Like, omigod! I totally went to the Blogger Prom and it was, like, totally 80s themed and totally fab, kids.
So the short-version details are that it was a Bloggers only event at The Andaz in West Hollywood - their rooftop lounge, it was from 7-10, the food, drink, admission and goodie bags were all free, you had to be dressed like a cheeseball 80s adolescent and they had a shit-ton of sponsors and contributors-- it just blew me away!
I was invited with a guest so I took the first person I thought of that I KNEW would get into the theme with me and enjoy it with me - my friend Cammy. She had the most fabulous $20 dress from Forever 21 and I think I liked her flourescent pink socks with black stilettos the best (the pro. photographer took a pic of them but those photos arent up yet)... I had to improv. with my outfit and accesorized my fave black dress with bangles and a wide belt and flats with bows. My eyes and hair were the best part - I really think the side-pony and teased bangs need to makea comeback cause I rocked that hair.
Incdientally, all the photos from the event are being posted to the FLICKR group if you wanna see the whole lot.
The event was at this new hotel in WeHo - the Andaz, which was very nice and pretty swanky (and, as Cammy said "pretty swanky for a whole lot of non-swanky people). The party was in the penthouse lounge and outdoor area which coulda been lit better after dark but was pretty awesome anyway and the food was delicious (when does free food suck? almost never)... I think if I'd had less class, I'd have torn up that shrimp and avocado ceviche and downed about 13 more of the "Prom Punch Jungle Juice." The really clever bit was that Verizon Wireless was one of the sponsors and provided all these fabulous little laptops, stationed all over the locale so that all us Bloggers could blog AT the event and stay tuned in. In theory, this would have been more fun had I known my Typepad login and password by heart but I trust my internet software for such things. Oh well. It didn't stop me from tweeting at the event, of course... I'm a twittering fool. I also have to give a shout out to the cheese station because that was INSANELY delicious. I don't know how or when but some day this woman is coming to my home to do a cheese tasting party for me and my friends- she was adorable and I especially loved her aged brick spread (the "sex cheese") and the bleu drizzled wirth apricot honey. HELLO?! Amazing.
I guess I was bummed not to win one of what seemed like DOZENS of raffle prizes (and some really fantastic prizes there - WTG, prom committee) but the swag bag (the goody bag) was a pretty amazing reward. Check out what they sent everyone home with: free Pinkberry, free entry to the Viper Room, Sun chips (full bags!), Pepsi, a pretty sexy lube goody bag, chocolates, Carls Jr. freebies, season 1 of the Big Bang Theory, hair products, vodka, certificates, vouchers, handouts, bags... it was a pretty sick bag. I am stunned by what they pulled together.
What would be my critique? More integration. For starters, I'd handout or display a program. I know there's a listing in the blog online but I would have liked to see a list somewhere in the room of the bloggers participating in the event; something like that. I would have liked to find a way to approach people more - I felt like everyone really just kept to who they knew and/or came with. Another idea to get people chatting and participating would have been a costume contest. Like "most cheesy dress" or "best use of tafetta." To tie in the blogger promotion theme, I might have encouraged people to bring a one-sheet on their blog or business cards to put out on a table or something.
But I hate to critique at all because really, it was a stellar event and I am so flattered to have been invited. What a fun time! Why hasn't someone done this before? Us bloggers need a union. LOL. A network, if anything.
Oh, but one lass criticism: ORIGINALITY, people! Hello? Can we all remember for a moment what attire was like in the 80s? I wanted to see far more taffeta and poofly sleeves. More fishnets and flourescents and bad linen suits. Some people really wussed out on the costumes. Some people didn't even bother to try. Oh sure, 7 girls came in the same fuscia dress from Forever 21 but at least they made it work for the theme. But I'm not joking- check this out:
No joke - by the end of the night, you couldn't even tell them apart and it was HILARIOUS. And FYI, the two girls on the right? Not even related but shit did that throw us off in a funny little bathroom incident...
Like I said this morning, as I sorted through my goody bag: At long last all this blogging (I’ve been blogging since 2001, people) has paid off. I got free vodka and cupcakes. Score!
