BARBRA STREISAND'S MALIBU COMPOUND IS DETERIORATING AT AN ALARMING RATE
(Do you think this woodcarving resembles Barbra?)
Back in the early 90’s, When Barbra Streisand couldn’t sell her compound in Malibu after five years of trying, she donated the 12 million dollar Ramirez Canyon property to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Barbra purchased the original house and land in 1974 – through the years she added more land until there was a total of four houses and over 22 acres. When she gave it to the city she got a massive tax write-off and never looked back. The Conservancy was grateful, but needed a LOT of money to maintain the houses and lush grounds that include a stream and several bridges. At first the Conservancy rented out the place for weddings and conducted private tours to pay the upkeep. But neighbors (Britney Spears is two houses away) got riled up and banned tours or wedding parties on their private gated street. Now the four once exquisite houses are falling into ruin – rats, water damage, and neglect. Barbra’s pricey leather outdoor furniture is in tatters. The hand carved wood is warping. The grand piano that Paul Simon gave her is out of tune. Without revenue, the conservancy is just letting the houses fall apart and they don’t know WHAT will be done with the property. It’s a sad, wasteful story.
Barbra Streisand turned up at the opening party for the Los Angeles Antiques Show Wednesday night at Barker Hangar and she spent all of her time shopping, with little time for schmoozing. She was with a red haired female companion (James Brolin got off the hook for this event) and Barbra looked slim and fabulous – at least 20 yars younger than her age. She wore black riding boots with leggings tucked in, with a black wrap and tie sweater, glasses, and she let her hair kind of cover her face. As long as she whispered, few people recognized her. Those that did were reverential and didn’t bother her and we loved watching her shop. She enthusiastically photographed some primitive art pieces that cost $1800, tried on some vintage jewelry, and ended up buying a petite late 1800’s end table (worth around $10,000) that HER FEMALE FRIEND carried out for her. Imagine that. The place was loaded with admiring gay men who were just aching to carry that table for her.
Spoiler alert: If Barbra Streisand is reading this, we recommend she stop right now or a big surprise will be ruined. That said, we will proceed with our scoop. Barbra’s husband James Brolin is planning a surprise party for her 65th birthday this Thursday. He invited 200 people to their Malibu house and swore them all to secrecy. Along Came Mary is catering, David Foster is arranging the music, and Sweet Lady Jane (Barbra’s favorite ) is whipping up the birthday cake. Brolin has schemed to get Barbra out of the house early Thursday and hopes to have everyone jump out and yell surprise when they return. We’re not sure this is a great idea – first of all, Barbra likes to prepare and look her best at social events, and she might be freaked out by having everyone jump out. Plus, does she really want her AGE played up to that extent? Hope she remembers it’s the thought that counts.
Barbra is scowling and wearing NO makeup, her matted hair is uncombed and her posture and baggy black clothes hardly flatter her mature figure, but she still sports the PICTURE PERFECT manicure of a hand model. Barbra always said she thought her hands were her best feature, and obviously she meant it.
