Designer Sue Wong threw an epic New Year’s Eve bash at her historical Hollywood estate, The Cedars. It was truly a celebration of beauty, magic and transformation which included amazing warriors of peace and light, Sacha Stone, Michael Jaco, Shifu Abbot Yeanfan of the Shaolin Temple, and the Reverend Patrick McCollum.
Celebrity guests included Hollywood actors Billy Zane, Sadie Katz, two time Emmy winning producer/actor Vincent DePaul, John Blythe Barrymore, Mike Ferguson, Al Burke, Robert Frank Telfer, cinematographer Stefano Milla, TV Talk Show Hosts Jimmy Star and Ron Russell, Rockers Scott Page, Chris Pitman, ARO Rose, John Walsh, Spencer Lehmann, Hip Hop superstar YNG Zuck, Violinist Scarlet Rivera, Zac Jaydon from Pop Wrapped, fashion icons Richie Rich and Mister D, producers and directors Joseph Kelly, Jackie Kong, Scott Engrotti, Dave Bailey, Two-Time Emmy Nominated Showrunner Myles Reiff, E! Entertainment founder Larry Namer, gorgeous celebrity model Dustin Quick and her husband Medi EM, and socialites Christophe and Gabrielle Choo to name a few.
Sacha Stone is a British New Age Influencer and activist known for founding The International Tribunal for Natural Justice, The Lazarus Project, The New Earth Project and the New Earth Festival which he hosts at his private resort, Akasha New Earth Haven, in Ubud, Bali.
Michael Jaco is a YouTuber, author, a retired Army veteran – – a Navy seal and CIA operative. Indeed he is a multi- talented person known for his deep cognitive powers. He is also the founder of Unleashing Intuition Secrets.
The Reverend Patrick McCollum is an interfaith chaplain, spiritual mentor, author, and peace counselor. He built The Peace Violin himself using elements from various wars, the ashes of the Holocaust victims, bits of dust from the brick that Buddha stood on, incorporating so many elements which represent both the good and the horror of humanity. He now plays The Peace Violin all over the world and at historic events.
One of the moving highlights of the evening was a midnight performance by Scarlet Rivera, the official violinist of the World Peace Violin. The World Peace Violin serves as a powerful metaphor for both the beauty and diversity of our planet and for the successful integration of its religions, cultures, and people. Its higher mission is to bring peace to the world.
The Venerable Shifu Shi Yan Fan, Abbot of the Los Angeles Shaolin Temple is a historical figure, being the first Western ordained monk of the Shaolin Temple in China. He originally hails from Brindisi Italy. He was trained by his Master, the present Honorable Grand Abbot, Shi Yongxin of the Shaolin Temple on Songshan mountain in north central China.
Since its conception, The Cedars has subsequently served as host for a constellation of legendary Hollywood stars and musical royalty including Norma Talmadge, Joseph Schneck, founder of 20th Century Fox Studios, Béla Lugosi, Errol Flynn, Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Arthur Lee of the band LOVE, Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Andy Warhol, Dennis Hopper, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, John Phillips, Brian Jones and The Rolling Stones, as well as Johnny Depp. It has also been featured in a number of Hollywood film classics, including Sunset Boulevard (1949) and Easy Rider (1969).
The Cedars was a famed Rock palace in the 1960s and has hosted many former rock legends as former residents. The idiomatic expression “If These Walls Could Talk” is not merely an expression but a living ritual that unfolds time and again at The Cedars when today’s musicians from all corners of the world celebrating music in all genres, grace its living spaces. It is said that Jimi Hendrix composed the iconic “Purple Haze” while residing at The Cedars. There must undoubtedly be something very powerfully true about these walls being ears and magnets, bearing testimony to the incredible vortex of creativity and artistry which unfolded within The Cedars ever since its vision was conceptualized and built by silent-screen MGM French film director Maurice Tourneur in the years between 1921 and 1926.
The entire enchanted evening unfolded with beautiful guests helping themselves to delicious cuisine and elegant beverages were provided by Antoine Michel Casanave of CASANAVE LUXURY GROUP. Guests were served the finest liquors including Bumbu Rum, Luc Belaire Champagne, Villon Cognac, McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin, and all Sovereign Brands. Water was provided by HINT Water.
New Year’s Eve was indeed a special night to remember in the hallowed Golden Hollywood temple of the Grande Dame, The Cedars. It was the exclusive party of the year, and Sue Wong definitely knows how to entertain in glamorous historic fashion. Here’s to an auspicious HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022, the pivotal year of change, channeling the Sue Wong mantra of Beauty. Magic. Transformation.
Photo Credit: Dave Pascal