FAMED HOLLYWOOD KATE MANTILINI'S CLOSES DOORS
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Mel Brooks |
KATE’S CLOSED --- From Deadline, “It not only was perhaps the most consistently popular and cool restaurant in Beverly Hills, Kate Mantilini which is located at the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Doheny and just two blocks from the headquarters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, has in recent years become a key part of Oscar campaigning. Sadly, due to a dispute over higher rent with a greedy landlord more interested in lining their pockets than in pleasing Hollywood, Kate’s closed its doors Saturday night after 27 years in the key BH location. The other Kate’s located in Woodland Hills remains open, but frankly it isn’t the same. This one was special.”
"The restaurant, founded in 1987 and owned by the Lewis family (Marilyn and Harry who also founded the famed Hamburger Hamlet chain and sons David, and Adam who has been running it since 2010) which is open late unlike just about every other place of its type in the area, became a real watering hole for many Hollywood types like Mel Brooks who has written his own obit for the place, and so many others. It was almost impossible to go in there and not run into someone you know. It was really a hopping place, both at lunch , dinner and late night. And it not only has been host to numerous premiere parties (including several for Matt Weiner and Mad Men, a Marilyn Lewis obsession) it was also prominently featured in the movie Heat with a key scene between stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, now memorialized on the walls of Kate’s.”
When I used to be in L. A. on a more regular basis, Kate’s was usually my first stop. Its food was great all around, especially their tortilla soup and mac and cheese concoctions. Along with the now-closed Chasen’s, and Dan Tana’s, and, now Craig’s … this was southern-L. A. dining at its best. Sad news indeed.
GOD AWARDS LAND FRIDAY IN NYC --- We Care for Humanity awarded Nancy Rivard, Founder of Airline Ambassadors International, Global Woman of the Year at the 1st GOD Awards at L.A.'s Academy of Television Arts & Sciences last June.
This Friday, the 2nd Annual Global Officials of Dignity Awards (GOD Awards) will honor individuals and corporations who have made substantive contributions to local communities in the fields of Business, Philanthropy, Arts and Entertainment, and to be held at the United Nations in New York City. Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes and Rebecca Holden (TV's Knight Rider) and music-producer Joel Diamond will act as co-hosts at the event and Rebecca and Tony LeBron will perform their hit song, “Dreams Come True.”
American Airlines will receive recognition for their Miles for Kids in Need Program; Delta Air Lines and Silver Airways will be acknowledged for Human Trafficking awareness: and Southwest and Virgin Atlantic will be honored for Humanitarian and Sustainability programs.
“Airline Ambassadors is proud to partner with We Care for Humanity, and highlight leaders in the airline industry who are modeling corporate social responsibility and building global cooperation, understanding and goodwill,” said Nancy Rivard.
D'ONOFRIO CAST --- Vincent D’Onofrio, so good for so many years at Detective Robert Goren in Law & Order/Criminal Intent, has signed on to play the Kingpin in the new Netflix's live-action TV series Daredevil.
Last week, Marvel announced that D'Onofrio, will play Michael Fisk, aka Kingpin, the arch nemesis of Daredevil.
Marvel and Netflix's Daredevil is one part of the companies' long-term business venture into the live-action realm of superhero TV shows. D'Onofrio is bringing with him a large body of past respected work that could propel the series and the character of Fisk even more.
Now that D'Onofiro has been cast as Fisk, along with Charlie Cox in the title role of the series, the future of the man without fear appears to be looking bright.
CLOSING NOTES --- The sad story of legendary Casey Kasem officially came to an end yesterday, on Father’s Day, as he passed. So much mis-information came from this case, a book and maybe movie must certainly be the next logical step.
In his goodbye to radio fans in 2009, Kasem said, "Success doesn't happen in a vacuum. You're only as good as the people you work with and the people you work for. I've been lucky; I've worked for and with the very best."
Radio's All Access publisher Joel Denver noted, "Casey’s death marks the passing of one of the truly innovative radio personalities of our time. He brought to life the magic of American Top 40 to millions for years, and with that show, he created an indelible and beautiful spotlight on the importance of music and radio for generations of listeners. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Casey when we both recorded our respective shows and he was always a gentleman, who had a big and caring heart. Rest in peace, Casey."
Classy move by Elton John dedicating "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" at this weekend's Bonnaroo festival. Elton closed the festival.
Yes it really happened: While Hillary Clinton was at a book signing at a Costco in Virginia on Saturday (for her just-released book Hard Choices), who should wandered in, but Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor … in sandals and a striped shorts. So, I guess even Supreme Court Justices have normal lives …
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| Donnie Kehr |
Jersey Boy's Donnie Kehr (and, his dog Buddy Elliot) showed at the Heads And Tails salon benefit Saturday. The afternoon also benefited Bideawee.
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