GBK Brandbar Marks Award Season’s First In-Person Oscar Lounge
The mood was practically euphoric at the first in-person gift lounge in more than a year. The GBK pre-Oscar soirée is always highly anticipated but this year, under these circumstances, more so than ever. (It’s hard to believe, but in 2020, the Oscars were held in early February, a month before the coronavirus pandemic completely reshaped our world.)
It all went down at the trendy Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood Wednesday through Saturday leading up to the Academy Awards on Sunday, April 25.
(photo credit: Tiffany Rose)
A number of Oscar nominees made the scene at the eOn Sanitizing Mist Pre-Oscars Celebrity Gift Lounge presented by GBK Brand Bar and Kailo, including best actress contenders Viola Davis and Andra Day and supporting actor nominee Paul Raci from Sound of Metal.
The list of other Oscar nominees included Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, who won golden statuettes for their short film Two Distant Strangers, Tiara Thomas, Eileen Galindo and Elvira Lind.
Among the more than 80 celebrities attending the lounge were Los Angeles Dodgers star and fan favorite Justin Turner, musicians Tori Kelly and Kesha.
Also spotted, EMMY winners such as Eugene Levy, Jeremy Piven, Michelle Visage, Glynn Turman and Patrika Darbo, SAG Award winner and Oscar Presenter Angela Bassett, Anthony Anderson, William Fichtner, John Carroll Lynch, Adina Porter, stars of the EMMY winning RuPaul’s Drag Race Alaska, Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen, Monet X Change, Shameless stars Christian Isaiah & Joshua Malina, The Flight Attendant’s Griffin Matthews, Jason O’Mara and many more.
Of course things were different. Every VIP attendee had to either show a vaccination card for admittance at their appointed time or undergo a rapid Covid-19 test that was set up in the valet parking area of the hotel.
All measures were taken to keep the event spaced out due to strict occupancy and health and safety guidelines to keep everyone safe. That means the event flowed through different areas of the hotel from the rooftop to the lobby and then into the backyard of the property and the James Peter Henry Gallery, where attendees were gifted with fine jewelry from Yuvika and received 18k gold infinity boxes using each celebrity’s hand, individually signed by artist Johnathan Schultz.
Another much-appreciated gift, state-of-the-art healthcare technology with Kailo Pain Patch, which uses innovative technology to treat pain without drugs.
Celebrities received an estimated $70k worth of vacations and gifts from AMASS Botanic Hard Seltzer, Beverly Hills Spine & Rehab packages, Cabo Couture, CALM by ComfyCozy Boutique diffusers, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas package, free Chicago Stuffed Pizza Co. for a year, Delight Café CBD, DJ Aaron Colbert gift card, Dogpound Training, Elite Spa certificate, Gastro Garage dinner for 2, GBK Brand Bar Gift Card, GrowingGreen CBD, HOLLYGOLD recycled bag, sweater, t-shirt, face mask and a year of free movies at TCL Chinese Theatre, James Peter Henry prints and portraits for nominees, invite to John Kelly Chocolates new store in Beverly Hills, Kahari Resort package, Kimpton LaPeer Hotel night stay, Merci Life beauty drink, MOTEV luxury transportation, OG Hot Sauce / Mia Rebel B.M.I. Songwriter, Author & Publisher, PBF Vanish Inc. Anti-aging products, Raiwasa Private Resort package Ream Wine, Remember Me Green tote bags, RESET IV vouchers, Sailrock Resort package, Soul Tox recovery water, Source Naturals supplements, Superva 1 of 1’s customized shoes, Tesse Restaurant’s Drip Club, Realm Wine, The Farmers on Wheels local fruit, Vice Bake Shop cookies and Yassi’s Butta organic salve.
