An Inside Look At The Renowned GBK & Pilot Pen Golden Globe Luxury Suites
With the 2016 Golden Globe Awards taking place on Sunday, TV’s top actors and actresses flocked to see-and-be-seen red carpet parties and gifting lounges all weekend. Home Business Magazine scored a coveted invite to THE most exclusive and talked-about event of the entire awards weekend: the 2016 GBK & Pilot Pen Golden Globe Luxury Suites. At the showy soiree, big name stars like actress Kym Whitley, Gina Rodriguez, and Grimm actor Damien Ruckler celebrated the Golden Globes in chic style while enjoying Ike’s Place gourmet sandwiches and must-have gifts.
All of the gifts at the lounge left attendees in complete awe. The stars left with exceptional writing instruments from the gifting lounge’s title sponsor, Pilot Pen, as well as must-have gift picks from the event’s presenting sponsors: the Freedom Quit Smoking System (a.k.a the nicotine-free method to quit), the iRestore Laser Hair Growth System proven hair loss treatment, LifeCell‘s renowned All-in-One anti-aging treatment, and water bottles from TheScienceofEating.com website about weight loss, wellness, fitness, and healthy living.
The stars also gushed over the fashion and jewelry gifts at the GBK gift suite. While enjoying tasty low-calorie cocktails from Be Tini Spirits, guests perused the booths for American Hat Makers‘ handmade leather hats made in CA, universally slimming jeans from Beija-Flor Jeans, gift certificates for Cynthia Gale New York‘s urban eclectic, art-inspired sterling silver jewelry, and Hale Bob‘s modern and feminine clothing for women. Everyone also loved the trendy, handcrafted jewelry and gifts by The Artisan Group and MyIntent Project‘s handmade jewelry that features your own special stamped word of intent.
Beauty gifts were also popular at the lounge. Attendees received passes to Burke Williams spa and products from their exclusive H2V in-spa skin car line, gifts from Paula’s Choice Skincare, tweezers and new makeup brushes from Tweezerman, nourishing facial sunscreen from Live Ultimate Whole Skincare, and the exquisite “Only for Her” Eau de Parfum from HAYARI PARIS. Truly Yours Parfums also wowed everyone with their luxe REISA fragrance featuring a citrusy-floral scent and custom etched bottle.
Other impressive lifestyle gifts were Jewelinx‘s USA-made jewelry organizers that organize your accessories on your hangers, L’amourose’s award-winning adult toys, BoomCase‘s Vintage Suitcase BoomBox, Shhh Silk‘s luxurious silk pillowcases, gift certificates from CouchPotato.com (featuring the widest selection of DVDs), and Trtl Pillow‘s travel pillow that provides scientifically proven neck support. Guests also enjoyed learning about The Sweat Shoppe (which gave away gift cards to their indoor cycling classes) and Relief Bed, which provides strategically built beds for impoverished people in emerging countries and disaster victims.
Everyone also loved the food gifts at the event, such as premium grass-fed bone broth from Au Bon Broth, gift certificates from Bread Basket Cake Company, designer treats from Enchanted Sweet Shoppe, and Jöne’s Gourmet Gelato, which is perfect for vegan and Paleo diets. Celebrities also swarmed the booth for Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin, which was giving away three nights in their stunning ocean view suite (complete with a daily breakfast for two).
At the booth for Lambda Legal, which works to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of the LGBT community and those living with HIV, Home Business Magazine caught up with actress Kym Whitley. She was happy to chat about her experience at the lounge.
“I spend twenty minutes at each booth, and I like anything with food. (laughs) I really loved the Bread Basket Cake Company, the ink pens from Pilot Pen, the tequila drinks from Bel Tini, and MyIntent Project jewelry. I can’t tell you my word, because it’s X-rated! (laughs) No, my word is ‘focus’. GBK is my favorite gifting suite every year,” Kym shared.
She went on to talk about working on Young & Hungry.
“We are in our third season of ‘Young & Hungry’ and I was just getting some nice jeans from Beija-Flor Jeans that my character, Yolanda, can wear on the show,” Kym said. “The show is fantastic and going great. Raising Whitley is also coming to its season finale! Tonight is the last show before the season finale.”
There also had something else to celebrate that day besides the 2016 Golden Globes!
“Today is my son’s birthday, so we are going to have some fish fry and then watch the show tonight, tweet, and all that,” Kym said.
And how did she plan to celebrate the 2016 Golden Globe Awards?
“We are going to have a little party, sit and watch them, and talk to the TV, because that is what we do,” the actress shared. “We yell at the TV. (laughs) We also just went to the People’s Choice Awards because Young & Hungry was nominated. I went to the bathroom when our nomination came up and I forgot all about it. I couldn’t believe it! I was like, I missed it?! I was in the bathroom. We didn’t win, but it would have been awful had we won and I was in the bathroom. That would have been bad!”
At the booth for The Creative Coalition (which brings artists and entertainers together to learn about pressing issues), Home Business chatted with The Leftovers actor Kevin Carroll. He was happy to share his favorite booths at the GBK gifting suite.
“Oh boy! There are so many nice ones that it’s hard to pick a favorite,” the actor said. “I definitely like the idea of being able to get away for a trip, so I like the booth for Belmond La Samanna, St. Martin. I also really like the Free to Quit Smoking System, because I think that is so important. I have a few people in my life who I think would benefit from it. I like it because it can stop a huge problem that a lot of people have. When you’re dealing with the effects of smoking, it is so severe. I like that it is a real life problem solver. The non-dairy gelato from Jöne’s Gourmet Gelato is also really nice.”
He went on to talk about what it is like working on The Leftovers.
“It’s a great time!” Kevin shared. “I am a person who really enjoys making the world better. Sometimes you do that by sparking conversation. I am incredibly happy to be a part of a show that sparks the conversation surrounding humanity. The show really puts it on the line and there are things we all have to deal with. This show gives us a platform to do that.”
At the booth for Food On Foot, which is dedicated to providing the poor and homeless of Los Angeles with nutritious food and clothing, Home Business Magazine chatted with Grimm actor Damien Puckler. He shared his absolute favorite booth at the gifting suite.
“By far, the massage at the Burke Williams spa booth. I am still on a cloud right now!” Damien said.
He went on to share what else he was doing for Golden Globes 2016 weekend.
“I am actually flying out tomorrow to go to Europe to see my family I haven’t seen for six years, so I won’t be here for the Golden Globes,” he shared.
And how did he get his start in acting?
“I was a stuntman!” the actor revealed. “I still am a stuntman– I did stunts then I fell into more and more parts because they asked me if I could deliver a line and apparently I could. I ended up doing more and more acting, which is good because I am getting older and everything hurts, so it’s better to do acting now instead of just doing stunts.” (laughs)
He then shared what it is like working on Grimm.
“That show is awesome. I am not just saying that; I’ve said it many times before because the cast and crew are out of this world! It is the first time in my life where I actually feel like I am working with a family. It’s unbelievable and so much fun,” Damien said.
