Parade Snarls Beverly Hills Traffic
The 38th Annual L.A. Pride Parade snarled traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills June 8, with colorful floats and costumes. Following the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalizes same-sex marriage, the annual parade took on special significance this year.
The event is the culmination of a three-day event that celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Many parade-goers were thinking ahead to June 17, when same-sex marriage was scheduled to begin in California. The ruling is being challenged in a ballot initiative in November, which will seek an amendment to the state Constitution to restrict marriage to a man and a woman.
Stylish Walking
A lot of women would love to walk a mile in these shoes . . . The Rodeo Drive Committee announced their choice for the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award June 6. The award goes to Manolo Blahnik, noted for his contribution to Sex and the City as the “fifth star†of the show, after the four actresses. His shoes have also earned him an honorary title as “Commander of the British Empire†in the Queen’s 2007 Birthday Honours List, for services to the British fashion industry.
A Rose is a Rose
Beverly Hills restaurateur Wolfgang Zwiener announced that the United States District Court for the Central District of California has denied Wolfgang Puck’s request for a preliminary injunction relating to the use of the name Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener at his restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Zwiener and Puck entered into a mutual agreement in 2007 that allowed Zwiener to continue to use the name Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in New York City. Outside of New York the establishments were to be named Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener.
Beverly Hills is Zwiener’s first location outside of New York City. The location opened with the support and involvement of the Beverly Hills City Council. The City of Beverly Hills selected the steakhouse for a commercial spot owned by the city, with the city council extensively involved in every aspect of the development, including approval of the signage.
In June, Zwiener filed a countersuit claiming that Puck had violated their contract by challenging Zwiener’s use of the name Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener. In it he claimed that Puck interfered with Zwiener’s right to open a restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Designer Hard Drives
By CHELSEA EHRKE
Anand Jon, the up-and-coming fashion designer who has been charged with rape and sexual battery in two separate cases, is claiming that hard drives proving his innocence were stolen from his family’s home in Westwood.
The Indian fashion designer appeared on America’s Next Top Model and was featured in Newsweek’s “Who’s Next 2007†edition before becoming embroiled in a rape case (which is still pending) in Beverly Hills. Shortly after being charged Anand Jon was indicted in New York and pled not guilty to 40 felony and misdemeanor counts, including rape and sexual battery. The accusers include under-age children as young as 14 years old.
The defense alleges that Anand Jon’s home was burglarized during a two-hour time frame in which the family was at meetings with Anand Jon’s attorneys. Despite the building’s high security, there was no sign of forced entry and the only items stolen were three computer laptops and hard drives marked “attorney-client privilege.†Two other computers and $2,000 in cash were left undisturbed.
Although the defense has not released any public statements on the incident, industry professionals and others close to Anand Jon have been quick to point fingers at the prosecution and have claimed that jealous business associates have spread lies and coerced witnesses to frame the quickly rising fashion designer. One witness claims she was offered money to make false allegations against Anand Jon and received threatening phone calls when she refused.
As both the defense and prosecution sort through these matters, Anand Jon continues to wait in jail, where he has been since March 2007.
