John Varvatos 8th Annual Stuart House Benefit

John Varvatos, Shepard Fairey, Billy Idol, Mick Rock, Glenn Hughes

Rarely is an event a good enough reason to justify the closure of busy L.A. city streets. But the John Varvatos' 8th Annual Stuart House Benefit yesterday which took over a chunk of Melrose and Robertson around his store was an exception. Hosted by Jillian and Patrick Dempsey, yesterday's star-studded event raised over $500,000 for the Rape Treatment Center's Stuart House for children.

The event drew over 1,500 guests who enjoyed performances by Franky Perez, k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang, some shopping, an array of delicious bites, plus live and silent auctions with 100% of proceeds benefiting Stuart House to protect and treat child victims of sexual abuse. Among guests in attendance were John Varvatos, Alberta Cross, Brooke Burke, Damien Fahey, David Schwimmer, Donovan Leitch, Eva LaRue, Glenn Hughes, GW Bailey, James Pickens Jr., James Van Der Beek, Jayma Mays, Jesse Williams, JK Simmons, Julie Benz, Justin Chambers, KaDee Strickland, Kevin McKidd, Kropp Circle, LL COOL J, Melina Kanakaredes, Michael Moloney, Michael Paul Chan, Omar Epps, Omar Sharif Jr., Phillip Keene, Ryan Eggold, Sam Page, Taylor Armstrong, Trevor Donovan, Zoe Saldana, Billy Idol, Perry Farrell and Mick Rock.

Unfortunately most other events that take over streets do not support such as wonderful effort as this. And considering that it raised over half a million dollars for Stuart House, there's probably no better or more noble reason to close down an intersection for the day.

LL Cool J, k.d. lang

Bill Belamy, Zoe Saldana

Patrick Dempsey, Jillian Dempsey, k.d. lang, Joyce Varvatos, John Varvatos

[Photos by WireImage and PMc courtesy of BluPRint PR]