Observed

Now THAT'S a Bat Mitzvah! What, your mom didn't plan a party for 350 at The Plaza in Beverly Hills to mark your passage into womanhood, you say? Too bad your mom isn't Shelley Hann.

Well, let us help you live vicariously through the well-mannered Miss Ashley Hann for a moment. Her Bat Mitzvah party included stretch Hummer limos for her friends and a party to rival any luxe affair this side of Rio. Included in the fairway were stations boasting tattoos (the kind that washes off, of course), donuts made freshly on site, a false eyelash application booth, and more.

After dancing the night away with an Elvis impersonator (we're not kidding), guests left with more than the makings for a wicked hangover (oh, the joys of an open bar); the gents scored a pair of boxers while their softer sides left with cozy tanks.

Don't feel like you're alone. After witnessing the joys of Bat Mitzvahs first-hand, we too considered converting to Judaism.

Does Mark Thompson never age? It feels like yesterday that the popular radio personality posed with his sidekick Brian on the cover of some now-forgotten SCV phonebook a decade or so ago. Must be those radio waves keeping his skin so vibrant...

But we digress... Mr. Thompson lent out his celebrity for a good cause on September 25 when he took to a hog (the kind you ride, not the kind you eat, well... unless you live on a farm and lack good entertainment options) for the Armadillo Ride. The cycle-fest benefits kids with autism. This year, Carousel Ranch netted nearly $10,000 from the charity event.

Also in the photo with Mark is Jordan Katz, son of T and Steve Katz, the founders of the Armadillo Ride.

When you're good, you're good. As if owning an incredibly popular wine bar/wine storage business wasn't enough, All Corked Up also had to go and win "Best Booth" at Taste of Expo last month. Now, we'd never insinuate that bribery played a role in the judges' final decisions. After all, the All Corked Up booth was beautifully adorned with grape-like goodness, but let's remember that the company, which boasts over 3,000 varieties of wine in their shop, was distributing their goods at the event. I mean, lets compare for a moment: Inside SCV had a great looking booth, and we gave away magazines, but didn't win jack. What have we learned from this little experiment? Next year, it's magazines and shots of whiskey for us.