"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.

This week: Phoenix VIP’s give Oscar predictions.. Arthritis Foundation red carpet fundraiser and more...

Pint sized Ashley Olsen and her actor boyfriend Justin Bartha (star of National Treasure movies) snuck quietly into town this weekend and joined Justin’s parents at Tarbell’s. (Justin’s parents are from CHICAGO.)

The teeny Ashley twin was adorned in lots of jewelry, (she has her own line of dangle earrings, and pendent, layered and chocker necklaces) her beau and his parents who were seated at a corner back table enjoyed Tarbell’s famous Meatballs and Ahi Tarter. Ashley and Justin have been a steady couple now for a while.. and it helps if he is on her arm- for me at least.. so I can tell her apart for sure from her twin sister Mary Kate.

Coming up...during this year’s 2010 Oscars J.C. Penney Co. will be launching its spring marketing campaign spotlighting its fashion brands during the telecast. Ashley and sister Mary Kate Olsen’s junior brand fashions – Olsenboye - are part of that J.C. Penney campaign. Cute stuff.

Phoenix VIP’s Give Oscar Predictions

About 375 partygoers will gather for an Oscars viewing gala this weekend in Phoenix hosted by the Arthritis Foundation Greater Southwest Chapter. It’s the non-profit organization’s annual fundraiser at which the guests are treated like stars. Take a peek at this picture below of health care executive Chuck Sowers and his wife Kristin Sowers at last year’s gala walking the red carpet at the event.

Yes, partygoers at the Arthritis fundraiser will be greeted by “paparazzi” and their cameras on a red carpet. The dinner affair at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa also boasts cigar rolling, make up touch ups and goody bags. The goody bags (called swag bags in Oscar lingo) will include a Sprinkles Cupcake, restaurant coupons, a purse hanger, keychain, and more. (I don’t want to give away too much before the event.) This Phoenix event, co-sponsored by Health Net of Arizona and National Bank of Arizona, is one of 50 official Oscar viewing parties hosted across the country.

And the award goes to...

Arizona state Senator Carolyn Allen, Republican representative of District 8. She will be honored at the gala for her advocacy work for the foundation. She served as Board Chair for the Arthritis Foundation Greater Southwest Chapter from 2006-2009.

Pictured above is Sen. Carolyn Allen at last year’s gala. So who is she predicting will win the Oscar for Best Picture? “Avatar” is her prediction. National Bank of Arizona’s Deborah Bateman (seen below at last year’s Phoenix event) who is co-chairing the event with Aetna/Mercy Care Plan’s Chuck Sowers, is also predicting that “Avatar” will win. Chuck’s prediction? “Inglourious Basterds”.

Tickets for the Arthritis Foundation event start at $500 per person and it’s just one of many on the social fundraising calendar this weekend, including the Dancing with the Stars gala. Mark Tarbell is one of those dancing in the competition who has been taking lessons with the professional dancers. We’ll have to see what’s cooking! Stay tuned...

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .