Monday, June 2, 2008

Chris Noth Fundraiser Follow Up

MR. BIG: Sex in the City star Chris Noth kisses his Windsor girlfriend, Tara Wilson,
during the start of a fundraising event at the Art Gallery of Windsor Saturday.
Photograph by : Scott Webster, Windsor Star


The Windsor Star has an article and picture of Chris Noth (Law & Order Criminal Intent) and his girlfired Tara Wilson covering the fundraiser that occurred this weekend that I mentioned here. Here’s the updated story and link:


A hit of New York glitz

Chris Noth and pals turn $175-a-person fundraiser swanky Art Gallery soiree
Craig Pearson and Melissa Dunne, Windsor Star
Published: Monday, June 02, 2008

For one night, it wasn't just Sex and the City. It was sex and THIS city.

The Art Gallery of Windsor erupted Saturday night with a high-octane bash to remember, a Hollywood worthy soiree featuring beautiful people bedecked in suits, sexy sequined cocktail dresses and outrageous shoes.

More importantly, it oozed the all-important IT factor so essential for today's hipdom: Celebrity.


Chris Noth, of Mr. Big fame on Sex and the City -- which, in it's movie version surpassed expectations, hauling in $55.7 million in its first three days, more than even Indiana Jones on the weekend -- led the star-spangled spectacle.

A sprinkling of actors and athletes, including Sopranos star Federico Castellucio, spiced up the Art of Shoes fundraiser for the Drouillard Road-based Spirit of Excellence life and literacy program for disadvantaged youth.

Inside the packed party, the in crowd dined on the likes of beef tips and pecan tarts and boogied to the high-energy stylings of local dance-music act the Bomb Squad.

Outside, star-struck fans got their fix, as well.

While most of Windsor seemed consumed with air races this weekend, Emelia Granado had only one thing on her mind -- Mr. Big.

Granado, a Michigan cashier, came to Windsor Saturday with a male and female friend in tow in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Noth, suave off and on camera.

The Michigan trio waited anxiously outside the AGW, arms filled with SATC merchandise, for the big man to show for the fundraiser put on by Noth's girlfriend, Tara Wilson, a Windsor native.

Noth, along with his striking longtime girlfriend and mother to his newborn son, walked the red carpet outside the gallery.

Decked out in a traditional black suit, white shirt, and black tie emblazoned with a grey floral design, he made sure to stop, pose for pictures and chat with all his fans.

He greeted media, fans, and event guests in his signature baritone voice, exuding all the charm that has made him so popular with SATC viewers.

After showing up fashionably late -- by just over an hour -- Noth did not disappoint.

"Yes, I got to meet him," said Granado, grinning. "He was a a very sweet man, he signed my (The) Perfect Man DVD," she said, referring to the 2005 Hilary Duff vehicle in which Noth played Heather Locklear's love interest. " I definitely will save it and keep it at home."

To mark the opening weekend of the much-anticipated SATC movie, Once Upon a Tea Cup, the Windsor child-friendly tea room that is the brainchild of his girlfriend, held three events in Windsor Saturday.

There was a SATC look-alike contest in the afternoon. Then came three screenings of the movie, hosted by Noth, at the Lakeshore Cinemas. The night was capped off with the Art of Shoes fundraiser at the gallery.

Noth, who also plays Det. Mike Logan on the long-running Law and Order television franchise, was joined by Law and Order castmate Eric Bogosian, as well as some of the cast from the HBO hit show The Sopranos on the red carpet.

The Art of Shoes featured a "shoedelier," a chandelier made out of shoes. There was also a silent auction featuring autographed shoes from SATC star Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays writer Carrie Bradshaw, SATC swag autographed by Noth and a chance to bid on a trip to New York City, complete with a date with Mr. Big himself.

Before entering the $175-per-person fundraiser, Noth said he was thrilled to be in town and was overwhelmed with the enthusiastic fan reaction to the flick.

Film critic reaction has not been quite so positive.

"It's gotten mixed reviews," admitted Noth on the red carpet. "The LA Times gave it a good review, the New York Times a bad review."

"For a film that delights in indulging in frivolity at every possible turn, it examines subjects that most movies don't dare graze for their terrifying seriousness," wrote Chocano in her review. "And when it does, the movie handles them with surprising grace, wit and maturity."

New York Times critic Manohla Dargis was not as kind.

"A little Botox goes a long way in Sex and the City, but a little decent writing would have gone even further," she wrote in her review, adding it's a "dumpy big-screen makeover of that much-adored small-screen delight."

"We only pay attention to the good reviews," joked Noth as he stopped with his girlfriend on the red carpet.

Despite the lukewarm reviews Granado plans on catching the flick soon.

"I'm a big fan, I've seen every episode," said Granado. "I like Kim Catrall (Samantha on SATC). I can relate to her, I'm a lot like her."

Besides, it features Mr. Big.



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