Actress Persia White and Dr. Neal Barnard are pictured here celebrating at PCRM’s “Art of Compassion” pre-gala bash.  Other famous faces in attendance included Kathy Freston, Emily Deschanel, Rory Freedman, Jennifer Coolidge, Marilu Henner and many more. The Art of Compassion gala will mark PCRM’s 25th anniversary and will take place on April 10th in California. Wanna know more? Visit PCRM.org/Gala2010 to get your tickets!

After attending Farm Sanctuary’s Winter Wonderland event last week, Ecorazzi announced that we would be featuring a whole week of Farm Sanctuary exclusive interviews with a few of our favorite stars. Up first, Jennifer Coolidge!

My first impression of Jennifer was, “Wow, this chick’s way taller than I thought!” I stand a respectable 5 foot 11 inches and J.Cool was still totally towering over me! Of course, like everyone, I’m a fan of all those wonderful Christopher Guest movies, so I already knew she was HYSTERICAL. But what I didn’t know is that Jennifer — in all her statuesque glory — is also a HUGE animal lover. Want proof? Check out the interview below!

Ecorazzi: Hey Jennifer! So great to finally meet you! I know you’ve worked with Live Earth, Ideal Bite, and even auctioned off a Prius at this year’s Hollywood Benefit. Share with our readers a little about your environmental work.

Jennifer Coolidge: Well I have to say I do nothing compared to my father. My father’s a huge environmentalist.

E: I had no idea. Tell me about your father.

JC: I flew in to hear him give this great speech at church about the environment. You know, there were these people out there who predicted this a long time ago. There were these people like Gore — people like my father — who all talked about this before most of us were aware of it at all. So I sort heard it in my home a lot as I was growing up. But I feel like even though I do all these events, really what I do is only a drop in the bucket compared to the other people I know. I know people who just absolutely everyday of their life work for change.

E: And who are some of people or groups you enjoy?

JC: I have to say the animal rights people. THOSE are my people. There’s something really weird about it. I feel like we animal people are like a tribe. You know when I meet people and find out I like them I don’t even know they’re animal people until later. But I hit it off with them and then find out we both love animals. You know I was just eating dinner last night and someone said they were at some men’s store that had fur curtains. Like the curtains were made of fur. You know it’s that thing, you hear it and you all just have the same reaction. All the people were animal people. And of course I love Sea Shepherd. I’m so glad they have their own show now.

Ei: Right! Whale Wars. We LOVE that show!!!

JC: YES!!! I mean those guys are out there fighting. Unbelievable, UNBELIEVABLE! And really brave! And not only are they brave because they could lose their lives so quickly, but they’re freezing, they’re freezing, they’re FREEZING their asses off!!

E: Have you seen Nigel Barker’s new documentary, A Sealed Fate?

JC: NO! Where did you see it? How? Is it coming out? Is it coming out?

E: I’m not sure when, but it will definitely be available somewhere in the future.

JC: Is it one of those that is really hard to watch?

E: Not at all. In fact, I think he made it that way on purpose. I know they kept out some of the most brutal parts. I think it’s great that you’re so excited about animal rights. Is that why you’re here tonight supporting Farm Sanctuary?

JC: Oh yes. Farm Sanctuary is just so way ahead of its time. I feel like the “farm videos” were sort of the last videos to come out. I mean we knew about the fur industry, but we didn’t know they were dumping caddle in piles and getting bulldozed and being frozen in the ice. We didn’t know those stories. You always hear about the Farmer in the Dell and how he loves his animals, but we’re not educated. And now it’s all coming out and people are starting to finally get educated about it. Farm Sanctuary is rescuing all these animals and tonight we’re raising money for medicine and to keep this wonderful organization going. I mean not one animal had a good life before they got here. I mean its all been crappy and now they’re living a good life because of this great organization. 

A big, big thank you to Jennifer Coolidge and Farm Sanctuary for making this interview possible! Don’t forget to check back tomorrow when we have a brand new exclusive celebrity interview!

photo credit: andrew ford

Farm Sanctuary is kind of like that gift that keeps on giving. I mean seriously, how can you not leave these guys?! As the nations leading animal rescue organization, Farm Sanctuary strives to see a world where the violence that animal agriculture inflicts upon people, animals and the environment has ended, and where instead we exercise values of compassion.

Last night Ecorazzi had the honor of attending the organizations Winter Wonderland for the Animals event and catching up with a few of our favorite Hollywood do-gooders. The evening was held at the beautiful Art Directors Club in midtown Manhattan and was jam packed with New York’s most compassionate crowd. 

Upon arrival we made our way to the press area and said hello to Corey and Susie Feldman, Jennifer Coolidge, Daniella Sea and many more. Of course the evening wouldn’t be complete without a little face time with Alison Becker, Loretta Swit, Chloe Jo Berman, Victoria Moran, Karen Dawn and Joshua Katcher. We also spotted Ally Sheedy, Tatum O’Neal, Peter and Mary Max and Princess Superstar! 

After all that celebrity chatting we were STARVING and so we headed on over to the beautiful array of all vegan nosh, provided by some of New York’s hottest restaurants. Truthfully, everything we tasted was out of this world, but a few of our personal favorites were Dr. Cow’s all raw vegan cheese (order this right now, it will change your life), Candle 79’s Seitan Chimichurri and Lula’s Peanut-Butter Fudge Ice Cream! A-FRIGIN-MAZING!!!

The evening closed with a lively auction to help raise money for all of Farm Sancutary’s important work and a speech by co-founder, Gene Baur! Oh and we have some GREAT news!! Staring next Monday, Ecorazzi will be bringing you six full days of Farm Sanctuary Exclusive interviews with the parties hottest stars! That’s what I’m talking about! So make sure you check back next week to see why Hollywood can’t get enough of this wonderful organization, and visit FarmSanctuary.org to find out how YOU can get involved!

photo credit: Andrew Ford

As a fixture here in the NYC eco party scene, I’m becoming pretty darn good at spotting an awesome event! And this, I can guarantee, will be a party you DON’T want to miss!

On December 4th, the Ecorazzi crew will be getting all jiggy with it at Winter Wonderland for the Animals: A Farm Sanctuary Benefit. Stars like Alison Becker, Jennifer Coolidge, Corey Feldman, Peter Max, Patrick McDonnell, Tatum O’Neal, Daniela Sea, Ally Sheedy, Princess Superstar, Loretta Swit, Justin Theroux, and many more will all be in attendance, showing their support for this fantastic organization!

The event will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2008, from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at The Art Directors Club in NYC and will include cocktails, gourmet veggie food, a silent auction and goody bags galore! Tickets to the star-studded event are a mere $100, and go towards helping Farm Sanctuary continue all their truly important work! To get your tickets and find out more, visit FarmSanctuary.org! See ya there!

graphic credit: lordjdavis.com

What’s more fun than spending a fancy schmancy evening in downtown New York City eating classy vegan fare with some of today’s hottest celebrities? Um, nothing! 

On May 17th from 6pm-midnight Farm Sanctuary will hold it’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC — and trust me, you don’t want to miss it! Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 and aims to expose and stop cruel practices that take place in the “food animal” industry. They now have two shelters — one in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and the other in Orland, Calif. — where they provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals. 

This year the Farm Sanctuary Gala will be hosted by Heather Mills, emceed by Melissa Rivers and will feature a delicious three course vegan dinner, an awards ceremony, a silent auction and a musical performance by Shawn Colvin. And the guest list is just as exclusive with celebrities like Kristen Bell, Rachel Leigh Cook, Jennifer Coolidge, Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Swoosie Kurtz, Kevin Nealon, Loretta Swit, Persia White and Debra Wilson Skelton scheduled to attend, as well as many others.  

Tickets may sound a bit pricey at 400 dollars a pop, but save those pennies because this evening is totally worth it. Last time I went I heard an incredible speech by Loretta Swit, said hello to James Cromwell and pointed Alicia Silverstone to the restroom. 

To find out more visit FarmSanctuary.org and get those tickets before they run out! I’ll be covering the event this year so make sure you find me and say hello! 

Tara Reid turns green? No, it’s not a drunken outtake from Taradaise. Rather, the celeb came out last night in Venice with a bevy of other environmental advocates including Mindy Kaling, Vanessa Carlton, Steven Bing, Fischer Stevens, Jennifer Coolidge, and Kevin Wall to celebrate Live Earth and the unveiling of the new smart fortwo car.

The evening’s highlight was a three-song set by Vanessa Carlton. “I try to be very green,” Carlton told me prior to taking the stage. “I don’t drive, I take the subway…I use 7th generation products and do events like these to raise awareness.” Cartlon’s performance was part of Live Earth’s mission to use the power of music to combat climate change.

Hot topics? The new car of course, which is being touted as the most-fuel efficient non-hybrid in the United States. Driving to the event in my beloved black Prius, I’m hard-pressed to toss my battery just yet. But the folks at smart are insistent that these cars get more consistently efficient gas mileage overall, come from one of the most-eco sound factories, and happen to fit in my purse. Well, small parking spaces at least.

So have any celebs gone smart? Kevin Wall was driven to the event in a smart Mercedes (while he spilled the beans about his brigade of hybrid cars and new solar panels in his home, he wouldn’t divulge what Live Earth has in store for us next…yet). Office star Mindy Kaling drives a Mini Cooper, but is intrigued, along with her boyfriend, a blogger for nerve.com, by the smart. Fischer Stevens of Lost loves his Lexus Hybrid.

Stevens also mentioned that he’s in the process of developing a pilot for NBC about five people and their quest to start an environmental web site that proves more difficult than they thought. “Maybe I’ll use you guys,” he quipped. I didn’t mention consulting fees, but he knows where to find me.

Guests left with a copy of the Global Warming Survival Guide and the Live Earth CD: I listened to Damien Rice and David Grey on the way back to West Hollywood, debating a burning question—what does Tara Reid do help our planet? “I eat organic food,” all eighty-something pounds of her told reporters.

Baby steps, folks.

For additional photos from the event, please click on below!