A Whole New Ken
It’s not for us to decide the sociological implication of this: The new Ken doll has a small silver hoop in his left ear.
“We saw more and more men wearing earrings,” says a Mattel spokeswoman. “We thought Ken should keep up with that trend.”
Ken’s makeover also includes a blond streak in his hair, black jeans and a lavender leatherlike vest with a matching T-shirt.
Ken wears lavender because that’s what little girls want, says Mattel, which has determined their young market’s favorite color is pink, with purple a strong runner-up.
A Plant Sale to Die For
It’s not often that a plant sale would qualify as a social event like today’s Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens 19th annual fund-raiser.
What makes the market unique is browsing in the Huntington’s setting (a far cry from picking up some marigolds at IKEA) and the fact that some of the flora at the sale, like the edible bananas and sasuki azaleas, are available almost nowhere else.
“The white heliotrope is to die for,” adds sale manager Shirley Kerins.
This event appeals to Social Climes because the crowd ranges from San Marino’s landed gentry to baby boomers just discovering the joys of setting down roots; and because the shopping is done in what one woman describes as “a thinly veiled frenzy” as avid gardeners politely try to “suppress the urge not to knock people aside.”
Another factor is the sheer floral trendiness of it all. If there’s a plant sale that is on--pardon the pun--the cutting edge, this is it. “We appeal to the sophisticated gardener with a jaded palate,” says Kerins. “The ones who think they’ve seen everything. We blow them away.”
Will He or Won’t He?
The big name this year for an arrival at a movie premiere could be President Clinton. There’s a good chance he’ll be on hand for the June 9 opening of Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” in Washington, D.C.
“He’s certainly invited,” says Sally Van Slyke, who’s organizing the premiere for Universal Pictures.
What makes the chief executive’s acceptance a likelihood is the charity that will benefit. Part of the money will go to L.A.’s Children’s Action Network; the rest is earmarked for the Washington-based Children’s Defense Fund, founded by Marian Wright Edelman, one of Clinton’s closest friends.
As befits a premiere with a heavyweight guest list, there are heavyweight prices. Tickets are in the $500-per-head range, with top packages including a VIP reception, 40 movie tickets and four tables at the post-premiere party in the National Building Museum going for $50,000.
EuroDisney’s Non-Rave
It looks like the EuroDisney theme park is turning toward the club scene to improve its finances. On the last weekend in September, the park just outside Paris is hosting a three-day “Dance Europe Weekender.”
The party is being promoted by the former owner of London’s Milk Bar club, Nicky Holloway, with support from Britain’s ever-so-hip The Face magazine. The idea is for two dozen European club deejays, as well as some live acts, to play for 2,000 patrons.
“At first they (EuroDisney) were a bit wary that the party would be a rave,” said Holloway by phone in London. “It’s the complete opposite of a rave. Over here, ravers are the lowest-common denominator.”
