Debbie Durkin

Before the Emmy Awards were even broadcast, there were a lot of prize winners in Hollywood – guests lucky enough to attend product placement producer Debbie Durkin’s annual EcoLuxe Lounge, this year with the theme of Christmas in September, and charitable partner Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. On Saturday, September 19th, from 11- 6, Durkin paid homage to television awards nominees and a wide array of sustainable and eco-friendly products.

The Ecoluxe Lounge transformed music and dance venue The Avalon into a winter wonderland replete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, glittering Christmas trees, and plenty of sugar plums to taste. Los Angeles has been suffering a heat wave, but it was plenty cool inside the club. DJ Mike Shay spun hip holiday tunes, hand crafted sugar plums were more than just visions dancing in attendees heads, and there were no stocking caps or kerchiefs to be seen. Rather, there was plenty of inventive treats and gifting items.

Guests including Elliot Gould, Adina Porter, Khandi Alexander, nominated for her appearance in ABC’s Scandal, Orange is the New Black’s Abigail Savage, and best supporting actor nominee (for Masters of Sex) Beau Bridges were among the celebrities who turned up to donate unwrapped toys for Shriners Hospital and pose for portraits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

How2Girl Courtney Sixx, a host of the event, helped guests create Do-it-yourself holiday ornaments. The ornaments weren’t all that glittered: beautiful pieces from Amy Marie Radzik’s AR Jewelry and from Ammanii Jewelry added more shine.  Radzik’s eclectic jewelry making grew out of her other profession as production company co-owner. When her San Diego-based company started doing shoots for department stores, Radzik was often called upon to make custom pieces, and do it quickly. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve made jewelry, but I began to get serious about it seven years ago on a photo shoot,” Radzik says. “And now I make jewelry professionally.”

Chariot Travelware gifted beautiful hard-shell suitcases in a variety of sizes and designs – plenty of room to pack that new jewelry. Founded in 2011 by Moon Woo, the luggage is uniquely beautiful, with patterns from roses to geometric designs, vibrantly bright colors to dark grey.  Sleek but sturdy, the luggage is available online and in major department stores across the Southland.

Resqme Lifesaving Tools was also on hand, providing colorful, small emergency glass cutting tools designed to save lives easily.

Guests also explored haute couture from Sen Couture, and received dynamic makeup and hair styling from MUA Victoria Rowe & Glam Squad.

Before taking off to enjoy gift bag booty such as Yoot organic herbal tea, Justin’s peanut butter cups, crispy Pop Chips, and Modern Oats breakfast cereal, there were plenty of holiday-themed tastes on hand at the event.

Sugar and Spyked Holiday desert bar served treats like chocolate rum mini-puddings, while the S’More Bakery offered gourmet s’mores deliciously scorched with a hand held blow torch.

Delicious mini-cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, and cake pops were the order of the day from Infiniti Sweets,  by owner Amanda Vefour, who started her company five years ago.

To drink? Fete Today served up a delightful petite Sirah crafted at a small family vineyard in Lodi, Calif.  Fête Today is a wine and gift shop that encourages “lives full of celebration and joy.” Along with a delicious wine redolent of dark fruits, smooth, and light, Fete offers some additional treats: a color changing twist top and an app for iOs and Android that’s essentially a fun augmented reality photo booth.

On the non-alcoholic side was NEON energy drink, a flavorful organic blend of green tea, prickly pear, and other all-natural ingredients that’s low in sodium and high on lift. Smoked Fusion BBQ catering, Rounds Premium Burgers, Hint Water, and the Southmore Group also offered tasting eats and beverages.

The holiday spirit of giving was in the air and fun was all around, making this year’s Emmy EcoLuxe Lounge another winning afternoon from producer Debbie Durkin. Going to Sundance? You’ll see Durkin there with another eco-awesome event.