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Charlotte Lindemann

By Charlotte Lindemann 8/02/12 3:31pm

Step and Repeat

Will McCormack and Rashida Jones. (Andrew Toth/PatrickMcMullan.com)

Rashida Jones and Will McCormack on the Comic Roles They Wrote for Themselves in Celeste and Jesse Forever

It isn’t rare for Hollywood stars to step out of the spotlight and behind the scenes of late, with names as big as Madonna and Angelina Jolie getting Oscar buzz last year for their stints in the director’s chair. The newest actor-turned-something-else is Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones, who, along with friend and fellow actor Will McCormack, wrote the script for new release Celeste and Jesse Forever, in which they both appear. (Read our review here.) At last night’s Peggy Siegal Company special screening, in support of the International Rescue Committee, Ms. Jones and Mr. McCormack gave The Observer the lowdown on writing their own characters. “Most people would write a superhero, or some kind of animated character, I just picked a business woman,” joked Ms. Jones. “Thats my aspiration.” Read More

By Charlotte Lindemann 7/26/12 2:12pm

party talk

Director Jay Roach at the Peggy Siegal Company and Svedka Vodka screening of The Campaign.

Jay Roach, Director of The Campaign, on His Unrealized Political Career

“If I hadn’t gone into film I would have been in politics,” Jay Roach, director of The Campaign, told The Observer last night at a screening after party. “I was a big student council guy.”

Taking our cue from the lighthearted atmosphere a night of comedy, dim lighting, and celebrity schmoozing at the Lower East Side restaurant of Sons of Essex, we prodded for the punch line. “Oh yeah? And what would your platform be?” we shot back, not without a bit of skeptical sarcasm. “Mental illness” came the reply. We quickly swallowed our laughter. “It’s something that’s really not spoken about–it’s not a sexy topic,” Mr. Roach continued earnestly. “I really think it’s a problem the way we don’t take care of people in this country.” A serious problem indeed! Read More

By Charlotte Lindemann 7/19/12 5:35pm

Party Photos

6 Photos

The Hostess

Latin Flavor at the LivingThere Magazine Launch

Ignoring the thunderstorm that hit New York yesterday afternoon, LivingThere Magazine’s guests partied indoors for the publication’s launch, hosted by covergirl Yaz Hernandez at El Museo del Barrio.

Though Patrón’s national events manager Chenoa Johnson told us the evening was originally planned to be poolside (the only way to drink tequila), even without the sunshine partygoers immersed themselves in the summery theme by feasting on Dos Toros gourmet tacos and Magnolia Bakery sweets while listening to Latin dance music. Ms. Hernandez described it as a “celebration of Latin culture”: the food, the music, the tequila and the location. The event also included a private tour of the Barrio museum galleries: “I loved the exhibition,” admitted Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at FIT, noting the great combination that contemporary art and yummy food make.

Click through to our slideshow for a peek at the festivities. Read More