Sponsor SBE Helps Growing APLA Oscar Benefit

Elton John’s party down the block may be the more buzzed-about AIDS fund-raiser on Oscar night, but AIDS Project L.A.’s viewing dinner and after-party at the Abbey is the cozier alternative—and it’s gaining steam every year. APLA’s Adrienne Levey, who oversees the event, this year partnered with big-name sponsor SBE Entertainment Group, past partner Esquire, and a handful of others. At his turn to speak, SBE’s Sam Nazarian told the assembled guests that what started as a small, grassroots fund-raiser has grown into a party for more than 600, “and next year I hope to see 1,000. That’s my goal.” Jennifer Love Hewitt hosted for the third year.For the pre-telecast cocktail hour, Gabriel Pacheco Flower Designs placed yellow roses throughout the interior space; his work included unusual arrangements that hung from the bars with each stem in a delicate container that looked like a test tube. Then the crowd moved into a clear-top tent behind the venue for the viewing party, where Pacheco combined roses and hydrangeas in warm, autumnal colors in towering centerpieces atop alternating earth-toned table linens.

The Abbey’s in-house chef prepared a menu of mixed green salad with candied walnuts and sun-dried cranberries, and seared chicken breast on wild mushroom duxelles or four-cheese ravioli with roasted tomato truffle. Cupcakes—those omnipresent desserts on the special-event circuit—featured the logos of nominated films on their frosted tops.

—Alesandra Dubin

Posted 02.26.07