Oscar Benefit Showcases Top Chefs, Entertainers

Despite heavy competition for guests from bigger-name parties, the Children Uniting Nations benefit attracted a crowd for food, entertainment-and a cool bar.

February 23, 2006
Although the area around Melrose Avenue and the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles may be known as “Red Carpet Row” on Academy Awards night, not all the parties in the area were created equal. The sixth annual Children Uniting Nations’ fund-raising viewing dinner and after-party at the Factory was outranked by the big-time Vanity Fair and Elton John AIDS Foundation events nearby, but it had some cool touches nonetheless.

At the viewing dinner, produced by the association’s William Figuero with BMF Media, 11 celebrated chefs—including Todd English, Ming Tsai, and Rocco Dispirito—contributed dishes. Chaka Kahn and former Fugee Wyclef Jean provided the headline entertainment, with resuscitated-by-American Idol Paula Abdul as M.C. At the after-party, bartenders dispensed spirits from sponsors Patron and Ketel One at an ice bar designed with mock Oscar trophies, star-shaped cutouts, and liquor bottles frozen inside.

—Alesandra Dubin

Read about the Academy Awards Governors Ball...

Read about the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards after-party...

Read about Vanity Fair's Academy Awards after-party...

Read about Miramax's Academy Awards weekend party...

Read about Soho House's Academy Awards week promotion...

The Children Uniting Nations' Academy Awards viewing dinner and after-party at the Factory drew a crowd—even amidst heavy competition from other events—for celebrity chefs and entertainers.
The Children Uniting Nations' Academy Awards viewing dinner and after-party at the Factory drew a crowd—even amidst heavy competition from other events—for celebrity chefs and entertainers.
An ice bar featured mock Oscar trophies, star-shaped cutouts, and liquor bottles frozen inside.
An ice bar featured mock Oscar trophies, star-shaped cutouts, and liquor bottles frozen inside.
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