By Hollywood Times Staffer
West Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 5/14/26 – On a lively evening in the heart of West Hollywood, Aspiring Magazine celebrated the launch of its newest issue at SUR Restaurant & Lounge, delivering all the glamour, warmth, and Hollywood magic one could hope for.
Click below for our own exclusive interview:
The latest issue of Aspiring Magazine features legendary actress Adrienne Barbeau on the cover, with the feature story written by Valerie Milano, Senior Editor of The Hollywood Times. As sister publications, Aspiring Magazine and The Hollywood Times continue to champion entertainment, creativity, and independent media voices in Los Angeles and beyond.
Guests gathered inside the stylish SUR Lounge for an evening filled with networking, celebration, and heartfelt appreciation for the people who keep independent publishing alive. The atmosphere became even more surreal when reality television icon and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump, who was dining and filming with a group at the restaurant, graciously stopped by to greet attendees and add another layer of sparkle to the evening.
Adding to the excitement of the evening, special correspondent Jason Thompson conducted a series of lively red carpet-style interviews for The Hollywood Times, capturing the spirit and personality of many of the evening’s distinguished guests.
Among the evening’s highlights was an especially heartfelt conversation with Adrienne Barbeau herself, who warmly praised Valerie Milano’s cover story and expressed gratitude for the beautifully written feature. Barbeau reflected on her decades-long career, her work in Australia, and even shared a humorous story about her unforgettable first experience tasting Vegemite on television.
Veteran actor Maurice Benard spoke candidly about his long-running advocacy for mental health awareness through his YouTube series State of Mind, discussing his personal experience living with bipolar disorder and encouraging audiences to embrace individuality and remove the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
Longtime The Young and the Restless star Kate Linder attended in support of Barbeau and discussed her recent film work and charitable events benefiting children through Million-Dollar Smiles in Canada.
Actor and acting coach Danny A. Abeckaser shared motivational insights on manifestation, mindset, and perseverance in the entertainment industry, encouraging aspiring performers to “get out of their own way” and remain aligned with success and self-worth.
Beloved actress Kathy Garver delighted attendees with her humor and reflections on celebrating milestone anniversaries for classic projects including The Ten Commandments, Family Affair, and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends.
Singer and television host April Diamond brought her trademark energy and positivity to the evening, discussing her recent Las Vegas hosting appearances and continued support of Aspiring Magazine since its early launch events.
Actress Susan Lavelle previewed several upcoming projects, including new films arriving on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime and Tubi, while producer-director Michael shared his excitement about attending the event alongside fellow creatives from the entertainment industry.
During the celebration, Valerie Milano addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech recognizing the collaboration between the two publications and the many contributors who help make the magazines successful.
“A huge shout-out tonight to the publisher of Aspiring Magazine, Cynthia Hudson, for her vision, passion, and hard work in bringing this publication to life,” Milano shared. “Launching and sustaining a magazine in today’s world takes determination, creativity, and heart.”
Milano also acknowledged members of The Hollywood Times team and supporters in attendance, including Judy Shields, Odalys, Jason Thompson, and close friends Dana and Marlene, all of whom regularly volunteer their time and energy at entertainment and media events.
Special recognition was also given to contributor John Lavitt, who recently received six nominations for the 68th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including nominations for Best Theater Critic and Best Music Critic for his work with The Hollywood Times.
The evening carried special significance for Milano, who wrote the cover stories for Aspiring Magazine’s last three issues featuring Leeza Gibbons, Morgan Fairchild, and now Adrienne Barbeau.
“I’m especially proud to have written the cover stories for the last three issues,” Milano told the audience. “First with the legendary Leeza Gibbons, then Morgan Fairchild, and now the iconic Adrienne Barbeau. And how lucky are we to have one of these incredible women with us tonight, Adrienne!”
One of the most touching moments of the evening came when Adrienne Barbeau personally stood to thank Milano for the beautifully written cover story, earning warm applause from guests throughout the venue.
Milano also gave special recognition to veteran publicist Harlan Boll for his continued support of talent, media, and community events throughout Hollywood.
The celebration perfectly captured the spirit of independent entertainment journalism, collaboration, friendship, creativity, and community, all wrapped inside one glamorous West Hollywood evening.
As guests mingled, posed for photos, and toasted the newest issue, it became clear that both Aspiring Magazine and The Hollywood Times continue to thrive because of the passionate people behind them.
All invited guests received elegant golden gift bags courtesy of Hair Creations and Skim Best Glow by Dailah, along with their own copy of the Spring 2026 issue of Aspiring Magazine.
Here’s to many more covers, many more stories, and many more fabulous Hollywood nights.
Related Cover Stories:
- Leeza Gibbons — A Legacy of Resilience, Reinvention, and New Beginnings
- Morgan Fairchild — A Timeless Icon Who Still Dares to Surprise
- Adrienne Barbeau — A Career Defined by Passion, Resilience, and Reinvention
