Superstar Barbra Streisand is holding a major auction at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard, in Beverly Hills next month. The ”Collection of Barbra Streisand“ is over 500 items include fine paintings, antiques, and memorabilia from the entertainer’s career as a singer, actress, producer, and director. Among the highlights, costumes from Streisand films like, “Funny Lady,” “Yentl,” “Prince of Tides,” and “Meet The Fockers.”

The auction is Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18. All funds raised will go to the Barbra Streisand Foundation, which supports human rights and humanitarian causes around the globe. For more on the auction and the assortment of items up for bid go to the website of Julien’s Auctions.  

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To say that superstar Barbra Streisand is not a fan of President George W. Bush is a humongous understatement. Never shy about expressing her political views, Streisand is a well-known vocal critic of President Bush. This is why that awkward smooch between the two of them earlier this month is such a priceless moment.

On Sunday December 7, the singer/actress/director was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors along with several other artists. The honors recognize those who have helped define American culture through the performing arts. The honors are part of the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.

The other recipients with Streisand were actor Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer/choreographer Twyla Tharp, The Who musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. A very impressive group. Still, the event will probably be remembered most for that kiss.

Streisand talks about the kiss on her website in a statement about the Kennedy Center Honors. She says on that weekend in Washington, D.C. , “…. art transcended politics.” You might be surprised to know, Streisand wrote some nice comments about the departing president. Also, there are some amusing lines like this one, ”…I think he was kissing me hello as I was kissing him goodbye…”  Streisand’s remarks about that event are definitely worth reading.

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Last Tuesday, superstar and activist Barbra Streisand performed at a special concert in Beverly Hills to help raise millions for the Barack Obama for President campaign. In case anyone had any doubts about where the singer stands in the 2008 presidential race, Streisand is speaking out publicly against Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain.

The strongly worded piece is called, “The Country Can’t Afford to Elect John McCain.”  It appears on Streisand’s website and as a blog on The Huffington Post. 

Streisand views McCain as part of the problem and not the solution. She says, “for 26 years in Washington, McCain has supported deregulation of the financial sector .” Also, Streisand criticizes the Arizona senator for supporting the Bush Doctrine and for picking  “… an unqualified running mate.” In a previous statement on her website, Streisand lambasted McCain for his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Streisand was once a Hillary Clinton for President supporter, but made the switch to Obama when he won enough delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. 

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Barbra Streisand rarely performs these days. Apparently, she has decided to do so for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

“The Diva” is scheduled to lift up that magnificent voice of hers in song at a star-studded Beverly Hills fundraiser next Tuesday, September 16.

Variety reports that several hundred people are expected to attend the reception and concert at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The ticket price, $2,500 a person.

The co-hosts for the night’s event are heavyweights: DreamWorks Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, and political consultant Andy Spahn.

It will be a busy night for Obama. Before the Streisand event, Obama will attend a fancy dinner at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills for a smaller group of 250 – at a cost of $28, 500 per person.

Streisand is a well known philanthropist and activist. The entertainer gave special performances for Democratic presidential candidates John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000. She is a staunch supporter of Bill and Hillary Clinton. She endorsed Hillary early in the presidential campaign, but switched to Obama when it became clear he had the delegates to win the nomination.

Meanwhile, Streisand has a statement up on her website about Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a running mate. It is titled, “McCain Doesn’t Get It: Women are not that stupid.”  It’s, ah well, priceless.