Tag Archive: party

January 27, 2010

Macallan Party at W Los Angeles: Gourmet Ice, $15K Scotch & Live Tweeting

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles
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I have sipped the ambrosia of the gods, the elixir of luuuve that is known as the $15,000 57-year-old Macallan poured out of a Lalique crystal decanter. And now I can die. I was lucky enough to wet my lips on this sweet, albeit expensive, golden nectar thanks to Michel Dozois of Neve Ice. His shiny, blue business card was one of three lucky enough to be pulled out of a bowl for a drawing to win a taste of the ultra-primo scotch. When he handed the snifter to me, I inhaled its scent deeply. “It smells leathery,” I noted. “No, no, give it back,” Michel said, trying to snatch the glass away before I could get a taste. Then he smelled it himself, “Yeah, OK, it’s leathery. You can taste it now.” He handed it back to me.

I had expected my world to be blown, for a choir of angels to sing. Instead…it was m’ok. “It tastes weird,” I said looking up at Michel who seemed heart-broken that the sip he so generously gave me was wasted. I was disappointed, too. But then realized that I may have messed up my palate by having enjoyed a Macallan 10 with Fever Tree ginger beer just moments before. Such a dummy. Oh well. At least I had the experience.

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January 26, 2010

LA Weekly’s 2009 Web Awards Party at Bardot

Written by Caroline on Crack in Los Angeles, Nightlife
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I scored an invite to the most exclusive party I’ve ever had the privilege to be invited to. So exclusive that I basically had to win an award (or two) to get in. Yup, it was LA Weekly’s 2009 Web Awards party at Bardot in Hollywood. And because the VIP venue in the Avalon has limited space the invite-only list was tight. There were some Tweeps who managed to win tickets via LA Weekly’s Twitter as well as the plus ones but mostly it was the bloggerati partying down.

Since most everyone in the blogosphere is more apt to recognize screen names and avatars than actual faces, people were mingling. I, on the other hand, being of the shy variety stuck to my booth closest to the awards table. Located in the open-air courtyard of the club that was choked with cigarette smoke we could hear the hail pelting down on the tin-sounding roof. Here, I had a great view of the awards and the slideshow displaying the winners in each category, easy access to the open bar as well as to the seemingly neverending line of servers who were passing out Thai chicken satay and mini sliders. My blogger buddies estarLA, Lindsay and Zach of Best News Blog winner LAist, FauxLAHipster and LetMeEatCake joined me.

Later when feeling adventurous and in need of a drink, I was able to run into other LA Weekly winners — Laurie Percival (Best Tech Blog lalawag), Alana Joy (Best Most Shameless Self-Promoter), and the fun dudes from The Streets Are Calling (Best Low-Brow Art Blog). It was the coolest bunch of geeks I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. Didn’t get to meet Slash (Best MySpace Music Page), even though I thought I saw him and then dismissed him with a “Nah, couldn’t be him.”

Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take our beautiful gold floppy disk plaques home this night since to remove one would apparently initiate a dominoes effect that would prove devastating to the glass-encased awards. However, the more daring among us managed to sneak their own away during the rare occasion that the table was left unguarded. Dammit! I should have done that. But you know, since I had two, that proved more difficult. Heh.

“We’re going to do it like the Oscars,” said Erin Broadley, LA Weekly’s Web editor. “We’ll have you pose with the awards and then get them to you later.” “M’Okayyyy,” I pouted. I was kinda hoping to bring them home so that I could cuddle with them later. But then I got over it and just enjoyed the rest of the party.

On a regular night, I can see Bardot being a bit too VIP schmancy for me but on this night I actually fit in that category. Huzzah!

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December 29, 2009

My Chillaxing New Year’s Eve Party Drink List

Written by Caroline on Crack in Cocktails, Los Angeles, Recipes
13 Comments

Christmas is done. Now on to the next hyped-up holiday: New Year’s Eve! Since crowds and huge bar tabs soo aren’t my thing, I decided to throw my own sweet, little shindig this year. But the twist here is that this one will be low-key. No fancy dress-up. No djs. No crazy house party crowds. Just a girl and 20 to 30 or so of her best pallies. In any case, I started thinking about what to serve my peeps, other than plain bubbly. Fortunately I was able to score a couple of liquor sponsors, get a recipe from a renowned mixologist and came up with an inspired, chill way to toast the new year.

Here’s my drink list for the last day of 2009. Wait, is this too much booze?

Flickr shot by the handbook

Pinky Vodka (Flickr Shot by handbook)

THE VODKA

So I’m doubly indebted to Pinky Vodka. Not only did they sponsor our blogger prom this year but they sent me a couple of huuuge bottles for my intimate New Year’s Eve shindig. So yes, I will gladly shill for them. But, I can also do that without fear of tarnishing my rep as an appreciator of fine cocktails. See, Pinky may be pink but it’s not going for any gimmicky, clubby angle. Their vodka is only pink because it’s blended with 12 botanicals, most notably strawberries, rose petals and violets. So it’s flavored naturally and not by sweeteners and such. PLUS, it’s hand-blended by master wine tasters.

They also hired one of my fave cocktail consultants, and friend, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen aka The Liquid Muse, to design cocktail recipes for their vodka so I know it’s class all the way. Her newest is a champagne cocktail that’s perfect for toasting the new year.

Sparkling Pear
Recipe by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen

  • 1 part Pinky Vodka
  • 1/2 part elderflower liqueur
  • 1/2 part pear nectar
  • 1/4 part fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Splash of sparkling wine

Shake all ingredients, except for sparkling wine, over ice. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.

THE PUNCH

Mixology maestro Vincenzo Marianella of Copa d’Oro was good enough to provide me with a whisky punch recipe that’s sure to please the crowd. Incidentally, it also just debuted at the Santa Monica bar.

2010 Punch
Recipe by Vincenzo Marianella

  • 24 oz Sazerac Rye (1 bottle)
  • 6 oz St Germain
  • 6 oz Sweet Sherry
  • 9 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 12 oz organic pear juice
  • 5-6 dashes grapefruit bitter
  • 5-6 dashes orange bitter
  • 24 oz Prosecco (1 bottle)

Add first six ingredients with full scoop of ice in the punch bowl. Stir gently while adding Prosecco, add more ice. Garnish with sliced pear and citrus.

THE WINE

Funny thing is that I was able to get a second booze sponsor! And all without any begging. Sandeman had originally approached me about checking out their Tawny Port (which would have been perfect during my dessert exchange earlier this month) but when I said I was interested in making cocktails, they shipped the Founders Reserve over along with a couple of recipes.

The Sandeman’s Sparkly is basically a Lady MacBeth, a blood-red champagne cocktail that was once served at the Edison. And the Diavlo with it’s use of tequila and my fave ginger beer sounds intriguing.

Sandeman’s Sparkler

  • 1 part Founders Reserve Porto
  • 3 parts Sparkling wine

Sandeman Diavlo

  • 1 part Sandeman Founders Reserve Port
  • 1 ½ parts Blanco Tequila
  • ½ part fresh lime juice
  • ¼ part simple syrup
  • Ginger beer
Photo courtesy of LA-Story

Champie in a Can (Photo by LA-Story)

FOR THE MIDNIGHT TOAST: CHAMPAGNE IN A CAN

But the piece de resistance for my chillaxing New Year’s Eve party will be our clinking cans instead of schmancy champagne glass flutes come midnight. Niebaum-Coppola Winery, owned by director Francis Ford Coppola, makes Sofia blanc de blancs sparkling white in cute little pink cans complete with tiny sippy straws. Apparently it’s most popular in clubs and swanky pools, where glass is most def not allowed.

But I first encountered the champie in a can at some trailer-park themed barestaurant in New York and was surprised by how tasty it actually was. Made from Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat, it tastes of apple, melon and tangerine “with notes of bright lemon and honey evident on the refreshing, mouth-tingling finish.” (Winemaker’s notes)

You can get a four-pack (187ml a can) at the Wine House in West LA for $12.99 and $11.99 at BevMo. These are also really handy for picnics and celebrations on the go when you don’t want to deal with lugging glassware.

FOR THOSE BRAVING THE CROWDS

If you feel you really must get out to celebrate the new decade, you crazy bastards, here are some links of NYE event roundups, including dinners, bar events and clubs, for your consideration.

e*starLA: NYE Dinner-Party Roundup

LA Times: Ring in 2010: Los Angeles New Year’s Eve Parties

Los Angeles Magazine: Roundup: New Year’s Eve Planner

NBCLA: LA’s New Year’s Eve 2010 Hot List

Thirsty in LA: Cocktail NYE Celebrations

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November 27, 2009

“In Bed Together” Opening at Royal/T

Written by fauxLAhipster in Art, Dining, Los Angeles
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Flickr shot by fauxLAhipster

By fauxLAhipster

Since Caroline had to go out of town for her bf’s Lemons race, she asked me to cover this apparently uber-strict-guestlisty opening (only the opening was guestlisty; the exhibit is open to the public right now) of “In Bed Together” right off the heels of Royal/T’s insanely popular Hello Kitty Three Apples exhibit.

I was excited for this event for many reasons.

  1. I would finally get to taste Chef Ludo’s “mouth orgasm” inducing treats
  2. It was technically an art opening and I’m always a big fan of anything arty
  3. It boasted the holy trifecta of parties: free booze, food and goodie bags
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November 10, 2009

code.ai Launch at Fred Segal in Santa Monica

Written by fauxLAhipster in Beauty & Fashion, Los Angeles, Shopping & Sales
4 Comments

Bloggeresses

By fauxLAhipster

When Caroline invited me to the code.ai beauty event at Fred Segal my initial reaction was “meh” until I heard a few words that DID catch my attention “cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.”  The event was the launch of code.ai, a new product that claims to extend lashes and brows. You might ask, “Isn’t there already a product that does this?” But code.ai has a few major differences from Latisse.

  1. It does not require a prescription. You can pick it up from Fred Segal or from the code.ai Web site.
  2. It does not have several of the side effects associated with Latisse including eye skin darkening or eye irritation.

At first I was skeptical of its efficacy since it’s not an FDA-approved cosmeceutical (I used to work in the pharma industry), but when I saw When Tara Met Blog’s bushy eyebrows (yes, they make a brow booster, too), I was sold! I also liked that the code.ai Web site provides full disclosure of the purpose behind each of their seemingly mysterioso active ingredients. Ever wonder what diethanolamine does? Go to their Web site and find out!

The event itself was at the Studio at Fred Segal. U’Luvka Vodka was shaking up lychee martinis that I actually enjoyed quite a lot! It didn’t have any of that harsh bite of cheaper vodkas and the lemon zest garnish was a perfect complement to the sweetness of the lychee. I was majorly digging this drink.

The only drawback was that both Caroline and I didn’t even feel a slight buzz after three of these babies. So we headed to the back of the Studio where La Parra Loca Sauvignon Blanc – Verdejo was being poured. I’m more of a red wine gal, but I actually thought this white was pretty good and Photo by fauxLAhipsterit’s available exclusively at Fresh n Easy for just $7.99. Sweet!

After getting adequately boozy, we got makeovers courtesy of Le Metier De Beaute (pronounced “leh meh-tee-ay deh byoo-tay”). My makeup guy schooled me in what makes them so special. Apparently all their powders and shadows are “quadruple milled” as opposed to the double or triple milling of traditional makeup allowing for a finer grained texture and smoother application. And their liquid eyeliner is made by the same folks as Mont Blanc (you know, those $200 pens).

The prices of the different products ranged from $40-$70 which is probably a bit more for a non-makeup-wearing gal like me, but if you’re into the fancy stuff like Chanel and La Mer, it’s probably very reasonable.

After we got all prettied up by the makeup artists, we jumped at the chance to get our brows groomed by celebrity eyebrow threader Marco Ochoa. His clients include folks like Khloe Kardasian and Janice Dickinson. I was slightly taken aback by handsome Marco and his perfectly straight and flowing hair. But once I sat in his chair, I knew he would take good care of my brows. The process is so much less painless than waxing and it lasts longer, too.

I was a bit peeved when a beautiful young Latina gal interrupted my threading session to chit chat with Marco in perfect Spanish, but in researching this blogpost, I realized that she was the Fernanda Romero of Telemundo fame.

Once I was finished, all I could say was “Wow, my eyebrows are so…symmetrical!” I was definitely digging my new brows and wanted to squeal like a little girl! You can make appointments with Marco at Vert salon on Abbott Kinney.

The entire event was also a fundraiser and awareness-raiser for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a non-profit organization supporting advances in cancer research and funding. It is headed up by a Laura Ziskin speaking about SU2CHollywood bigshot producer and cancer survivor Laura Ziskin who produced a few little movies you may have heard of called Spiderman. One woman shared her tale about how she lost all her eyebrows and eyelashes during chemotherapy and how code.ai helped restore not only her lashes/brows, but also her dignity.

On our way out, they gave us a little goodie bag with a small sample of code.ai’s Brow Boosting Shaper product. We’ll see how that goes!

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