Actor Richard Gere is placing the final touches on a new restaurant/inn in Bedford, NY called the Bedford Post Inn. The 56-year-old purchased the property — which features several 18th century buildings — last year with a business partner. Spread over 14 acres, Gere’s new venture will feature a cafe/bakery, formal restaurant, multipurpose rooms for private parties, community events and yoga classes, stables for horse riding, and 8 suites for overnight guests.

Plans also include a geothermal HVAC system, recycled beams and materials, an on-site garden and a focus on locally produced food sourced from the area’s small farms. Gere can expect some celebrity clientèle from time to time as well — as Bedford is where Martha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and Glenn Close all own homes.

Of course, Gere’s new project is not without its detractors. Most recently, neighbors complained about the ‘eyesore’ parking lot for the restaurant — prompting Gere to erect a an 18 foot long, five foot high cedar fence. Now, people claim the fence is spoiling their view — and the town zoning committee has declared that it must be torn down because it violates height limits. Unfazed, the partners are planning to comply, with Gere’s business partner Russell Hernandez saying, “If they say you have to have a four-foot fence, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Look for the Inn to open this summer. The bakery/cafe is open now.

source via starpulse

In the past, Ronson has designed for celebrities like Lindsey Lohan, Kate Moss, Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani, but until recently she was rather indifferent on the whole fur issue. Then, last November, Ronson attended The HSUS’  “Cool vs. Cruel” awards ceremony and quickly joined the ranks of such renowned designers as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney and Tommy Hilfiger by saying “Hell frigin NO!!” to “fashionable” fur!

Ronson takes the cruelty-free lifestyle a step further by giving out HSUS fur-free buttons in her downtown NYC store. Plus, during fashion week, she will be attaching red heart-shaped “No Fur” buttons to each of her faux fur jackets.  So PETA members, listen up: if you see someone walking down the street in a fur coat, do not-I repeat-DO NOT spray paint, pee on, or light it on fire until you’ve checked for the red heart-shaped fur-free button. Got it?

If I’ve tickled your fancy with all this faux fur banter, then you should totally check out her show on Monday, February 4th, at 3:00 pm at the Altman Building (135 West 18th St.) right here in NYC!!  Oh yeah, and tell them Ecorazzi sent you!