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by Madelyn Miller

Everyone has their fantasy celebrity. Some people get ecstatic at the mere mention of Elvis’s name. Many men fantasize about Marilyn Monroe. But for me the fantasy has always been Warren Beatty.

And recently I was able to fulfill my fantasy at the REGENT BEVERLY WILSHIRE. Yes, I actually slept in Warren Beatty’s bed.

It didn’t matter to me that he had left this penthouse room 6 years ago. Or that many other women had shared this bed.

I also understand why he married Annette Benning. The story is that for their anniversary, she rented his famous bachelor pad suite as a surprise. After all, she decided, every other woman has had him there, so why shouldn’t she get her turn. Smart woman. No wonder she got him for keeps.

I will always wonder if part of his legendary success with women was his spectacular suite. Located on the top floor of the Regent Beverly Wilshire, it has a spectacular view of Beverly Hills and a patio large enough for a cocktail party for at least 150 people.

The Regent Beverly Wilshire has been home and haunt of the rich and famous since 1927. Today, the hotel holds the same seductive charm as it did in the Halcyon days of the silver screen. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills where Wilshire Boulevard meets chic Rodeo Drive, it is neighbor to the world’s most elegant boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. It is situated where every visitor to Los Angeles wants to be—a stroll away from the world’s most exclusive addresses. Surrounded by stars.  A convenient distance from everything from the airport to the studios to the Pacific.

When you step into  the elegant entrance, you get an eloquent introduction. It is the most gracious lobby in all of Beverly Hills. Classically vaulted and pillared, glowing with marble, mahogany, and brass, the Grand Lobby reflects the 1928 grandeur befitting this very special experience-an impression reinforced by every entryway.

You feel a bit like you are in a museum when you look at the scrolled and gilded wrought-iron gates. The intricate bas-relief front portico. Even the paparazzi holding vigil on El Camino Real, the Beverly Wilshire’s private street.

Just wait until you get into your room. Understated and oversized the rooms and suites are creations in light and space.  The rich fabrics are natural cottons, silks and wools.  Fresh strawberries with brown sugar and cream await your arrival. Mineral water is refreshed by service people you never see.

Opulent bathrooms of Greek and Italian marble are complete with telephone and television. You’ll enjoy deep soaking tubs and premium toiletries , replenished twice daily.

Live it up. Enjoy cool drinks beside the Riviera-style pool. Have a body polish for renewal, or a stress-melting massage at The Spa. Schedule an appointment with a personal trainer or use the advanced equipment to tone and trim. (After all, you have a lot of competition in Hollywood)

If you’d like to see and be seen, make reservations in the Dining Room. Enjoy the award winning California-Continental cuisine. I had a lobster that was so beautiful it needed only an agent to be a blockbuster star.

You can really get around without even leaving the hotel. Enjoy sundaes or cappuccino overlooking Rodeo Drive in the airy Café. Take high tea or cocktails amidst the European ambiance of the Lobby Lounge. And finish up with brandy by the rich patina of The Bar. I will respect the privacy of the famous star I saw at breakfast. I had seen him on TV, but never in person. Who knows who you might see?

Just for one night (or longer, of course) live out your fantasies. If you’d like to sleep in Warren’s bed (after two days in the hotel, I feel we are on a first name basis) ask for the Veranda Suite on the topmost floor of the Wilshire Wing. You’ll enter by a private stairway and enjoy a rooftop terrace and breathtaking city perspectives.

For decades, the Regent Beverly Wilshire has opened its doors to Hollywood’s glitterati. This landmark has long been associated with impressive names.  Shouldn’t yours be one of them, even if only for one night.

The REGENT BEVERLY WILSHIRE
 9500 WILSHIRE BLD. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA 90212
 310-275-5200
 FAX 310-274-2851

REGENT INTERNATIONAL RESERVATIONS 800-545-4000.

The best deals on getting there are  usually on Southwest Airlines 800-I-FLY-SWA http://www/southwest.com

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