Eva Longoria and Market America Rev Up the Engines

Posted by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore On November - 26 - 2009

Ride Eva, Ride…

Eva Longoria ParkerEveryone’s favorite (not-so-desperate) “Housewife,” Eva Longoria Parker, alongside BFFs, J.R. and Loren Ridinger, joined forces with 20 other celebs, to chair the first Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup in Miami to benefit the Jackson Memorial Foundation, International Kids Fund (IKF) and Holtz Children’s Hospital. Kind of like an Amazing Race on steroids, the Rally events began on Friday night, at the “Qualifiers” Celebrity Draft Party, at the Ridingers’ North Bay Road manse, where each driver drafted his/her Celebrity Navigator. J.R. Ridinger, whose Market America team raised the highest amount, over $125, 000, drafted Longoria Parker. After brunch on Saturday, Loren Ridinger waved the checkered flag to signal the start of the race, which would include a total of 7 pit stops throughout Miami. Each team was required to find and solve a clue in order to determine the location of the subsequent stop. The race was extremely competitive. Team Market America even set up a control center with computers where Loren helped find answers for trivia questions while J. R. and Longoria Parker figured out the pit stop locations. When asked about their favorite pit stops, J.R. and Longoria Parker conveyed to Miami Socialholic that their favorite was the comedy stop at Blue Martini, where they had to perform a timed, impromptu comedy act together. They said they were completely put on the spot but loved it, especially since they were the only team to receive a ten from each of the three judges. A close runner up involved a jet-ski race out on the ocean where they had to find a hidden flag on the buoy that held the clue to the next location. They won this stop also, beating the other teams by finding the flag in just 2 minutes and 66 seconds! The consensus among all team members was that the most touching pit stop was at Jackson Memorial’s Holtz Children’s Hospital, during which the contestants interacted with the children, who created paintings of each team.


On Saturday night, the festivities continued at the Winner’s Circle “Jeans & Jewels” gala at the Eden Roc, featuring a live auction where the most popular (high-priced) item was an intense kiss from Gilles “Sex and the City shower scenes- do not give him a towel” Marini (imagine what they would have gotten for a shower), followed by an extravagant dinner and entertainment by the legendary Gipsy Kings. The winning team, Market America, (the Ridingers and Longoria Parker insist this wasn’t fixed) received a huge trophy and bragging rights, which they proudly exercised throughout the evening. During the gala, Longoria Parker surprised the charming and charismatic Loren Ridinger, who happened to be celebrating her birthday, with a special presentation. “Eva had all of my celebrity friends create the most amazing video for me, in which she asked each one three questions: what they love about me, have learned from me, and the most special moment… it is something I will have forever.” Ridinger explained that while she was blown away by the video, she can’t think of anything more special than providing these beautiful children with the care they so need. “That is the best birthday gift of all. Rally for Kids is so different- it really puts the FUN back in ‘FUNdraising’… we can’t wait until next year.” After the gala, the Ridingers retreated to their yacht with a few close friends for the “after, after party,” where the Gypsy Kings performed a private birthday concert. Other participating celebrities in the Rally, which was sponsored by Grey Goose, included: Adam Rodriguez, CSI: Miami; Amaury Nolasco, Prison Break; Eric Winter, The Ugly Truth; Eva La Rue, CSI: Miami; Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace; Sofia Milos, CSI Miami; Jennifer Morrison, House; John Noble, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; Marina Sirtis, Star Trek The Next Generation, and Robin Antin, founder of The Pussycat Dolls and Girlicious, to name a few.

Diesel Brings the Music 

Over 1200 music lovers, including celebrities, locals, DJs (Ruckus, DJ Mom Jeans, Irie) bands and just about every club owner in South Beach crammed into the Paris Theatre last Tuesday night for a great night of music and all things Diesel at the Diesel:U:Music Concert- the final stop on the U.S. tour.   One of the evening’s highlights was when Kid Cudi performed his number #1 hit single, “Day and Night,” which has topped the Hip Hop, R&B, Pop and Dance charts (sing it, Ah, Ah, Ah Ah…).  An insider reports that it was like being at the MTV Movie Awards when Cudi hit the stage, and worked more than a thousand screaming fans into a dancing frenzy.  The Miami concert was the final tour stop in the United States.  The Diesel:U:Music Tour made stops in Berlin, NYC, London, Paris, Tokyo before wrapping up in Sydney on Wednesday.

Celebrity Sightings:

Actress and Maxim cover girl, Amber Heard, attended Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin America event at the W Fort Lauderdale last week to celebrate the launch of the airline’s new non-stop flights out of Fort Lauderdale International Airport.  Heard was also “heard” singing along to the great music at the Paris theater on Tuesday night for the Diesel:U: Music concert.
Luke Wilson closed down Living Room bar at W South Beach Thursday night, sharing a bottle of Grey Goose and Patron shots with a big group of girls.
A few celebs showed up in support of the Best Buddies gala on Watson Island on Friday night, including Chris Brown, Vivica Fox, and Lisa Rinna.
Kim and Chloe Kardashian, along with mom, Kris, partied at Hpnotiq’s Night School for Girls at LIV on Friday. They danced all night to the live performance by Santigold and DJs Kiss and Jessica Who.
Drew Barrymore and “Mac Guy,” Justin Long, holed up at the Viceroy last weekend, enjoying signature cocktails with friends at Club 50. The duo was also seen dining at Mr. Chow at W South Beach Sunday night while Jamie Foxx sat a few tables away, enjoying dinner and the lovely ladies that passed his table.
Dan Marino was spotted on an American Airlines flight from La Guardia to Miami on Sunday night.
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo hung out with Jimmie Johnson at Wall at the W South Beach.
NHL Pittsburgh Penguin, Sidney Crosby, dined at Meat Market Monday night with a bunch of players.

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