New York - For those living with spinal cord injuries in the U.S., the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation provides a form of magic in the form of funding for research and quality of life improvements. So the theme of their annual fundraising gala, "A Magical Evening," held on Nov. 12 in New York, was especially fitting.

Celebrity friends and supporters of the Reeve's cause, including Diane Sawyer, Robin and Marsha Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Anne Hathaway, came out in full force to the Marriot Marquis to honor the couple's advocacy work. Christopher passed away in 2004, and Dana passed away from lung cancer at the age of 44 in 2006.

Their children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, were on hand at the gala to honor Meryl Streep, the recipient of the Dana Reeve Hope Award; Lee and Bob Woodruff, the recipients of the Christopher Reeve Spirit of Courage Award and Henry G. Stifel, one of the founding members of the foundation and recipient of the Visionary Leadership Award.

"Meryl's been a loyal and great friend to the foundation and we’re happy to pay tribute to her this evening," said Alexandra Reeve.

"I knew him for a long time, many, many years," said Meryl Streep of Reeve. "I'm very, very honored to be here, and I'm a little humbled, because I feel like I'm standing in light that [Christopher and Dana Reeve] cast. They just really were like a lighthouse for this issue, and so charismatic and so effective in their advocacy."

Lee and Bob Woodruff, whose own story has come to parallel in many ways the Reeve's, when television journalist Bob Woodruff became the first news anchor in Iraq to be wounded, nearly killed by a roadside bomb. He sustained a serious head injury and subsequently, he and his wife Lee established the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

"It just so happened after I woke up, after 36 days in my coma, I looked up at the TV and saw that Dana had passed away, and I will never forget that," said Bob Woodruff. “That was one of the first things that I saw. That's how close this family is to so many people in this country."

Another friend of the Reeve's, Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who met the couple after college at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, said it was a "no-brainer" to come out that evening for the foundation.

"What they built is a pretty extraordinary thing, and I just want to keep supporting it as long as I can," said Hoffman. "Hopefully from year to year it will keep building upon what they left, so that's why I'm here."

Hoffman said that in choosing his own roles, he's always been surprised about the films that have had a lasting impact.

"I never know what films will have an impact either socially or politically," he said. "It's a tough one, because sometimes things can be too on the nose. You hope you're involved with things that will just make an impact, that will affect people somehow. Sometimes that's socially or politically, and sometimes that's just soulfully."

Christopher Reeve, a longtime activist even before his paralyzing accident in 1995 when he was thrown from a horse in an equestrian competition, used his own celebrity for good causes ranging from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, to Amnesty International, to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

After his accident and extensive, painful rehabilitation, he traveled constantly throughout the country to speak on behalf of other people with disabilities and also actively lobbied in Washington D.C. In September 2007, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) to be considered by the full House, a bill intended to improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries.

Last week during the NYC Marathon, Team Reeve, made up of 50 runners, raised $400,000 for the foundation.

Everyone Was There at the "I'm Not There" Premiere

New York - The stars glittered brilliantly on a chilly Tuesday night in New York City to see director Todd Haynes' homage to Bob Dylan's life. Called "I'm Not There," it is a movie with an interesting conceit. In it, six actors – including one female, Cate Blanchett – portray the legendary singer-songwriter at various points in his iconic career. Blanchett was off in Sydney, and fellow Dylans Christian Bale and Ben Whishaw didn't make it either, but the other three who take on the role, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Marcus Carl Franklin, joined Haynes and the film's
Heath Ledger talked about the film to the press earlier in the week, and explained that a knowledge of Dylan's life and music isn't a necessity to enjoying the flick.

"I don't think you need to be a Dylan genius in order to appreciate it as a story, a film, or the experience of it," Ledger said. "It is a film, it is a movie, and it's not a quiz. There is no Q&A afterwards, as an audience member. Quite frankly I think the less you know, the better off you are going to be. You are not going to be straining yourself, trying to digest every single line of dialogue. You just kind of strap yourself in and enjoy the ride, that kind of thing."

That's just what Julianne Moore, Bruce Greenwood, and Yolanda Moss did; they co-star in the movie and joined a throng of Haynes fans at the premiere. There was Lauren Bacall, Adrian Grenier, Glenn Close, Justin Bateman, Eva Amurri, Bebe Neuwirth, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Belzer and Bart Freundlich.

Dylan's music has had a profound impact over the years, even on 28-year-old Heath Ledger, who wasn't born when Dylan rose to superstardom in the Sixties, but who insisted that age has nothing to do with appreciating the music – or "I'm Not There" either.

"I was definitely a fan of Dylan. I think Dylan was someone who I had scheduled somewhat, in the future, down the line, to become obsessed by. I do get obsessed with people, musicians, and artists," Ledger admitted. "I think that Todd prematurely invited me into this obsession, on this film."

The film-festival favorite opens in limited release on November 21.

Celebrity Women Halloween Parties

Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Gwen Stefani show off their halloween outfits and Britney proves she can still look like trash on halloween.

Lane Garrison 40 Months in Prison

Lane Garrison was sentenced to three years and four months in prison Wednesday for a drunken driving crash that killed a 17-year-old Beverly Hills High student last December.

“The public has the right to know that conduct such as this, causing devastation such as this” will have consequences, said Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox.

“Unfortunately, in this case, you have to be the messenger,” he told the former “Prison Break” actor.

Garrison, 27 could have received nearly seven years in prison. He had no reaction to the sentencing and was taken away in handcuffs. Before the sentencing, he apologized to the family of Vahagn Setian.

“I’m sick of my own behavior that night,” he said. “This remorse is genuine. I feel it every day.”
About 30 teenagers, many of them Beverly Hills High students, packed the courtroom, some wearing T-shirts that had Setian’s photograph and the motto: “Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.”

“There are no winners in this situation, obviously,” Setian family spokesman James Lee said outside court. After the hearing, defense attorney Harland Braun said his client “was hopeful (of leniency) but someone’s dead and he’s alive." Braun said Garrison told him: “I’m the lucky one.” Setian was a passenger in the 2001 Land Rover that Garrison rammed into a tree on Dec. 2. Two 15-year-old girls who also were in the vehicle survived. Garrison met the teens at a grocery store and accompanied them to a party. At the time of the crash, Garrison had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit for driving, and was under the influence of cocaine, according to police.

Garrison pleaded guilty in May to one count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, one count of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 percent or higher and a misdemeanor of providing alcohol to a minor. Classmates and relatives of Setian had pressed for Garrison to get the maximum sentence. On Tuesday, they tried to deliver a petition carrying more than 3,000 signatures making the request, but were told to submit it at the hearing through a prosecutor. The judge refused to accept the petition Wednesday, calling it inappropriate. Fox imposed both prison time and four years’ parole and ordered Garrison to pay around $300,000 in restitution to the victims and their families. Source msnbc

Kate Winslet: Yay or Nay?

Kate Winslet attended the 16th Annual Bafta/LA Cunard Britannia Awards (now, that was a mouthful) a couple of days ago in Hollywood wearing a controversial dress.


This obviously wasn't a 'safe' choice. When presented with photographs like this I sometimes wonder what the intention behind the outfit was. Do celebrities wear off-the-wall outfits purely to cause controversy and ultimately column inches or are they simply exploring their own style and pushing the boundaries?

I'm not sure the metallic finish and texture of the gown sits well with the classic (almost frumpy) shape. I love the super-wide black patent belt (a must-have for your wardrobe) but not with this dress. The belt is too 'now' to be teamed with a shape of dress that is 'not now'. It's a bit like eating ketchup with ice cream...they just don't go well together.

Hilary Duff Keeps Her Clothes ON For FHM

he most recent issue of UK mens' magazine FHM has just hit the shelves, with Hilary Duff as this month's cover girl. Yes the shoot is sexy but it is definitely not what I'd expect from a magazine which usually displays topless shots. I wonder if FHM readers felt a little cheated to open the magazine and find Hilary very much fully clothed? The shots are tasteful, demure and wouldn't look out of place in ladies fashion mags such as Glamour or Instyle. The mini cropped leather biker jacket is right on trend and is a look that appears in the Kate Moss for Topshop collection. Good for you Hilary for not selling out and getting your kit off for money. What a great role model for young girls - this is one celebrity you won't see falling over drunk or photographed minus underwear.

Cameron Diaz in Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture has seriously impressed me this year and their current knitwear collection really is to die for. Every piece is right on trend (babydoll cardigans, pocket tunics, cowl necks, stripes), beautifully cut and of high quality. Cameron Diaz looks absolutely stunning in this preppy stripe cardigan [$278] available in cream, black and beige. If you get the chance to see this in real life take a good look at the buttons - they are gorgeous!