After a Fashion

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE We've been riveted by the news reports of the fires ravaging Malibu. The photos of the ruins of the Malibu Castle, in which the crème de la crème of Elvis Presley memorabilia was stored and lost, along with priceless antiques, were especially grieving. We're always sad when pretty things are destroyed – of course, during the ransacking of Saddam Hussein's palace, we're the one who shrieked, "Omigod, look what those filthy soldiers are doing to that gorgeous 18th century furniture!" But you know the houses of evacuees Sting, Mel Gibson, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Richard Gere, James Cameron, and Olivia Newton-John must have some pretty things in them that will be sad to lose. But we don't really understand how the fire got to Malibu anyway. Isn't it illegal to smoke there?

PRETTY AS A PICTURE It was a gorgeous but innocuous enough photo – the beauteous Charlize Theron at South by Southwest 06 shot by Chronicle photographer Gary Miller. A pensive Ms. Theron gazes away from the camera in this candid photo, her warm hair and skin tones enhanced by her gold and platinum jewelry that can be seen as she rests her chin in her hands. Unremarkable in the milieu of A-list stars (of which Ms. Theron is surely one), a dazzling watch adorns her wrist – a Christian Dior watch, to be exact, a chunky affair emblazoned with jewels. An excellent choice – unless you're bound by a $20 million contract with Raymond Weil to only appear in public wearing Raymond Weil watches, which Ms. Theron is. It is said that Ms. Theron's contention is that the panel she was appearing on was a private affair, however another photographer present sold a similar photo to the Tourneau (a licensed dealer of Dior watches), which ran the photo in their catalog with the caption "Charlize Theron wears Dior." The Raymond Weil company is pretty pissed, and though the suit was filed some time ago, it is chugging along. Miller himself has now been subpoenaed to testify about the photos he took, including the one at right. Ooohhh, it's all so glam. OK, Gary, we're counting on you to tell us all: What was she wearing? Did she cry? Did she collapse? Did she give a watch to each jury member?

MYSTERY DATE All we can say is that our 50th birthday ended in a way that everyone's 50th birthday should end. Thank you, Jebus.

TEA FOR 2,000 Well, it's time for the legendary Octo Tea Dance again, Sunday, Nov. 4, 3-9pm, produced by the Octopus Club and benefiting the Paul Kirby Fund of AIDS Services of Austin. We love this party; it reminds us of the camaraderie that existed before there was a need for AIDS fundraisers. Shuttles will be running from Oilcan Harry's beginning at 2:30pm and ticket prices – $40 in advance, $50 at the door – include food and three drink tickets. Further info is at www.octopusclub.org.

VOTE! Ready to make your bacheloser into a bachewinner? OK, boys and girls, today, Nov. 1, is when you can start voting for the winner of The Austin Chronicle's Bacheloser Search. Complete info can be found at www.austinchronicle.com/bacheloser.