With guests like Jessica Alba, Carmen Electra, Avril Lavigne, and the Hilton girls on the celebrity-packed guest list, the producers of Us Weekly’s Hot Hollywood awards party were wise to anticipate a barely manageable crowd on the way in to the Republic Restaurant & Lounge. So Us’s Gina Schramm, along with the Strategic Group, worked out all the details in advance. They put a Fuji bottled water kiosk halfway down the long line to get in—just like you might find a strategically placed churro cart near the newest roller coaster at Magic Mountain.Meanwhile, on the other side of the building, paparazzi worked a springlike carpet, all done in a pinkish grapefruit color and decorated with tall, cheerful tulips to announce the launch of sponsor Absolut’s eighth flavor, Ruby Red.
The guests who braved the wait—longer than an hour for many—found a packed house in Republic’s main dining room, which bore a giant red gobo advertising the magazine. Ed Hardy designed tattoo-inspired T-shirts for the staff, and DJ Samantha Ronson spun hip-hop, rock, and dance music. A lounge in the venue’s hangarlike event space had sleek white seating and low tables (and, dubiously, allowed smoking).
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 05.01.06
Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images (atmosphere), Michael Buckner/Getty Images (carpet)
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The guests who braved the wait—longer than an hour for many—found a packed house in Republic’s main dining room, which bore a giant red gobo advertising the magazine. Ed Hardy designed tattoo-inspired T-shirts for the staff, and DJ Samantha Ronson spun hip-hop, rock, and dance music. A lounge in the venue’s hangarlike event space had sleek white seating and low tables (and, dubiously, allowed smoking).
—Alesandra Dubin
Posted 05.01.06
Photos: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images (atmosphere), Michael Buckner/Getty Images (carpet)
Related Stories
Us Weekly Offers Oscar Night Alternative
Everyone’s Going to Republic