Casey Abrams Says Goodbye

Humble until the end, Casey Abrams recently spoke on his elimination from American Idol.
The bearded crooner told MTV he had a feeling his name would be called on Thursday night. Not because he did poorly, but because he was so impressed by his competitors.
My performance was pretty good," he said. "But seeing Jacob kill it and then seeing Haley kill it, seeing Scotty and Lauren kill it and Durbin obviously... it just made me feel like, 'These guys are incredible. These guys could carry the show. I don't really need to be here, so if I go home tomorrow, I'm prepared.'"

On a personal note, Casey's goodbye to contestant Haley Reinhart - which included a kiss - forced him to clear up all rumors about the two dating. He just refers to her as his "special music friend."

"I was completely on random mode. I didn't plan on ending up on Haley; it just happened that way. Nothing was planned," he said of his hug and kiss-filled farewell on stage.

Does the talented singer (he plays cello, bass, drums and clarinet) have any parting words of advice?

"Don't take yourself too seriously. Take music seriously, but not yourself."

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/04/american-idol-exit-interview-casey-abrams-says-goodbye/#ixzz1L9d84xRl

Lindsay Lohan pllead No Contest to theft

Lindsay Lohan will enter a plea of no contest to the misdemeanor theft charge she faces over the alleged necklace theft she commented earlier this spring.
Despite insisting she is innocent, Lindsay is committed to what she told Jay Leno this week - she wants to accept responsibility and move on with her life.
As a result, Lohan and lawyer Shawn Holley will go back to Judge Stephanie Sautner as early as next week to enter a plea and end the case. Then what?

Lindsay was already sentenced to 120 days in jail for a probation violation, along with 480 hours of community service, at a preliminary hearing last week.
By pleading no contest to the theft charge, Lindsay is banking on Judge Sautner not adding additional prison time onto the 120 days for the theft charge.
In other words, LiLo serves 120 days for the probation violation and that's that.
Given that she had the option of a plea deal (which she turned down) to serve less than that for the theft charge originally, that's how it'll likely go down.

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/04/lindsay-lohan-to-plead-no-contest-to-theft/#ixzz1L9cyP8mx

Kate Middleton Evening Gown: Simply Stunning

Having married Prince William earlier Friday in the wedding of the millennium, Kate Middleton changed into a stunning evening gown for the royal reception.
Like Kate Middleton's wedding dress, this gown looked nothing short of perfect for a duchess, and was custom designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.
Burton said of her design experience: "Alexander McQueen's designs are all about bringing contrasts together to create startling and beautiful clothes."
We'd say that worked pretty well in this case, wouldn't you?

Kate Middleton in her wedding dress (right) and evening gown (left) following the Royal Wedding. Both were designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.

Sarah Burton added that in recent weeks, she and her team "worked closely with Catherine to create this dress under conditions of strictest secrecy."

Give the designer a hand for a job well done - and for more of her work on display during England's big day, check out these Royal Wedding photos!

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/04/kate-middleton-evening-gown-simply-stunning/#ixzz1L9coVkcV

Charlie Sheen to Chuck Lorre : I'm No Heroin Addict!

Charlie Sheen says he's never done heroin in his life.
While hard to believe in a sense, he's admitted everything he HAS done proudly, so you have to wonder why he'd lie about it. Why did it even come up?
Because his former boss Chuck Lorre took a thinly-veiled shot at Sheen with his vanity card at the end of The Big Bang Theory on Thursday night.

Lorre made reference to a monkey on the sitcom exhibiting "increasingly erratic" behavior, refusing to work, being "a heroin addict," checking into rehab, etc.
Pretty clear who the CBS producer was referring to, right?
As he has many times before, Sheen reamed out Lorre earlier in the week at the suggestion that Two and a Half Men can exist without him.
He was not pleased with the heroin assertion Lorre made after TBBT, telling TMZ in response "I have never done or tried heroin in my life."
So that's that. Probably. Here's Lorre's vanity card cheap shot:

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/05/charlie-sheen-to-chuck-lorre-im-no-heroin-addict/#ixzz1L9chC3PA

Three Official Royal Wedding Portraits: Revealed!

As you know, Friday marked the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It was a moment watched and cherished by two billion people worldwide.
The family has released three official Royal Wedding portraits, each taken by Hugo Burnand at Buckingham Palace, to commemorate the joyous event.
First, a formal, royally cute picture of adorable newlyweds:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the Throne Room.

Next up, a fun photo of Will and Kate with the kids in the bridal party. The youngsters are The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Miss Eliza Lopes, Miss Grace van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Master Tom Pettifer and Master William Lowther-Pinkerton:

Finally, the merged families are featured in its entirety in a final shot, with everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to the bride's parents and siblings included:

Front row (left to right): Miss Grace van Cutsem, Miss Eliza Lopes, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen Elizabeth II, The Hon. Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Louise Windsor, Master William Lowther-Pinkerton.
Back Row (left to right): Master Tom Pettifer, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Henry of Wales, Mr. Michael Middleton, Mrs. Michael Middleton, Mr. James Middleton, Miss Philippa Middleton.
So regal and so sweet. Follow this link for tons more Royal Wedding photos!

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/05/three-official-royal-wedding-portraits-revealed/#ixzz1L9cFRLFi

Hip Hotel New York: Iroquois Hotel Review

      New York is famous for its architectural diversity: old buildings alongside towering structures, a grand park in the heart of the city, and speeding yellow cabs meeting horse drawn carriages by the park. This is what makes New York what it is and what attracts tourists and residents alike, and this is exactly what makes a small boutique hotel in Manhattan an irresistible treat. The Iroquois New York, distinguished as one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, offers guests a slice of the city, with a great location and all the modern amenities.
Set alongside several other hotels, between 5th and 6th Avenues – yes, the famous 5th avenue, a.k.a the shopping haven – the Iroquois New York will make you feel at home, assuming your home is equally an urban luxury. Upon arriving I was greeted by the courteous bell staff and found a moment of solace in the small library hidden in the back of the lobby. I had to peek into my luggage in search of a jacket, and sitting amongst the fresh tropical flowers, oak bookcases, and overhead plasma – which I later found out was a handy flight information screen – I felt very comfortable, like I was in a friend's (very upper class) living room.

That feeling continued into check in, when I settled into an executive king room, complete with antique styled furniture and a sleek HD plasma TV, and surprisingly the two blended perfectly. The full marble bathroom notwithstanding – any good hotel should have one – the best part of the room was really the ultra-soft bed and covers. Cliché or not, there were some cloud-like feelings, and after a full day of shopping (or meetings, if you must be practical) there's nothing like resting your tired feet and shoulders on what feels like a fluffy piece of heaven.
The only thing that might actually tear you away from the bed after a long day is Triomphe - the hotel's elegant restaurant, ranked by Zagat guides – the top name in restaurant rankings – as one of Zagat's top 25 picks. The intimate restaurant might get overlooked by tourists passing-by, but once seated and presented with a menu, there's little you will want to miss. For that very reason you should go for their fabulous tasting menu with accompanying wine pairings.
Each of the six courses will be complemented by either white or red wine, including a sweet dessert wine to finish, and by the end of it you may be a little light headed – like I was – so sit back and enjoy the ride. An endive salad with feta and grapes, tender lamb, and scallops in a rich cream sauce to die for, culminating in your choice of dessert. End off with their rich Maple Walnut cheesecake, because it's New York after all!

http://www.hilary.com/travel/hip-iroquois.html

Hip Hotel Rome: The Exedra Hotel

      If you've ever wanted to know what its like to travel like a celebrity, there's nowhere better to experience the lifestyle of the rich and famous than in the city synonymous with romance, sophistication and style: Rome. On my Roman holiday, I looked no further than Hotel Exedra, a Boscolo Luxury Hotel, to have it all.

When I walked into the lobby, I instantly felt like a star filming my latest European hit – maybe a romance. The grand chandeliers and marble floors are just a hint of what awaits you inside each room.
High ceilings, modern décor, a separate dressing area with lots of closet space, and a marble bathroom that would satisfy the toughest critic (myself of course) are all designed to make you feel like a VIP. Even if you don't have a personal assistant on hand, the hotel ensures no small touch is forgotten from fluffy slippers to a "comfort kit" with all the essentials – even my often forgotten make-up remover.
To continue with the awe-inspiring feeling, Hotel Exedra is in itself an attraction, located on the Piazza della Republica and built over the remains of Diocletian's 3rd-century baths (a must-see site). And when you're done touring the hotel, you can visit any of the other major Roman attractions. Around the corner is Nazionale St., a shopping haven that leads to the Colosseum. Also nearby are the famous Spanish Steps and Via Veneto, a street full of restaurants and designer shops - yes Exedra is a very shopping friendly destination!
After a full day of sight-seeing (foreign shops ARE sights), retreat to the Hotel Exedra rooftop pool and restaurant. There you can try a delicious dish infused with local tastes, including my favorite, asparagus fettuccini. And to complete your day (and begin your night) order a drink and watch the sunset over the seemingly endless pool that meets the horizon. A perfect ending scene to my luxurious Roman holiday. 

http://www.hilary.com/travel/hip-exedra.html