A night for Motown magic - Los Angeles Times
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A night for Motown magic

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At the United Negro College Fund’s 29th Annual “An Evening of Stars†on Sept. 22, 1. Chris Isaak needed no introduction with his clearly marked guitar in hand. But Award of Excellence recipient Smokey Robinson got an enthusiastic one, from Motown founder Berry Gordy. Previous honoree 2. Stevie Wonder tickled the ivories at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, as did John Legend, who brought down the house with his cover of Robinson’s “Quiet Storm.†The jam-packed night also featured performances by Joss Stone, Macy Gray and Anita Baker, who received two standing ovations. The soul-singing honoree ended on a high note as he crooned “Ooh Baby Baby†before an encore of Motown tunes. Celebrating were 3. Robinson, left, Debbie Allen, Gordy and LisaRaye McCoy.

Jenny Sundel

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Ah, to be young and fashionable

So many dresses, so little time. On Sept. 20, Hilary Duff showed up to the Chanel and P.S. Arts party in Beverly Hills decked out in the fashion house’s duds. But by the time the erstwhile Disney star settled into her seat at the Marc by Marc Jacobs show at Teen Vogue’s Young Hollywood party, she had slipped into a piece from the designer’s collection. Perhaps 6. Duff, right, swapped tips on the art of the quick change with Hayden Panettiere, who learned it during her whirlwind Emmy night. Meanwhile, famous offspring 7. Tallulah Willis, left, and Frances Bean Cobain showed off their passed-down posing skills. DJ Tom Travis spun from the old altar at Vibiana, the former cathedral, as teen queens Emma Roberts, Miley Cyrus and Jamie Lynn Spears got their groove on.

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First the red carpet, then fun and games

4. Kevin Bacon escorted his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, to the premiere of “The Game Plan,†but fans quickly put him to work outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. 5. Dwayne “The Rock†Johnson sidled up to Sedgwick, left, and Roselyn Sanchez, his co-stars in the football flick. At the after-party, set up in the parking lot behind the theater, it was game on for guests who ran an obstacle course, competed in a football helmet race and tried their hand at Skee-Ball. The reward? All-you-can-eat ice cream. After all, it wouldn’t be a Disney affair without a sweet ending, now would it?

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