successful period here in L.A.    Details directly below:

Dorothy Parker's West Hollywood Walking Tour will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2008 starting at 10 a.m. at Washington Mutual Bank, 8158 Sunset Boulevard. The tour will be hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Dorothy Parker Society. Participants in this rare opportunity will have the opportunity to visit writer Dorothy Parker's residences and favorite spots in and around West Hollywood during her Hollywood years. Learn more about Ms. Parker's activities in Los Angeles in the 1930's through the 1960's and hear stories about her contemporaries and friends such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, John O'Hara, S.J. Perelman and Charles Brackett. Admission is free.

For reservations and for more information, please call (323) 848-6883 or (626) 376-7605 or email "info at adrienne crew dot com." For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

Thanks DPS Guests!

Thanks to all the lovely people who ventured over to Casa Del Mar last night for the Dorothy Parker Society L.A. chapter meeting.  I'll post some pictures and a recap here soon.  

Dorothy Parker Society L.A. Chapter Meets Thursday 7/31 at Casa Del Mar

So Adrienne at LA Brain Terrain and I have started a Los Angeles chapter of the International Dorothy Parker Society, and we'd like to invite everyone to our second chapter meeting the evening of Thursday, July 31.   We've also invited the L.A. chapter of the Robert Benchley Society, so there's no telling what might happen.  At any rate, here is our initial announcement about the evening's festivities.  Please drop me a line if you'd like to come.  We'd love to add your wit to our vicious little circle.  More details to follow...

The Dorothy Parker Society presents an evening of frolic and LA history in the 20s. We will have time to get to know each other during cocktail hour between 6:30-7:30 in the Casa Del Mar bar. 

Around 7:30 pm, historian Alison Jefferson will give a brief slide show about the special history of the beach area, nicknamed "The Inkwell,"  in front of the  Casa Del Mar, the site of a beach club popular with Dorothy Parker's crowd in the 20s and 30s.  Cocktails, of course, to follow.

Alison Jefferson works for Historic Preservation Group as a historian.  She has a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Pomona College in Claremont, California and her Master's in Historic Preservation from
the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on Southern California vacation spots frequented by African Americans during the segregation in the 20s and 30s.

Date: Thursday, July 31
Time: 6:30pm - 10pm
Location: Casa Del Mar - 1910 Ocean Way - Santa Monica, CA 90405 - (310) 581-5533