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THESE THINGS ARE SO HARD TO OPEN ... $30,000 OSCAR GIFT BAGS ENSURE CELEBRITIES WON'T GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED.


Byline: Barbara De Witt De Witt, uninc. town (1990 pop. 8,244), Onondaga co., central N.Y., a residential suburb of Syracuse.   Staff Writer

Oscar nominees might have a shot at glory, but it's the presenters who have it ``in the bag.''

We're talking about the coveted cov·et  
v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets

v.tr.
1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy.

2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire.
 Oscar goodie good·ie  
n.
Variant of goody1.
 bag, which is actually a Longaberger wicker basket with a specially made gold plaque - a relatively new tradition in the 75-year-old history of the Academy Awards.

Originally created as a small token of appreciation by the Academy Award producers to about 40 presenters, it has grown to a Hefty bag-size basket that's filled with so many pricey gifts that some are presented separately by designers to both presenters and nominees. The reason? If a celebrity uses or wears a product, it's got instant status.

According to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 Hollywood buzz, the gift basket, which was valued at $8,000 back in 1999, is now worth $20,000. Actually it's more like $30,000 when you count the overflow gifts given separately. So, what's in the goodie bag for 2003? The Academy is hush-hush about the contents, but we got some insiders to spill. Below is a partial listing with the manufacturers' estimated retail value:

-- Estee Lauder Oscar Spa package (a custom-made Goyard travel case stuffed with Manolo Blahnik sandals, Hermes beach towel, La Grande Dame Veuve Clicquot champagne, gift certificate for spa services, Estee Lauder cosmetics), $15,000

-- Sports Club bi-coastal membership, $4,000

-- Valerie Beverly Hills silver vanity makeup kit, $3,000

-- Morton's Steakhouse gift certificate, $1,500

-- Rosewood's Badrutt's Palace Hotel This article or section is written like an .
Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view.
Mark blatant advertising for , using .
 gift certificate, $1,500

-- Revlon Red Carpet Bag filled with Revlon cosmetics, $1,000

-- Fendi stainless steel stainless steel: see steel.
stainless steel

Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat.
 wristwatch, $995

-- Timmy Woods of Beverly Hills evening bag, $500

-- Stuart Weitzman shoes, $500 (presented separately)

-- Beamer No... it's not the latest BMW! It was a window in the StarOffice desktop that displayed the contents of the element selected in Explorer.

(video, hardware, communications) beamer - A personal video station (PVS) that adds video to standard telephone lines at no additional cost.
 Phone Video Station, $499

-- Gaiam sheets, $475

-- Nicole Miller cashmere cashmere

Animal-hair fibre forming the downy undercoat of the Kashmir goat. The fibre became known for its use in beautiful shawls and other handmade items produced in Kashmir, India. The fibres have diameters finer than those of the best wools.
 halter halter

the simplest form of restraint for the head of farm animals. Comprises a poll strap, a nose band and a halter shank that brings the ends of the nose band together under the mandible. Made of leather or cotton or manila rope.
 top, $350

-- Waterford crystal vase with Givere chocolate truffles, $350

-- Kata Eyewear sunglasses, $350

-- Oliveri Fashion custom shirt, $300

-- Motorola Oscar phones for acting and directing nominees (presented separately), $200

-- Bloomsbury crystal-covered compact, $275

-- Omas 360 Rolling Ball blue resin pen, $250

-- Sjal's holistic skin-care products, $230

-- Kiehl's Academy Collection of skin-care products, $200

-- World According to Jess handbag, $190

-- Enjoy perfume by Jean Patou, $85

-- Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard and Pocket Gourmet software, $50

-- Ion roller ball pen, $35

-- Danier leather flask, $28

Grand total: $31,862

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Revlon Red Carpet Bag filled with Revlon cosmetics)

(2) no capiton (Enjoy perfume by Jean Patou)

(3) no caption (Sjal's holistic skin-care products)

(4) no caption (Goyard travel case)
COPYRIGHT 2003 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Mar 15, 2003
Words:412
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