Denver, CO, August 27, 2008 – Jennifer Lopez was the keynote speaker at an event during the Democratic National Convention!  But don’t worry - although J. Lo was dressed very conservatively, she isn’t entering politics yet.  She spoke at a Children’s Defense Fund event at the Denver Art Museum, where politicians, children’s advocate Marian Wright Edelman and other celebs like Ashley Judd were in the crowd. 

“I wanted to make a real difference”, Lopez told reporters, but not enough to stay for the luncheon – she slipped out before lunch was served. 

Denver, CO, August 26, 2008 – Charlize Theron and her longtime boyfriend Stuart Townsend were in Denver during the DNC, but ostensibly for a movie screening and not for politics.  Townsend directed Battle in Seattle, which was screened as part of the IMPACT Film Festival, which focuses on socially themed films.  Oscar winner Theron starred in the movie, which chronicles the protests surrounding the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle. 

Theron and Townsend were hostile to photographers outside the venue.  They arrived together, and she offered a steely smile; after the panel discussion, the two looked outside, and Theron said, “Let’s just run!” and she bolted out the door alone.  She ran faster as we followed her down the street, and when OAN’s photographer told her he’d chase her if he were younger, Theron laughed – but kept running. 

Impact Film Festival

New York, August 24, 2008 – Henri Bendel shopping bags are a regular sight on the hit TV series Gossip Girl, so why not celebrate that fact?  Bendel had the show’s costume designer Eric Daman create the store’s current window display, and then made sure everyone knew about it by inviting the fashionable cast to the store on Sunday night.  But this was not a shopping trip, it was a party to celebrate the show and the fabulous clothing we’ll see on season two, which begins on September 1.  Co-host YSL Beaute encouraged kisses by serving up lipsticks, and things got a bit out of hand with Daman kissing everyone – even Matthew Settle – until Kelly Rutherford grabbed Daman, held him down, and turned the tables by kissing him hard!  Only Taylor Momsen escaped the kissing frenzy – thankfully, since she’s only 15. 

Photos: Caroline Torem Craig

Brooklyn, NY, August 17, 2008 – Williamsburg’s three-summer party at McCarren Park Pool is just about over, as the pool is soon to be filled with water for – who would have thought - swimming.  But last Sunday New York's Aesop Rock had something on his mind other than the final whistle as he gave his only New York performance on his present tour outing with Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, Yak Ballz, and The Mighty Underdogs.

Though it was a McCarren Pool show, which attracts the familiar twentysomething Williamsburg demographic and the clothing, energy drink, and automobile companies hungry for their brand loyalty, Aesop Rock had little difficulty in capturing the massive crowd's attention.  Were any marketing executives seen queuing after the show to secure Aesop Rock as a brand  consultant, then they could be forgiven considering how effortlessly he had gotten the crowd to sing along to classics like "Day Light," "Labor," and "No Regrets."  Then again, moving crowds is something Aesop Rock does with ease - the brand reps hawking Scion cars to kids seem to be working a lot harder on this Sunday afternoon.

The afternoon unfolded at a relaxed pace that had the feel of a summer barbecue, with Aes Rock's peeps like El-P, Yak Ballz, Despot, and others milling about backstage.  El-P later joined Aesop Rock on stage to perform "Run the Numbers" and "Gun for the Whole Family," whilst Yak Ballz cameoed on "Getaway Car." 

It is perhaps difficult to imagine another outdoor space quite like McCarren Park Pool, but given Aesop Rock's ability to command a crowd, he might as well play Central Park or Giants Stadium the next time he's in search of a summer time venue.

Aesop Rock is on tour with Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, Yak Ballz, and The Mighty Underdogs through September.

Photos and text by Damien Neva