Finally! The moment we’ve all been waiting for.  The one… The only…The Oscars®!  Come along as POWER takes you to magnificent ceremonies, pampering lounges, extravagant shopping sprees, and swanky soirées all in celebration of Hollywood’s biggest night:

Awards Ceremonies: ICG Publicists Awards and Rodeo Style Walk of Style®

Oscar® week usually draws our attention to the talent in front of the cameras. But the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) and the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style® put the spotlight on those behind the scenes as each organization honored significant achievements in showmanship, fashion, and entertainment.

ICG
Freelance publicist Tim Menke (Les Mason Award, the highest honor the union can bestow on one of its members), senior vice president of marketing and communications at Sony Pictures Imageworks Don Levy (Bob Yeager Award for outstanding community service for his involvement with the Lance Armstrong Ride for the Roses campaign), Variety columnist Army Archerd (Lifetime Achievement Award), ABC publicist Jeff Fordis and Touchstone Television publicist Erin Felentzer (Best Television campaign for Lost), 20th Century Fox publicists Greg Brilliant, Michael Broidy, Carol Cundiff, John De La Vina, April Florentino, Martin Gaiss, Amanda Johnson, Marie Kodani, Susan Levin, Erin Moody-Pargas, Chrissy Quesada, Kimberly Wire, and Fran Zell (Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Award for Best Movie campaign for Walk the Line), Warner Bros. Chairman/CEO Barry Meyer and President/COO Alan Horn (Motion Picture Showmanship Award), ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson (Television Showmanship Award), Brazilian journalist Paoula Abou-Jaoude (International Media Award), USA Today journalist Scott Bowles (Press Award), and Hollywood Reporter Editor-in-Chief and publisher Robert Downing (Special Award of Merit) were some of the esteemed honorees rewarded for their fine work at the beautiful Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel served as emcee of the ceremony, which celebrities and presenters Teri Hatcher, Kirk Douglas, Delta Burke, and Tracey Bregman, just to name a few, attended.

Rodeo Walk of Style®
Meanwhile, at the landmark Beverly Hills post office, Academy Award-winning costume designers Edith Head (posthumous), James Acheson, and Milena Canonero joined the illustrious company of fashion icons Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Herb Ritts, and Mario Testino as they were inducted onto Rodeo Drive’s Walk of Style®.

Chairman Peri Ellen Berne commended the honorees for their phenomenal impact on fashion.

“Head, Acheson and Canonero’s acclaimed and versatile work has sparked many fashion trends that have been seen over the years here on Rodeo Drive,” Berne said.

Beverly Hills Mayor Linda J. Briskman was also thrilled with the nominees.

“These honorees embody an artistry that Beverly Hills is proud to honor,” she said.

Brittany Murphy, Mechad Brooks, Jacqueline Bissett, John Landis, Brandon Davis, and Taryn Rose were also there.

Pre-Oscar® Celebrations: Pampering, Shopping and Partying!

Pampering and Shopping: The Suites

With the help of delicious fashion designs, accessories, and the latest beauty treatments, the stars got red carpet-ready for the main event.

Beverly Hilton Gift Lounge
Stuart Weitzman invited Regina King and other celebrities to get a sneak peek at his highly-anticipated Academy Award designs.  Among the fabulous creations on display at the beautiful Beverly Hilton Hotel was a pair of shoes made out of mouthwatering M&Ms and the “Ultimate Oscar® Shoe,” a beautiful design that included personal jewelry that belonged to silver screen siren, Rita Hayworth.

“I am honored that Ms. Hayworth’s daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, is allowing me to use these precious gems for the Oscar® shoe,” said Weitzman. “I’m excited to celebrate the legendary screen goddess that Rita Hayworth was.  Her beauty is timeless. This is true Hollywood glamour!”

Maria Magdalena joined Weitzman to unveil her high-end gem cosmetics. The luscious line featured lipstick, mascara, nail polish, eye shadow, foundation, and body glitter made of diamonds, pearls, silk, gold, and other precious treasures!

As we found out, not only did it feel rich; it was also therapeutic!

“Once you wear these unique colors on your skin, you will feel the power of the precious elements enhance your natural beauty,” the traditional Chinese medicine therapist said.

Estee Lauder Beauty Spa Experience
Also in Beverly Hills was Estee Lauder’s pampering suite at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Spokes model, Carolyn Murphy, was invited, along with Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress nominees, to indulge in make-up sessions, stone massages, and manicures/pedicures. Guests left the famous Pretty Woman backdrop with goodie bags filled with Manolo Blahnik sandals, Michael Kors sunglasses, Kotur bags, Abraham DuPont Tiger necklaces, and the latest Estee Lauder products, of course.

TMG Luxury Suite
A few blocks away, Commander in Chief’s Geena Davis loaded up on US $54,000 worth of beautiful Manak Couture jewels at the trendy Luxe Hotel Penthouse on Rodeo Drive. G.M. Collin Paris, Hershey’s, Pueblo Bonito Resort and Hotel, Darby Scott, Interior Couture, Medi-Spa, Suddenly Slimmer, Patrice Bisiot, Edwards-Lowell, Sophia Swire London, O.P.I., FIJI Water, and the Beverly Hills Mutt Club were some of the other notable participants.

Frédéric Fekkai and Victoria’s Secret’s Beauty and the Boudoir Oscar® Suite
Also on Rodeo Drive, we spotted Molly Sims, Cheryl Hines, and Nicky Hilton getting their hair primped to perfection by the famed French stylist, whose celebrity regulars include Debra Messing, Ashley Judd, Selma Hayek, Rene Zellweger, and Naomi Watts.

Meanwhile, Martha Stewart: Apprentice reality star Bethenny Frankel sauntered over to the Victoria’s Secret portion of the suite, where the pastry queen received luscious eyelash extensions.

But, American burlesque sensation Dita Von Teese appeared more interested in the Chantal Thomass display.  So brand loyal, the three-time Playboy cover girl admitted she flew to Paris just to get the couture lingerie creations. Needless to say, Mrs. Marilyn Manson was happy to hear that her favorite tempting treats were now available at Victoria’s.

W Magazine Hollywood Retreat
High in the Beverly Hills was the exclusive W Magazine Hollywood Retreat, where A-listers and Academy Award nominees sampled the latest couture fashions and beauty products. While we were pampered with champagne and spa treatments, we saw Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen getting an Amore Pacific facial and Commander in Chief’s Natasha Henstridge admiring a beautiful Vera Wang design. We also spotted Madonna. The “Material Girl” selected some gorgeous goodies from DiModolo, Rena Lange, and Raymond Weil.

The Diamond Lounge
And, atop Miracle Mile’s Petersen Automotive Museum, stars were treated to the ultimate pampering experience at Nathalie Dubois’ luxe lounge. Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush indulged in a relaxing spray tan while his lovely wife, Sydney, scored a silver Pink Moon purse. But CSI vet Christina Chambers chose to investigate the colorful Biatta beauties on display. Other marvels included Christi Harris, Botene, Ogle, beautyblender, Macy Gray’s Natalie Hinds, DermaNew, Varnish, Energetix, Fileena, Nikki Beach, Boucheron, Giorgio Visconti, Von Dutch, Moonsus & Marsus, and Nue Blue Riu.

The Hollywood area also proved to be the perfect pamper stop:

Million Dollar Retreat
Tucked away in the Hollywood Hills at a private residence, Kanye West, Playboy Playmates, Ludacris, Damon Dash, Eva La Rue, Rachel Grant, and others, looked and felt like a million bucks thanks to Bombay Sapphire, Sparks, Tana Hoy, Heineken, Glory, Fadía Creations, Citadelle Vodka, Landy Cognac, Soffer Ari, The Gift Agency, and Yana K.

Red Carpet 2006
At Scandia Place, event planner Ryan Black rolled out the red carpet for Ashley Jones, Rayana Tharani, and Georgia McClean for his luxury haven. Highlights included favors from Marc Ecco watches, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum-Collagen Booster, and Beverly Feldman shoes. Vendors Lily, Joe Blasco, SunFX, Alterna, Megs Make-Up, René Furterer, David Galan, Kelly Nishimoto, Red Bull, and Hint Mint participated.

Silver Spoon Buffet
Those with a hearty appetite for swag lined up at Tinseltown’s Silver Spoon Buffet. There, Stacy Keibler, Deidre Hall, Drew Lachey and his wife, Lea, Kelly Monaco, and Sophie Monk filled up on Elizabeth Grant skincare products. Meanwhile, Tara Lipinski, Roselyn Sanchez, Melissa Rivers, and Haylie Duff made their way to the Dr. Scholl’s booth. On display were pairs of comfortable and chic Oscar®-inspired golden sandals. Nioxin, Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus, Alpha Male, Charlie Lapson, Kumi Kookoon, Stone Crown, Citizen Smith in Hollywood, Disneyland, Rad Tech, Travertine Spa, Xtreme Lashes, Verrago, Princess Borghese, Frankie B, Kari Bag, and Samson Martin provided additional enticing treats and services.

REEL Lounge
And, for the “real” star treatment, celebs headed to West Hollywood’s Point De Vue Salon. Inside the pampering oasis, Jessica Alba snagged a Zenith Swiss watch; Ray star Regina King relaxed with a pedicure and also took home a bag filled with Taryn Rose treats; and Torino ice queen Sasha Cohen was seen sipping on a Tab Energy Drink. Vendors Peels, Origin Premier Cru Champagne, Siku Vodka, and Boucheron were also there.

Bling Bling: Harry Winston, Chopard, Damiani and Swarovski

It wouldn’t be the Oscars® without diamonds. Take a look at who drenched the stars in the luscious jewels.

Harry Winston
Harry Winston models donned exquisite gems part of the Oscar® 2006 Collection. One piece that caught our eye at the flagship boutique in Beverly Hills was the very watch Ben Affleck wore in the film Man About Town.

Chopard
Not too far away, Chopard showed off the stunning treasures that Queen Latifah, Zhang Ziyi, Jane Seymour, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Michelle Rodriguez selected for the big night.

Damiani
Also in Beverly Hills, Damiani displayed its latest collection.  The beautiful line included rose gold and diamond creations inspired by Italian film goddess, Sophia Loren. Our favorite piece featured at the posh Four Seasons Hotel was a stunning necklace crafted with 1,352 diamonds (totaling 81 carats).  

Swarovski
And Swarovski rocked the luxurious L’Ermitage Hotel with an array of to-die-for Oscar® evening bags. The Star Collector Bag, adorned with thousands of sparkling crystals was such a beauty! But, as we learned, those coveted bags go to the Oscar® nominees and presenters.

Pre-Oscar® Events

Armed with their delectable goodies, the stars made appearances at these major pre-Oscar® events:

Agency Parties: ICM, CAA and Endeavor
Mariah Carey, Elton John, Mick Jagger and girlfriend, L’Wren Scott, stopped by Ed Limato’s gorgeous home for an exclusive ICM social. A few blocks away, Bryan Lourd welcomed Barbara Walters and Nancy Davis to the CAA shindig held at his extravagant mansion. Meanwhile, Capote’s Bennett Miller, as well as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Ed Markey and his wife, Susan Blumenthal, attended Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor agency soirée.

Barclay Butera/Angeleno Magazine
Interior designer and retailer, Barclay Butera, teamed up with Angeleno Magazine to celebrate the Oscars® at his beautiful mid-century residence (formerly owned by Desi Arñaz, Jr.) adorned with old Hollywood photos.

Tinseltown to Gotham
Quincy Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Xzibit, Jill Marie Jones, Tyrese, Shanice, Henry Simmons, Lauren Hill and Rafael Saadiq attended the Tinseltown to Gotham pre-Oscar® at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The fab fête served as a benefit for World Humanitarian efforts and the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME).

Weinstein Pre-Oscar® Party
George Clooney, Sienna Miller, George Lucas, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Hartnett, and Judi Dench mingled and nibbled on savory hors d’oeuvres at the Weinstein event while listening to country sensation Dolly Parton perform her Academy Award-nominated song “Travelin’ Thru” (TransAmerica) at the Pacific Design Center.

Global Green USA’s Annual Oscar® Party
Environmental movers and shakers Kate Bosworth, Esai Morales, Marcia Gay Harden, Cheryl Lawrence, and others, graced Global Green USA’s green carpet at the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater to help raise funds for the Gulf Coast.

Los Angeles Confidential Magazine
Los Angeles Confidential’s Oscar® issue cover, Philip Seymour Hoffman, was the man of the evening as Brandon Davis, Bai Ling, Matt Dillon, Tatyana Ali, and Jesse Metcalfe toasted his Academy Award nomination at Sunset hotspot Skybar.

Masters Player’s Ball
Snoop Dogg, along with All Game Entertainment and T.H.I.S., paid tribute to the urban hustler as it hosted a superfly soiree at the Key Club on Sunset.

Stewart Weitzman Pre-Oscar® Dinner
Fashion divas Nicollette Sheridan, Brenda Strong, and Leeza Gibbons were enjoying the gorgeous diamond display with our own editor, Loraine Jarblum, at Christie’s in Beverly Hills for Weitzman’s lavish pre-Oscar® dinner. Following the cocktail hour and gourmet feast, the famous footwear designer announced that Best Song nominee Kathleen “Bird” York (Crash) would sport the Hayworth-inspired shoes on Sunday night’s red carpet.

GM 10 Car Fashion Show
And, Lindsay Lohan and Mischa Barton were a number of celebrity models who worked General Motor’s catwalk in Hollywood. Highlights included Carmen Electra’s sizzling strut down the runway in a red-hot Roberto Cavalli and Entourage’s Jeremy Piven’s unforgettable ‘80s flashback break dance he did before exiting the stage. Jamie Foxx, Matthew Perry, Nick Lachey, and John Legend also attended.

Red Carpet Oscar® Fashions

So who made POWER’s best-dressed list? Check out the top 10 contenders:

1. Kudos to Best Actress nominee Keira Knightley (Pride and Prejudice) for her sensational, one-shoulder plum Vera Wang.  What a beauty!
2. It was no mystery that Wisteria Lane’s Felicity Huffman was a hit in a black satin Zac Posen with sheer paneling on the sides.
3. Honey star Jessica Alba generated a lot of buzz for her gorgeous golden Versace lace gown.
4. Fellow Best Actress nominee Charlize Theron (North Country) pushed the envelope in a hunter green Dior, fancy yellow diamond (8 cts.) Chopard chandelier earrings and a terrific pair of Jimmy Choos.
5. Oscar® presenter Hilary Swank looked like a million bucks in a simple yet chic black satin Versace paired with delicate cushion cut Chopard diamond earrings (2.13 and 2.16 cts.) set in platinum on a French wire.
6. Best Supporting Actress nominee Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain) wowed us in an old Hollywood-inspired, canary yellow Vera Wang.
7. Crash star Sandra Bullock was a showstopper in a strapless, navy Angel Sanchez.
8. Singer Jennifer Lopez lit up the red carpet in a vintage, emerald green Rita Watnick at Lily et Cie.
9. Madagascar’s Jada Pinkett Smith ruled the red carpet in a royal blue Cavalli.
10. Dancing with the Stars Lisa Rinna sparkled in a shimmery, eggplant J. Mendel.

The Oscar® Ceremony

And the Oscar® goes to…:

BEST PICTURE
Crash

BEST ACTRESS
Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line)

BEST ACTOR
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
George Clooney (Syriana)

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, and Paul Beauregard ("Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle and Flow)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco (Crash)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana (Brokeback Mountain)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Tsotsi (South Africa)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
March of the Penguins

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKE-UP
Howard Berger and Tami Lane (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Colleen Atwood (Memoirs of a Geisha)

After-Parties

Following the surprising (Crash upsetting category favorite Brokeback Mountain for BEST PICTURE) and history-making (Three 6 Mafia becoming the first hip-hop group to perform at the Academy Awards and the second rap act to win an Oscar®--the first went to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” in 2003) ceremony at the Kodak Theatre, celebrities had their choice of locales to cap off their exciting evening.

The Governor’s Ball
Steps away from the Hollywood and Highland landmark itself was the Governor’s Ball, where fine champagne flowed and delectable foods from world-renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, were on display for attendees Weisz, Alba, Jack Nicholson, Queen Latifah, Joaquin Phoenix, and Stephen Spielberg and Kate Capshaw.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar® Party
Another party hotspot was Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscar® party. Newlyweds John and David Furnish collaborated with Chopard to welcome A-listers Madonna, Prince, Nicole Ritchie, and others, to the Pacific Design Center.

Vanity Fair
And, if you were lucky, you were one of the privileged few invited to the Vanity Fair post-celebration. Stars Teri Hatcher, Nicole Kidman, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Aniston, and Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez attended the party held at the upscale Morton’s Restaurant.

POWER will be back next year to bring you the Oscars®. Special thanks to all the PR people for helping to make our coverage so complete!