“Jesus Forgives.  Santa holds a grudge.”
– Sara Haines’ quip on The View when Sunny Hostin
argued it was wrong to use Santa to blackmail children to behave.

With the year swiftly coming to an end, we come to our last column before Christmas.  Next week, we review the best of 2024.  So I thought this week we’d update some recent stories.  Let’s start with one of my favorite people, Belinda Carlisle.  In 2014, she co-founded Animal People Alliance (APA), taking care of displaced animals in Asia.  Since 2021, she’s hosted a holiday party at The Abbey in West Hollywood as a major fundraiser.  Every year, I swear I’ll go – and every year, I’m already back east with the family.  This year was no different, so I missed out on the fabulous festivities that brought in about $186K.  It was hosted by Sandra Bernhard and performers included Taylor Dayne and Michelle Visage (in addition to Carlisle herself).  Congrats!

By the by, Belinda’s son, James Duke Mason, recently went to the swanky soirée of stylist René Horsch.  Dukey posted one photo that caught my eye – with Dame Joan Collins.  What’s interesting about that is before marrying Belinda, Duke’s dad Morgan Mason dated Dame Joan!  One doesn’t think of Carlisle and Collins in the same category, so I’m not sure Morgan has what I’d call a “type”…aside from gay icons!