| EVENT REPORT 05.05.08 1:49 PM |
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| Star Sightings |
| For the launch of its California wine promotion, the L.C.B.O. threw a Malibu-style party complete with tastings, a cooking demonstration, and appearances by celebrity look-alikes. |
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Celebrity impersonators mimicking Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, and Johnny Depp caused a stir in the Allen Lambert Galleria at Brookfield Place on Friday when the Liquor Control Board of Ontario launched its California Style promotion at a noon-hour event. Fake paparazzi swarmed the look-alikes, courtesy of Hollywood Heaven Look-A-Likes and Entertainment, as they arrived at the event, causing a commotion amid the lunchtime crowds in the downtown office tower. Passersby stopped and stared, some pulled out their cameras, and one person even asked the faux Jolie for her autograph. A group of visiting French teenage girls, who surrounded the Depp impersonator to snap photos, left the event giggling and squealing that they'd just met the actor.
"It was a natural to make that link, because a lot of people, when they first think of California, they think of Hollywood," said Karen McGee, the L.C.B.O.'s assistant manager of special events, of the theme for the launch, which kicked off a monthlong promotion featuring 140 California wines at 600 L.C.B.O. stores across the province. The L.C.B.O. runs 13 promotions each year, although not all are as large as Friday's free public event, which drew an estimated 1,000 people. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | The L.C.B.O. used hedges from Yukon Tents & Event Furnishings to create a venue in the middle of the Allen Lambert Galleria.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Crowds of people stopped to take pictures of the celebrity impersonators, courtesy of Hollywood Heaven Look-A-Likes and Entertainment.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | A Johnny Depp look-alike added to the California theme at the launch.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Security guards escorted an Angelina Jolie look-alike to the event.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Guests at the free public event had the opportunity to sample 21 California wines.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | The L.C.B.O. created a mini store to sell a selection of the featured California wines at the event.
Photo: BizBash |
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 | Piers Baker of Third From the Sun spun lounge music during the noon-hour launch at Brookfield Place.
Photo: BizBash |
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Guests received tasting vouchers and food coupons at the entrance to the promotional site, cordoned off with hedges from Yukon Tents & Event Furnishings. Seven bars offered a selection of featured wines as well as hors d'oeuvres from Richtree Market Restaurants Inc., including sushi, mini burgers, and spanokopita. Celebrity chef Charlie Ayers—the former executive chef for Google—conducted a cooking demonstration and prepared California turkey wraps for guests. Piers Baker of Third From the Sun spun lounge music on a stage with a backdrop featuring an image of a Malibu pool.
—Susan O'Neill
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