Blogger Prom

Thank You from Operation Frontline + Goldstar

2010-09-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to you guys and gals, we not only had an absolute blast at this year's blogger prom, to date we also have raised $2,400 for our benefactor charity, Operation Frontline Los Angeles. And here's a little note of thanks from their program coordinator Catherine Luu, who was staffing the OFL:LA table at the event:

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone for donating to Operation Frontline Los Angeles. We had a fantastic time at Blogger Prom and really enjoyed the opportunity to meet with all those who came by the OFL table!

Thanks to you all, Blogger Prom raised $2,400, and 100% of your donations will go directly towards supporting an Operation Frontline class for underserved families in Los Angeles. One OFL course for 15 individuals and their families costs about $3,500, and your contributions will enable us to cover course costs including food, class curriculum, staff time, graduation materials, and cooking supplies.
OFL relies heavily on the resources that are available to us from our community. In our first program year since our LA launch last May, we completed 18 courses and reached over 225 low-income families. Our goal for this next program year is to offer 24 courses and reach over 275 families. Your generosity will go a long way towards empowering families with the knowledge and skills to prepare healthy meals for a lifetime. Thanks for partnering with Operation Frontline LA, Share Our Strength, and the Center for Community and Family Services to support healthy families and build sustainable communities.

A special thanks to the Blogger Prom Committee, Yamashiro, and Goldstar for making this event possible!

Best,

Catherine

And speaking of @goldstar, not only have they generously donated their energy & time to help us process our OFL:LA donations and RSVPs, they are also giving all bloggerprom donation ticketbuyers a $25 account credit good towards a future purchase from their roster of fun and significantly-discounted events! Woo hoo!

Last but not least, our Operation Frontline donation page is still up and live through the end of October, so please do consider donating more, and encourage your readers, followers, friends and fans to do so by including a link in your recap blogposts, tweets, facebook updates, etc. Thanks!

Our Leading Man & Lady Are . . .

2010-09-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed the announcement, a big congratulations to . . .
Neil of Food Marathon & Jocelyn of JozJozJoz for being crowned this year's "Leading Man" / #bloggerpromking and "Leading Lady" / #bloggerpromqueen! Enjoy your reign until next year ;)

Photo Credit: Heather Kincaid

Our Official Photos Are In!

2010-09-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

Our official photographer extraordinaire, Heather Kincaid, has done an AMAZING job working the photobooth (right behind our live-twitter screen) and roaming around site capturing the festive action, not to mention the hard work to get it all up and ready for the day after!

Check out her photos of the event here, and feel free to blog/publish with photo credit to heatherkincaid.com/blog.

And of course, give her a big round of applause online @HeatherKincaid.

Thank You for Attending!

2010-09-23T10:27:00.001-07:00

The committee on the day before

Thank you so much for coming, mingling and having a great time up @ Yamashiro last night! We hope you had a blast at the event and the afterparty.

The committee is busy tallying our donation total & taking care of post-event odds and ends, but we are definitely stoked to look at your photos and read your recap posts, so feel free to comment with a link to your blogposts, and share your pics on our flickr group page.

In the meantime, enjoy your gift bags (and giveaway prizes to the lucky winners,) and give a shoutout to @YamashiroLA and @ChefBrock for being such gracious, awesome hosts.

Tonight's Leading Man & Leading Lady Finalists!

2010-09-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

OK, after our #bloggerpromking and #bloggerpromqueen hashtag tallies from the twitterverse open nomination, the ones who made the final audition are:

"Leading Man"
1. @djjewelz
2. @FoodMarathon
3. @FreshHubby
4. @Kevin_Eats

"Leading Lady"
1. @brokeassbride
2. @JozJozJoz
3. @Olivejina
4. @thegirlblogger

Blogger Prom attendees, tonight cast your ballots for the Hollywood Confidential royalty to take home the glammy & fab fedora and tiara (and maybe a surprise) and bragging rights! Stay tuned and keep an eye and ear out around 8:30 p.m. for the big announcement....

Heather Kincaid, The Official 2010 Blogger Prom Professional Photographer!

2010-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Heather Kincaid blowing bubbles at YOU!

Blogger Prom has its very own photographer! Yeah, yeah, you guys are bloggers and probably carry your cameras with you everywhere. And yes, you should bring those cameras to Blogger Prom, too. But this is different. We have an OFFICIAL photographer who will be on hand to take your portrait since you dressed up all special for the night! She’s bringing a photobooth! And her gorgeous high-res photos will be available for purchase after the event and she will also make free versions available. We are SOOO excited!!!

Heather Kincaid is an incredibly talented photographer based in Los Angeles who does shoots all over Southern California. Take a look at her website. It’s not your average business website, it’s a very personal, intimate blog of her adventures photographing interesting people. She lets you inside her world. For example, she shoots a wedding, and then gives teasers of photos to come, or posts her favorites from the event. Plus she adds colorful commentary and kind wishes. And these photos! They are wonderful, moving photos that really capture the moment. Creative, clever compositions in color or black and white.

If her photography skills weren’t already enough, Heather is a warm, fun-loving person. So in every way, Heather will be a fantastic addition to the 2010 Blogger Prom. We are SO thrilled that Heather will be at Blogger Prom to document the evening for us!

The Drinks of the Night . . .

2010-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

We got eats, we got swag bags and giveaways, we even got an afterparty -- last but certainly not least, we got the drinks on too! Whether you prefer sipping on our signature cocktail, a simple glass of wine, or an exploration through beers or fine spirits, we got you covered.
First, we welcome Pinky Vodka back again; in addition to supplying our swag bags with mini bottles of their product, they also teamed up with our committee member Natalie (a.k.a The Liquid Muse) to create the signature cocktail of this event! Coasters with the recipe will be available tonight, but just to give you a little preview, here's how it's made:

Pinky Confidential
2 ounces Pinky vodka
1 ounce Chambord
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
½ ounce egg white (optional & NOT used in the bloggerprom version)
Powdered sugar (for garnish)

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds. Add ice, shake again. Strain into a powder sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Additionally we are partnering with the fine beverage sponsors below:

Cabana Cachaca, which will be making caipirinhas on-site.
Zaya Gran Reserva Rum and Casa Noble blanco and reposado tequilas, which you can enjoy straight-up or in a cocktail.
The Beer Chicks will be doing refreshing tastings with locally-made Eagle Rock Brewery beers.
And The Dalmore representatives will take attendees on a tour through their range of Single-Malt Scotch Whiskys.
For wine lovers, Fresh & Easy is again providing some wines that taste great and is even better for the value! Here are their notes on the white & red wine of the night:

The Vine Yard Chardonnay, 2008 – Under $12
From the Columbia Valley of Washington State, the Vine Yard Chardonnay is a fruit-forward wine with impressive length and well-balanced finish. It has fresh green apple accompanied by generous amounts of ripe juicy pear and framed by warm vanilla and a hint of citrus. Pairs well with seafood and white meat dishes.

Chianti Re De Castello, 2007 – Under $10
Coming from the beautiful area of Tuscany, the grapes are picked at optimum ripeness. It has brilliant ruby red color with bright raspberry fruit aromas and a touch of spice. Harmonious and well structured, this is a full-bodied red with persistent length of flavour. Ideal with Bolognese and strong Italian cheeses such as Parmesan.

Finally, another official note from the committee: This year, to ensure everyone has a wonderful BUT safe time and so that all attendees gets to try a little of everything, we are providing each attendees with 3 drink tickets. Each ticket is good for 1) our "Pinky Confidential" signature cocktail, 2) Cabana Cachaca Caipirinhas, 3) the featured red & white wines from Fresh & Easy 4) drinks made with Zaya Rum or Casa Noble Tequila OR 5) for you teetotalers, a non-alcoholic beverage of your choosing. Additionally, each attendee will have an opportunity for a beer AND a Scotch tasting. Afterwards, a cash bar is available for additional drinks.

And if you do feel like you've had too much to drink, Y Drive LA will be on hand at the valet stand ready to drive you and your car safely home. They'll offer all Blogger Prom attendees 10%. Stop by their table for more information!

So raise those glasses and toast in style, and don't forget to tip your hardworking bar staff. Cheers!

Verizon Twitter Giveaway

2010-09-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

Win a Mi-Fi personal hotspot from Verizon Wireless!

Be the master of your wireless domain! With the Mi-Fi portable hotspot, you can connect up to five WiFi devices at once. Hook up your PDA, your game console, that tablet computer that never seems to get signal in your bedroom and so much more – actually, only two more – which begs the question: who would you share your MiFi with? Tweet about it @vzwsocal during Blogger Prom and the MiFi could be yours!

To share or not to share: that is the question…

They will also have a booth set up with devices you can tweet from. Last year, the lucky Verizon twitter giveaway winner was @KimTracyPrince, will it be YOU this year? Good luck!

The Night is Young: Our Official After Party!

2010-09-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be a proper prom without a proper After Party, would it?

Sure, it's a school night, but there's only one Blogger Prom a year, and, thus, only one Blogger Prom After Party.

We are thrilled to announce that our Official Blogger Prom After Party will be from 11PM to 1 AM at the much-talked about Test Kitchen. We think that if this were the era of Walter Winchell and Hedda Hopper, these two would be printing up a storm about this hot spot.

Since it's after hours, this free, private event will be focused on libations.

In the house and with their brand ambassadors:
Bacardi Rum
Original Moonshine, a corn whiskey/@MOONSHINE
Luksusowa, a Polish vodka
Real de Mexico Tequila, @realtequila
& Cognac Landy, @CognacLandy

Behind the bar:
Julian Cox (Rivera), Joel Black (Caña), and Pablo Moix (La Descarga).

Your bar will be hosted, but do bring some cash to tip your bartenders!

How do you get into the After Party?

- If you're attending Blogger Prom, it's easy: You're already on the list.

- If you will not be at Blogger Prom, but would like to join us for a drink, you must RSVP to us via email BY 1 PM on WEDS. 9/22. *UPDATED

Test Kitchen will take a maximum of 100 Blogger Prom guests.

Hope to see you there!

Where: Test Kitchen @ 9575 W Pico Blvd LA-35
Who: Blogger Prom Guests & Official After Party Guests
When: Weds. Sept. 22 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Photo: Julian Cox behind the Test Kitchen bar/djjewlz via Flickr

Your Swanky Hollywood Parting Gifts

2010-09-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last year's swag bags were quite well received and blogged about, and not to toot our own horn, but we think this year's gift bags are the bees knees!

Every attendee will get one reusable canvas gift tote from Disney Store (on right) with vintage 1930s comic book images of Hollywood's most beloved mouse from our prom's era and today. Twitter: @DisneyStore

We'll then be filling these nostalgic totes with the following goodies, totaling over $300 in value:

$100 gift certificates to LuxLash Beverly Hills, the nations first specialty spa focusing on lash extensions and all services and products focusing on Eye, Lash and Brow beauty. Now you can make your lashes lush and your brows just the way you like 'em. Twitter: @LuxLash

The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE is giving all of us free admission tickets to explore their four floors of cutting edge exhibits, interactive experiences and films to feel the power of music. Twitter: @TheGrammyMuseum

Want more cool tickets to LA happenings? The American Cinematheque at the Aero and Egyptian Theatre has provided everyone with free passes to see the film of your choice at one of their historic movie theatres. Each night there is a different movie - from the classics of Hollywood and International Cinema to new documentaries, shorts and independent films to Sneak Previews, Premieres, Pop Culture Gems and even he hottest new websisodes, the Cinematheque's screenings often feature the filmmakers in person for discussion following the film. Oh and did you know that The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922?

Pinkberry is offering $5 gift cards good for their yogurt goodness, now available in Watermelon and Mango flavors. Pinkberry caused a pop-culture bang and lots of lines when it launched in West Hollywood in 2005 and we're excited this popular LA dessert will be a part of our Hollywood Confidential prom. Pinkberry is certified by the National Yogurt Association and carries the Live & Active Cultures Seal. Twitter: @pinkberryswirl

Relax post prom with a free 20-minute microZone® facial treatment certificate from Dermalogica Spa in Santa Monica on Montana Ave. This quick treatment gives your skin a glowing pick-me-up, removing congestion and leaving your face healthy and bright. Besides the free facial they will also be providing their skincare product samples developed by The International Dermal Institute. Twitter: @dermalogica

Also, expect one full-sized Degree® Women Natureffects deodorant and body mist, which infuse Degree’s top odor and wetness protection formula with fragrances inspired by natural ingredients. Available in Honeysuckle & Tea Tree Oil, Olive Leaf & Pink Pepper and Orange Flower & Cranberry. Twitter: @DegreeWomen

It's getting hot in here talking about all this great swag, which is why we're also adding Proactiv (R) Solution Oil Blotter Sheets to the frey, a $16.50 value. Proactiv's Blotter Sheet Duo instantly and easily absorbs excess oil on the face. It controls shine without using powder and leaves skin fresh and clean. Each sheet is made from natural fiber paper without artificial ingredients. It is conveniently packaged in a pouch with dispenser top.

Thirsty? Try O.N.E. Coconut Water, the 100% natural Brazil coconut water, which will be in each bag. Also, you might want to go ahead and sip this drink after prom as it's supposedly a hangover cure. Twitter: @onecoconut

If you're looking for some hair of the dog, we'll have tiny bottles of Pinky Vodka in the totes too. Pinky Vodka will once again be one of the ingrediants in Natali's signature cocktails that we'll have brewing during prom. Pinky Vodka also supported last year's blogger prom, so cheers to that! Created by champion wine tasters in Sweden, Pinky Vodka is the world's most beautiful vodka that makes any drink taste better. Twitter: @pinkyvodka

Hungry? Border Grill is once again supporting Blogger Prom, this time with $20 dining certificates for their new downtown LA location opening in October as well as $10 Border Grill Truck dining certificates. With a menu of dishes based on the home cooking of Oaxaca and the Yucatan, Border Grill takes Mexican food to a whole new level! Twitter: @BorderGrillDTLA

A restaurant that lasts 30 years is as rare as a long lasting Hollywood marriage, not even ones from back in the golden age. Hugo's Restaurant in WeHo, the home of the Power Breakfast, vegan cuisine and a mainstay on the Southern California food scene, is providing us with free drink coupons with the purchase of any meal there. Do try their Pasta Mama, which has appeared on the Food Network. Twitter: @HugosRestaurant

No meal is complete without a cupcake though, right? Well, we have cupcakes gallore. Sprinkles, LA's first cupcakery, will be donating free cupcake coupons tot. Twitter: @Sprinkles

Also, L.A.'s first Filipino Food Truck, The Manila Machine, will be providing free coupons for their Ube Cupcakes with a coconut buttercream. Twitter: @ManilaMachine

Can't get enough sweets? Well, you're in luck, as we'll also have Cost Plus World Market chocolate bars. Whether you want high cocoa content, flavor infusions or sweet and savory fillings like Caramel Sea Salt, Peanut Butter, Orange or Raspberry, you'll find a mouth-watering bar made from the finest quality ingredients for every kind of craving. Twitter: @worldmarket

We'll all have a free coupon and grocery list notepad from Arnold/Oroweat Sandwich Thins. The flavor you crave. The whole grains you want. Eating healthy has never tasted so good. Be sure and say hi to them over on Facebook www.facebook.com/SandwichThins

That's not all! Product samples from UNITE Hair Care - an all natural, nutrient rich, premium, boutique line proudly free of: parabens, sulfate, gluten, dea & mea ingredients will be adding their glamorous product to our bags. All of their 30 cleansing, conditioning, styling, and finishing items are made with uncompromising quality to keep hair beautiful, natural, and healthy. The line already has a list of celebrity devotees such as: Heidi Klum, Eva Longoria, Hilary Duff, Jennifer Hudson, Matthew Fox, and many more.

Plus, $1.00 off coupons for Lovin' Scoopful Gourmet Light Ice Cream – 13 rich and creamy flavors with 1/2 the fat and fewer calories than premium ice cream. Plus 25% of profits are shared with Special Olympics and other causes. So go ahead – get a little Lovin', give a little lovin'. Twitter: @lovinscoopful

America’s favorite convenience store, 7Eleven, will be providing goodie bags with free glazed doughnut and coffee coupons good at their many SoCal locations. Twitter: @7ElevenSoCal

Last but not least, we'll be receiving Goodberrymint mintwater, an all-natural combination of pure water, 100% real mint and berry essences, including acai berries, pomegranates, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. It’s the latest variety from the line of all natural Metromint, pioneer of the mintwater category. Along with refreshing hydration, the beverage offers a unique cooling sensation and the natural benefits of mint. Named “Good”berrymint due to Project Goodberry, in which 10% of sales profits are donated to local non profits. No sweeteners, no artificial flavors, and no calories.

BLOGGER PROM COMMITTEE NOTE:
Please be sure and follow our awesome sponsors on twitter. Also, do try and thank them for their participation and support of this year's prom in any blog posts or tweets that you might do about Blogger Prom. After all, they help make all of this possible.

Thank you!

A quick reminder for RSVP'd guests

2010-09-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

We are excited to meet and party with you all tomorrow night @ the beautiful Yamashiro - but just a little heads up:

1) If you haven't already, make your minimum donation ($10 per guest) via the goldstar link that was sent your way when the committee confirmed your RSVP. This is the only way to officially seal the deal of your RSVP.

2) Also, please let us know if for some reason you and/or your guest cannot make it to the event, we are around capacity with a few more peeps in waiting so much appreciate the update so we can open up the room to let in as many folks as we can to enjoy the festivities.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming . . .

Meet the Music: DJ Steve

2010-09-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

You enjoyed his DJing skills at last year's prom, and DJ Steve is back. This time throwing some jazz standards into the mix to keep your feet flyin'. And you don't have to be Fred & Ginger to enjoy it. Got a song you want to dance cheek to cheek with your honey to? Tweet your request to @DJ_Steve during the party!

From DJ Steve:

Hollywoodland was a time of excess and partying, not unlike the Hollywoodland of today. As your resident DJ for the night, I'm going to make sure the music stays moving all night and you have place to come dance and let loose like the stars and starlets of yesteryear. Plan on a modern mix with plenty of "old school" gems to keep you nostalgic and hip shaking!

Please add me to your twitter feed (@DJ_Steve), if just for the night, so you can shoot requests and shout-outs to me throughout the night. I'll make sure to keep checking them and RTing anything you want to share with the prom!

Giveaway Time @ Blogger Prom!

2010-09-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of the inaugural prom was the giveaway, so you can definitely count on us doing it again this year. Thanks to a stellar, well-connected committee and a slew of generous sponsors, we have some amazing goodies for attendees to win!

But first, a few things different with the giveaway this year:

1) Our theme may be retro, but we are modernizing the announcement process. Instead of straining to call out numbers over conversation and music and all that fumbling for the itty-bitty ticket, we'll be tweeting out winners by their twitter handles! (We'll even have a projector screen with a live feed, so you don't need to be checking your newfangled techy devices every 5 mintues.)

2) If you happen to be a plus-one without a twitter account, we'll call you out by your companion's name (e.g. "@carolineoncrack's +1 won the XYZ prize!")

3) We're also tying this year's giveaway to our charity benefactor, Operation Frontline LA! All attendees (invited and their plus-ones) will receive one entry for the giveaway, but if you want to up your chances, you can donate $10 (or more) at the door for an additional giveaway entry! 100% of the proceeds goes to the charity, and guests who have already RSVP'd with additional donations will receive the corresponding number of extra entries (e.g. if you donated $40 on top of your $10 admission, you will receive 5 entries total.)

4) We'll be tweeting our giveaways @ regular intervals from 7:30 p.m. until the end of the evening, so donate for your extra entries early to increase your opportunities to win.

5) Finally, you don't need to be present to pick up your prize (in case you leave early, didn't notice it on the twitterfeed, etc.)

Phew! Having said all that, here's all the fab goodies that you can win this year:
From ChocolateBox Cafe (also our official chocolate sponsor for the event) a build-your-own box of sweets, simply bring the box to their Malibu location and fill it to your heart's fancy.
1933 Group is providing a sweet set of drink tokesn good for free cocktails at any of their bars.
Church & State is donating a $50 gift card for its bistro grub.
At Ortega 120, you can win 2 spots to their Tequila University classes, plus a $20 gift card for food or drinks at another time.
CakeMonkey donated a gift certificate good for their Snack Treat Gift Box for one sweet-loving soul.
The House of An family of restaurants is providing $75 gift certificates for AnQi and Crustacean
A gift basket of goodies, including teas, a bottle of wine and a $70 gift certificate, courtesy of Hugo's Restaurant
A tasty dinner for two gift certificate at Comme Ca in West Hollywood
And another dinner for two @ Zengo/La Sandia in the swanky renovated Santa Monica Place
For movie-goers, a ten-ticket pack for American Cinematheque's Egyptian and Alex Theaters
At La Descarga, you can win a rum & cigar aficionado package with 1 bottle of Zaya 12-year-old aged rum with sipping glasses, 2 hand rolled Payne Mason Haban Unos Corojo #5 cigars with cutter and a $50 gift certificate at the bar itself.
Nic's Beverly Hill donated a dinner for two with a full VODBOX experience.
Culina is giving out a "lunch for 4" to the fortunate winner.
Shell Vacations Hospitality donated a two-night stay in their Las Vegas Desert Rose Resort
At the Raymond in South Pasadena, someone will get $300 (equivalent of 2 chef's tastings w wine pairings) to spend on fine cuisine.
The Edison is generously giving a person and a downtown dream package with a $200 gift card, a night's stay in a downtown LA hotel plus a bottle of copper-encased Beau Joie champagne!
And The Sunset Strip is donating a package of its own, with a night's stay at the Andaz Hotel (our bloggerprom venue last year!), dinner for 2 at its restaurant, the RH, and 2 VIP passes plus 4 drink tickets for The Comedy Store.

Good luck to everyone, but feel free improve your odds (and do more good) with an extra donation!

Open Nomination Time For This Year's Leading Man & Lady

2010-09-20T10:00:00.001-07:00

Of course, a prom isn't complete without a coronation ceremony, and this year our reigning King and Queen Bloggers (Zach Behrens of LAist and Nadine Jolie) will be passing on their crown and tiara to a glamorous new blogging "it" couple.

And this year, you get to decide who makes the final cut of this prom by Tweeting which two bloggers you want on the "call back list" with #bloggerpromking and #bloggerpromqueen hashtags (or for the very few of you without Twitter accounts, by commenting on this post!)

We'll be tallying up the counts for four blogging fellows and four blogging dames to partake in the final audition, where Blogger Prom attendees can vote to see who gets to be "leading man" and "leading lady" of the night! Here's the list of the RSVP'd guests who've already donated via Goldstar so far*:

For the role of "Leading Man"
@savoryhunter
@windattack
@foodmarathon
@streetgourmetla
@kungfoodpanda
@lorange
@roycifer
@sippitysup
@ravenouscouple
@s0kun
@southbayfoodies
@foodgps
@djjewelz
@glutster
@thrillistla
@kevin_eats
@DigLounge
@theotheragentm
@twohungrypandas (he)

For the role of "Leading Lady"
@theminty
@greenlagirl
@LAStory
@eatingLA
@HotPinkManolos
@nomsnotbombs
@letmeeatcake
@foodwoolf
@intellichick
@slackmistress
@conbon
@dianatakesabite
@mintcool
@etrets
@peggyarcher
@yvonneinla
@pleasurepalate
@thegirlblogger
@amandajoy
@avflox
@foodismynish
@afterdarkla
@busybethf
@dishingdelights
@gourmetpigs
@alieandgeorgia
@hanhonymous
@heathervescent
@twohungrypandas (she)
@melodysimpson
@juliewolfson
@kats9livez
@katelin
@stylesmith
@jenni0s
@jozjozjoz
@kimtracyprince
@la_story
@lkkelly
@lucindamichele
@HowWeEatLA
@fightinmadmary
@Recessionista

Check out their Twitters (as well as that of our soon outgoing King Zach & Queen Nadine) and nominate away using #bloggerpromking and #bloggerpromqueen!

*Are you a plus-one who also blog? If so, sorry we missed your Twitter handle on this list--feel free to throw your name in the pot too via comments & Twitter.

C is for . . .

2010-09-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Cs may not look so great on a report card, but they're definitely the cool cats at BloggerProm. On top of Yamashiro's menu of delectable bites by Chef Brock, we also have a number of specialty food vendors (coincidentally all starting with the same letter) dishing out delightful desserts and cheeses throughout the BloggerProm evening, including . . .
ChocolateBox Café, whipping out a variety of cocoa-loaded delights, including truffles, ganaches and buttermilks!
Crumbs Bake Shop will bringing mini cupcakes in some of their best-selling signature flavors.
And representing the foodtrucky town that is LA, Coolhaus will be serving their (in)famous ice cream sandwiches in an edible wrappers! All delicious & no mess.

Last but not least (especially if you prefer savories to end the night) the much-loved Barrie Lynn, a.k.a. The Cheese Impresario, will be making a comeback with a variety of delicious cheeses, here's a little sneak peek of what to expect from her:
What I’ll be Doing at This Year’s Blogger Prom
Barrie Lynn – The Cheese Impresario will be creating an Interactive Artisanal Cheese Pairing Adventure Experience for the Bloggers. I’ll have cheeses and some unusual accompaniments that the Bloggers can play with to see what they personally love. I’ll be featuring cheeses made by the Artisan Cheesemakers of Wisconsin. Here’s one of them, who is a hero of mine.
Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Joe Widmer of Widmer’s Cheese Cellars is a third generation cheesemaker. He’s a fine artist whose medium is cheese. Joe is one of only 45 Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers who have passed this state’s rigorous standards . . . much like a Master Sommelier program. I’ll be serving Joe’s famous Aged Brick Cheese, a washed rind cheese in the shape of a brick. It’s creamy, nutty with big flavor and a sweet finish. Joe uses his same Grandfather’s bricks to press the whey out of the curds to make this luscious cheese.

Having said all that, consider this a forewarning that no matter what theme-appropriate attire you'll be wearing, be sure to leave a little space for your belly to fill up -- popped buttons and ripped seams aren't all that glamorous.

Your Hollywood Confidential Menu

2010-09-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

You didn't think we would let you go hungry, did you? Yamashiro is known for its take on CalAsian cuisine, and the Blogger Prom menu will be culled from both the bar and dining menus. Here's a preview of some of the fabulous food created by Chef Brock Kleweno that lucky Blogger Prom attendees will be noshing on at the event.

Asian baby back ribs with house-made BBQ sauce:

Hukilau Poke: Ahi, teardrop tomato, macadamia nuts and soy-sesame marinade on a wonton crisp:

Also planned for the menu are hoisin-braised Kurobuta pork carnitas with scallion risotto and honey-mustard sauce; charred albacore with serrano chilies, blackened shallots, cilantro and tomatillo-ponzu salsa on a tortilla chip; and Japanese rice-cracker crispy chicken with spiced plum sauce.

For you vegetarians, there's the Wedge-lette: a mini iceberg wedge topped with goat cheese, cherry tomato and Yama-goddess dressing. (This dressing is delicious!)

And for the piece de resistance, Chef Brock will be manning a taco "stand," a la the farmers market that Yamashiro hosts on Thursdays, with a special edition taco just for Blogger Prom! Follow Chef Brock on Twitter for updates.

All photos courtesy of Yamashiro.

Prom Dress Code: Hollywood Glamour

2010-09-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

Blogger Prom 2010 is going to be worlds different from last year's event, not just in venue but theme, execution and dress code. Instead of hot pink ‘80s kitsch, we’re going for silver screen sophistication with a more winter formal-type affair: Hollywood Confidential. And historic landmark, Yamashiro, is the perfect backdrop for it. Keep in mind that just because you paid and are on the list you will not be allowed entry if you don’t adhere to the dress code. We’re giving you fair warning here. Everyone else will have made the effort to dress up, why shouldn’t you?

Ladies, it's your time to shine. Emulate your favorite Old Hollywood fashion icon -- Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly. Vintage dresses and retro prom gowns. Hats with feathers, faux fur boas, (faux) diamonds, strings of pearls. There will be lots of cameras, bloggers and some pro photographers, so you’re going to want to look drop-dead gorgeous, right?

If you are worried about how to do your makeup and hair for the big night, refer to our “How to Get That Hollywood Confidential Look” post with tips from our official salon Studio DNA, who will be glamming up the prom committee the day of the event! Those who don’t want to worry about their own hair and makeup either can book an appointment with the salon’s Beverly Boulevard location which is the closest to the prom venue.

Guys, you have it easy. Fedoras, suits, wingtips, all to emulate Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra. Hepcat cool, sophisticated.

And if you still aren’t sure what we mean by Hollywood Confidential attire here’s what the prom committee is wearing, just to give you some ideas:

Caroline, Caroline on Crack: I have this black vintage dress, the one I’m wearing in my Hurrell Hollywood shot. It has a lace bodice with chiffon skirt. I’ll round out my look with opera gloves and a fur boa. Now I just need to find the perfect pair of dressy heels to go with it.

Esther, EstarLA: I'm wearing a dark blue 40's vintage taffeta dress (just past knee-length) with a small crinoline and white gloves. I'd like to put Veronica Lake-ish waves in my super long hair. Or maybe put it up! I'm contemplating hair accessories, right now... Not sure how I want to do that one.

HC, LA/OC Foodventures: Refer to my committee photo . . . maybe with a little extra pizazz.

Lindsay, LAist: I'm shopping first out of my closet, and going with a black silk dress I scored on a while back that is not quite the "little black dress" but works perfectly with our Hollywood glamour vibe thanks to its classic cut and length. I've been scouring some of the great vintage shops on Magnolia in Burbank looking for some great accessories. I wouldn't be surprised if I wound up wearing a flower in my hair...does anyone make Squash Blossom hair clips?

Marni, Happy Go Marni: I'll be wearing a long black gown that's beaded at the top. I'm currently scrounging for my great grandmother's period piece hat. Fingers crossed I find that! And assorted accessories that take me over the edge and into another era!

Maya, ShopEatSleep: I'm either going to wear the blue dress and brown T-strap shoes I wore in my engagement photos, which have a 30s vibe, or a gray dress that's more fitted with black oxford-type heels. I'm going to try to find nylons with seams, too. I think with the right hair and makeup, either outfit will work. Still looking for gloves, though!

Tara, Tara Met Blog: I'm wearing a long purple silk gown with a low cut back, it's very femme fatale, in fact, La Femme designed it! I'm also adding a brown faux fur shawl for photos and I have some of my great grandmother's jewelry that I'll be donning for some authentic era bling.

Here are some suggestions for where to shop for appropriately glam prom attire:

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments!

Verizon Wireless Keeps Blogger Prom Connected

2010-09-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

OK so there wasn't the interwebs back in the golden age of Hollywood, but like any good blogger, I can't stand not being connected especially when at a cool event. Well, never fear once again Verizon Wireless is here.

Verizon Wireless returns to Blogger Prom to outfit Yamashiro’s with its 3G Mobile Broadband and Mi-Fi hot spots powered by the Droid X. As some of us suspected, our beautiful venue in the Hollywood Hills can sometimes be, shall we say, broadband challenged, but thanks to Verizon, you can blog and tweet live on your smartphones, or netbooks, thanks to Verizon's 3G network.

You can check out their Droid X phones (http://bit.ly/cXbxaC) and post a tweet from them while you're there. And if those are being used, you just might be extra popular on Prom if you're a Verizon Wireless subscriber and the only one getting a signal! Who knew you could be so lucky…

Here is Verizon Wireless System Performance Engineer Peter Kheang testing the 3G signal that will boost network performance at Blogger Prom.

You can follow Verizon on twitter at @VZWSoCal

Getting the Hollywood Confidential look . . .

2010-09-08T08:22:00.001-07:00

The prom is only two weeks away, yowza! (The BloggerProm Committee can't believe how fast time flies too!) Still having trouble getting that theme-appropriate look? Here's some pointers to get your Hollywood Confidential glam on for both fellas & dames, from our salon sponsor Studio DNA.

Women’s Hair Styles

No matter the length, to achieve any style from the era, you will need to preset your hair in pincurls. For more specific instructions on how to achieve a pincurl, click here.
Setting your hair is best done the night before but you can use hot rollers or a curling iron to help set your curls a few hours prior to the event. Spraying your curls with a hairspray that is malleable but has memory is best.
If you want tight curls, then set your hair when it is damp. If you want loose curls, then set your hair when it is dry.
Heat application can help hasten the process, but don’t get impatient.
Once your hair has set, release the curls by removing the pins. Now you can style. Be sure to use a fine comb or a rat tail comb to help smooth out sections. Remember to spray to set your style.

Women’s Make Up

Dark eyeliner contouring the eye and accenting the outside points help frame the eyes so they stand out.
Accentuate the top lashes over the bottom lashes. False eyelashes add extra glamour.
Women typically managed their own eyebrows by tweezing. As a result, you will notice most women had to fill in their brows to ensure the perfect arch. Eyebrows were very feminine though very strong.
Red full lips. Be sure to contour the lip with a color that matches the lipstick. Women didn’t typically have multiple colors in their make up kits so your lip color should be flat.
If you are feeling particularly exotic, add a beauty mark. They were all the rage thanks to Marilyn Monroe.
Remember, make up was expensive for most women and powder was often the way they accomplished their finished looks. The powder was more often, lighter than a woman’s natural complexion.

Men’s Hair

Watch an episode of Mad Men to see the many variations on the exact same shape.
With your hair still damp, apply gel liberally to the front of your hair from root to shaft. Then apply some gel to the back.
With a fine toothed comb, slick the hair straight back. Let the hair rest so you can start to see the natural part.
From the natural part, begin to separate the hair, slicking the top to the side and then back. The sides should be combed tightle back.
Once your hair is in place, take your hands and run the along the side. You can gently lift the cowlicks to give some dimpling. (Click here for additional ideas on video.)
If you have short hair, just be sure that it is tailored and tight. It wasn’t until the mid-sixties that we let our hair down (literally).

For more about the history of the Hollywood Confidential styles and how celebrities, then and now, are rocking them out, read the rest of Studio DNA blogpost here (it's also got additional videos with nice DIY style tricks). We look forward seeing you all in your fabulous 'dos and glamorous get-ups very soon!

About This Year's Featured Charity: Operation Frontline

2010-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Blogger Prom Committee is pleased to announce that 100% of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Center for Community and Family Services in support of Operation Frontline Los Angeles, the regional OFL program at Share Our Strength "that teaches families how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget" with the belief "that negative health and economic effects of hunger and poor diet can be avoided if families know how to shop for and prepare healthy, low cost meals."When we decided to raise charitable funds at this year's prom, the big question was, on behalf of what organization? We decided upon Operation Frontline Los Angeles because we believe so unwaveringly in its mission to help fight hunger and improve nutrition education.

While not all of the bloggers invited to Blogger Prom write about food, hunger and poor nutrition are issues that affect the L.A. community and the nation as a whole. It is through these classes and education that families can learn first-hand how to apply nutrition principles in their shopping for and preparation of healthy, low cost and delicious meals.
We look forward to helping Operation Frontline Los Angeles continue to directly impact the lifetime dietary habits of families through their classes held throughout the city. Together, we can help more Angelenos to enjoy nutritious, tasty and affordable food options.

The highlights of last year’s Operation Frontline program include:

80% of graduates are participants in federal food assistance programs like WIC, Head Start and free school meals
94% of kids who took an Operation Frontline LA course made the healthy recipes they learned in class at home and would recommend the course to a friend
Upon graduating an Operation Frontline LA course, 80% of adults said they were eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains than before the course.

Your admission and any additional donations made on behalf of Blogger Prom: Hollywood Confidential will go directly toward connecting professional chefs and nutritionists with those who benefit from the education the most. Proceeds will alleviate class support costs like groceries, staff coordination time, staff volunteer training and more. Be sure to visit Operation Frontline Los Angeles' Blog, Operation Frontline’s home page, “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to keep up-to-date on what they’re doing in the community.

For those attending the prom, please consider donating more than the $10 minimum per person. Also, please spread the word about donating by mentioning something on your blog in your preview and/or recap posts.

How to Get Your Ticket to Blogger Prom 2010

2010-08-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's going to be an amazing night of great food, specialty drinks, one of the city's most gorgeous views, prizes and surprises, and the chance to meet and mingle with some of Los Angeles' top bloggers.

But it's an invite-only event.

So how do you make sure you're invited?

To be a part of the "Class of 2010" and score an invite to the Hollywood Confidential Blogger Prom on September 22nd at Yamashiro, your Blogger Prom Committee (BPC) has a list of criteria.

If one or more of these things describes you, keep your eye on your inbox for an invite:

1. You went to Blogger Prom 2009...and wrote about it on your site.
2. You are an established Los Angeles blogger* who has been posting regularly on a site since January 2010.

*With rare exception, this means no microblogs, or Twitter-only folks. We want to read your words and see your pictures...and we reserve the right to make the final call on this.

Speaking of final call...ultimately, invitations to Blogger Prom 2010 are issued at the discretion of the BPC.

You may bring one guest, though you are not required to. You may be asked to provide your guest's name, and, if applicable, their blogging and Twittering deets.

We will roll out the invitations in waves; be sure to take note of any cut-off dates indicated on the invite.

You'll be securing your ticket in 2 steps:
1. RSVP to official invite. This gets you on our OFFICIAL guest list.
2. Make a donation to Operation Frontline via a private link sent to you. Admission to Blogger Prom 2010 is via minimum donation of $10 per person. 100% of donated funds will go to Operation Frontline.

We want getting our invited guests to the Prom to be as easy as possible--if you're having trouble with your invitation, let us know.

PLUS: We can't make you sign up for Twitter (and, what? You haven't yet? Come on!) but a Twitter account will be required for participating in our raffle to win some amazing prizes. Follow us on Twitter: BloggerProm.

Meet Your Gang, I Mean Committee

2010-07-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here we are, dolled up and ready go even though the event is over two months away! We hope this gives you inspiration for dressing the theme this year.

And we just may have a contest for the best "Hollywood Confidential" shot in the near future - so time to polish up on your costuming and photography skills!

~BPC Committee
Caroline @CarolineOnCrack
Esther @EstarLA
H.C. @LAOCFoodie
Lindsay @SquashBlossom
Marni @HappyGoMarni
Maya @ShopEatSleep
Natalie @TheLiquidMuse
Tara @TaraMetBlog

Blogger Prom 2010 badges

2010-07-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Proud to be attending the 2nd annual blogger prom? Well, then show your enthusiasm with one of the following classy blog badges. Oh, and of course link them back to http://blogger-prom.blogspot.com/

It's Official: Blogger Prom 2010 Theme & Date

2010-07-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

You heard it here first - Blogger Prom 2010 is official and happening on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the historic Yamashiro Restaurant in Hollywood.

For this year's prom theme, the committee has chosen Hollywood Confidential, so be ready to get your old Hollywood glamor or classic chic on for this year's festivities.

Stay tuned for more information about our fabulous venue, refreshments and other goodies we're planning for this year's bash!

~ BP Committee

Let's Get This Started (Again)

2010-02-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

Setup madness w goody bag stuffings from last year's event

Ok, it's official - Blogger Prom 2010 planning is in the works. We're only in initial discussion so everything is TBD. First and foremost, finding a location that will host (yes, for free) this year's bash. If you know of one (or are a venue representative and want more details), leave a comment!

And, let's give one final special thanks to the sponsors of yesteryear's party!

~H.C.

Thank you . . .

2009-07-23T00:40:00.000-07:00

. . . for attending Blogger Prom 2009! We hope you had as killer of a time at the prom as we did planning it! Being busy bees ourselves, sorry if we didn't have a chance to mingle as much as we want to, but to refresh your memories on who we are:
And of course, also, HUGE thanks to all the sponsors who made this possible (an updated post on that soon since we had a few last-minute additions)

Don't forget blog, tweet, or add photos to our flickr group about your experience at bloggerprom. And of course, leaving comments here (and your blogpost URL if you wrote up about it already); here's to a bigger and better event next year!

P.S. check your goody bags - some items may not last through a hot summer afternoon (or even a summer night either)

Final FYI...

2009-07-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

Last words to live by, attendees -- we will be closing the check-in at 9 p.m. so we can start checking folks out (w the bling-bastic goody bags) at that time. Over and out and see you there!

Last But Not Least Eats . . .

2009-07-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Alright, now that you got the intel on the delectable noshes Andaz will be providing tonight, I'm gonna go all infomercial on you (so get your barf bags ready)

Wait Wait, there's more!

Yep, we've partnered with a few additional food sponsors who will be providing some more treats so be sure to save some room in your tummy!
Polkatots will be providing an assortment of tasty, finger-friendly mini-cupcakes.
And then there are mini-cheesecake pops from Pure Cheesecakes, no utensils needed!
Finally, Barrie Lynn (a.k.a. the Cheese Impresario) will bring an assortment of cheeses with her -- she'll even pair the cheese to whatever you're drinking; just let her have a sip of your beverage through a straw and *BAM* perfectly-matched cheese to nibble on!

This has been a bloggerprom public announcement, you may now commence with your day's activities (namely, preparing for tonight). See you there!

~H.C.

Meet Your Prom Floral Stylist: Jonathan Fong

2009-07-22T08:08:00.001-07:00

So for this prom we stayed away from streamers, hanging banners and "Fish Under the Sea" themes opting for a classier route because, really, the prom attendees' costumes will basically steal the show anyway, right? In any case we were sooo lucky to land design/lifestyle expert, master of the glue gun and author of Walls that Wow, Flowers that Wow and Parties that Wow, Jonathan Fong, to do the floral decorations for our lil ol' prom. Wow, indeed. Jonathan has also been profiled in the likes of Life, Angeleno and Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine to name but a few, and has been featured on Fox News and "Good Day L.A."

I had met Jonathan at an underground dinner (he had created the beautiful table centerpieces there) and I mentioned the prom to him and instantly I saw the sparkle in his eyes. He was excited to be a part of such an unusual event. "I'm trying to decide between something fun or something elegant. Is there anything on my Web site that you liked?" he asked. "How about something fun with '80s colors (pastels or neons)? Everyone will be dressed in ridiculous prom attire if that gives you any ideas," I replied.

Next thing I know, Jonathan writes me saying that he's spraypainting boomboxes! Radical. Be sure to admire the wonderful creativity of his floral decorations at prom and check out his Wow books! -- Caroline on Crack

We Got More Than Treats - We Got Eats

2009-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Maybe we've been bragging about our awesome, Prom-themed signature cocktails a tad too much. (Nah.) But now it's time to give you the scoop on our fabulous Blogger Prom menu by RH's own Sebastian Acharmbault. It's a menu designed to be fun yet savory enough to keep you satisfied throughout the night. The following is just a peek of the night's menu to come. After all, we wouldn't invite so many foodie bloggers without making sure we could live up to the task!

Beef and lemon grass skewers
Smoked salmon maki with mango sauce
Braised chicken and shiitake mushroom
Field mushroom risotto with parmesan

Also on the Andaz rooftop where you are able to serve yourselves will be a cheese station featuring selected Cowgirl Creamery cheese - also, a charcuterie station. Not only that, but there will be a station featuring ceviche and marinated salmon. Yum!!

It's possible. You will more than likely leave the Prom full - all without ever having to select "chicken, veggie or steak."

But that's not it. After the prom at 10 PM, RH is welcoming all attendees to their restaurant on the 1st floor for the Official Blogger Prom Afterparty.

During this special time, you can enjoy 1 of 2 of their signature cocktails for $9:

Mr. Plant, which is named after one of two gentlemen responsible for throwing a TV off the Riot House's balcony (see where that gets you), combines No. 209 Gin with cucumber, tangerine, agave syrup and soda
Steelo, combining Hangar One Vodka with St. Germain liqueur, grapefruit juice and blueberries

Also, when you order a cocktail during the after-party, you will get a complimentary serving of chocolate and hazelnut-encrusted frozen bananas. No, I've never tried one but I do hear they are heavenly.

So whether it's liquid libations or delectable eats, we got your palate covered.

- e*starLA

Vote for Blogger Prom King and Queen

2009-07-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

It ain't a prom without a king and queen! Vote for your favorite bloggers to hold the coveted titles. The winners will rule over the land...well, just the prom at the Andaz West Hollywood, but still! They get fancy tiaras and congratulatory back pats.

Just choose from the list of blogger attendees here, or if you meet any blogger tonight that you think is really deserving of a crown, send a tweet to @blogger_prom with the hashtag #promking or #promqueen.

Deadline is tonight at 9pm and we'll tally up the votes with plenty of time for them to enjoy a celebratory walk around the ballroom.

Blogger Prom Twitter Contest

2009-07-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

We already blogged about Verizon Wireless providing MiFi access to all us bloggers during the prom, but now they are also giving away a MiFi device and a $150 gift card as well--over $400 in value!

How to enter?

Follow @vzwsocal
Between 6 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday night tweet to them with your favorite feature of the VZW MiFi, which will be on hand to check out.
Don't forget to use the #bloggerprom hash tag too!
Then, post-prom, a winner will be selected at random and contacted via direct message within 48 hours for their contact information. If they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.
Good luck and remember to tweet away!

Update: Congrats to Kim Tracy at House of Prince

Meet Your Prom DJ: DJ WMDeez

2009-07-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Of course it can't be a cheesy prom without some radical cheesy music, and we were lucky enough to get a dj to man that very important responsibility: DJ WMDeez, as in "Weapons of Mass Destruction."

At the prom, since the joint will have free wifi courtesy of Verizon Wireless, attendees are encouraged to Tweet their song requests to @blogger_prom during the event. DJ WMDeez will try to honor most requests but the event is only three hours long so don't be too sad if your song doesn't get played. There will be a bunch of dance hits and nostalgic tunes to please everyone and keep the dancefloor busy.

DJ DMWDeez, aka Steve, is also the co-author of entertainment and pop culture blog, Lifting Fog. Check out his reviews! -- Caroline on Crack

Now a few words from your DJ.

"As Wednesday night approaches, I know everyone is getting more and more excited for the event. As your DJ I'm here to tell you that there will be no lack of musical magic happening with a great mix of classic songs from one of the best prom song decades of all time: the 1980s. As for me, I couldn't be more excited to be involved.

"I cut my teeth mixing songs in sweaty, grungy basement parties in college and have been pursuing gigs to expand my musical horizons ever since. Having moved to LA a year ago from the East Coast I've fallen in love with the culture of music and art here.

"My passion for DJing has grown even more which is why I'm excited to bring you a mix of heartbreakers, love-makers, and booty-shakers this Wednesday night.

"Requests are encouraged at all times via our Twitter account @blogger_prom so please don't hesitate to take advantage of it! I typically 'spin' a mix of electronica and dance with classic and new top 40 hits sprinkled on top so Wednesday is going to be a real treat for me. I write music and work on remixes when I'm not punching the clock at day jobs and can't wait to get out to more DJing gigs around the city."

Who's Who at Blogger Prom

2009-07-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

As this is a bloggers-only event, only bloggers are attending. So we thought it would be cool to show just who is going to be part of this oh-so-special liquor-infused prom. These are just some of the many cool peeps. If you're not listed below, please add your info in the comments and we'll update the post.

FYI, this isn't the master check-in list outside of the blogger prom committee. That's going to be printed off Pingg so, and this is very important, please make sure to add your full name and that of your guest's to the Pingg rsvp (this won't be publicized).

However, this following list, my dears, is just for fun. -- Caroline on Crack

Abby, Pleasure Palate
Adri, Once there was a girl
AJ, Confessions of a Fat Girl
Alexia, LA Weekly
Alf, Take a Swig of Alf
Alli411
Andy, Netzoo and LAist
Brainlagirl, exeuntomnes.vox.com
Bren, Hello Pretty
Brooke, Food Woolf
Carina, Uncouth Gourmands
Cathy, gas*tron*o*my
Cbeanshop, All the Days of My Life
Charity, Intellichick
Chris, Neverlost
Christine, Hot Pink Manolos
Citizen Robot
Clare, clareiswriting.com
Connie, Hey Hey Scenesters
Daily Gluttony /Rantsandcraves
Dana, Variety's The Knife
Danit & Paul, LA Decostified
Danny, Kung Food Panda
Dave, eecue.com
David, creepyla.com and la.metblogs.com
Diana Takes a Bite
Eddy & Divina, Dancing Hotdogs
Elina, LA Times Daily Dish blog
Elise, Here, Eat This
Elizabeth, Traded My BMW for a Minivan
Elliott, LAist
Emilia, Natally Wounded
Emily, LAist
Ericka, Seven Vices
Erin, LA Weekly
Fightin' Mad Mary
Film Femme
FishBowlLA
GloZell
Heathervescent
Javier, Teenage Glutster
Jaydi, Fun With J D
Jennio, I Just Lost My Stain of Thought
Jessica, LA Times Daily Dish blog
Jin Yoo-Kim, Where the Lines Blur
Joshua, Food GPS
JozJozJoz
Julia, Julia's Mexico City and la.metblogs.com
Justin, HolyTaco.com
Kaelin Burns, Hungry? City Blog
Kate, Savour Fare
Kat O'Dell, Eater LA
Katy, LA Blogger Gal
Kevin Eats
Kim Tracy Prince, House of Prince
LA Pretty
Lauren Messiah, Ask Fashion Kitty and ThisNext
Lisa Borodkin, lisaborodkin.com
Liz, Everyday Goddess
Lucinda Michele, la.metblogs.com
Matt, DigLounge
Matt, Rumdood
Michael, Mayor Sam
Michael JB, South Bay Foodies
Michelle Woo, michellewoo.com
Mike & Maria, Franklin Avenue
Molly, examiner.com
Moye Ishimoto, G4TV.com's The Feed
Nadine, Jolie Nadine
Nancy, Nanciful
Neil, Food Marathon
Nina aka SlackMistress, The Slack Daily
Noelle, Drink 'n' Dive
Pat Saperstein, Eating LA
Peggy, Totally Unauthorized
Penelope, peneloper.com
Potential Gold
Rachel, Live on Sunset blog
Recording LA
Robert Dean, Lorange blog
Ryan, Only Eat What Feeds Your Soul
Sandra, Debutante Clothing
Sarah Gim, TheDelicious Life and Tastespotting
Shelley, Faux LA Hipster
Siel, Green LA Girl
Susan, Reservation for Three
Travis Koplow, la.metblogs.com
Veronique de Turenne, Here in Malibu
Wandering Chopsticks
Wesley and Evelina, Two Hungry Pandas
Will BetheBoy, betheboy.com
Zach Behrens, LAist
Zack, Lost Angeles

No Cheesy, No Entry: Strict Dress Code Will Be Enforced

2009-07-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Now we can't express how much we want you blogger prom attendees to take this "prom" theme seriously. We want you to go all out with your outfit. We want you to bedazzle, we want you to accessorize, we want you to shock and awe. We want you to wear something that you would never wear anywhere else. If you don't show up en costume, sorry, but you're not getting in.

That's right, we're going to be hard asses and say that just because you're on the rsvp list doesn't guarantee you entry. If you're not dressed up in cheesy prom attire (not necessarily '80s, cheesiness of any era will do), we're not letting you in. And we can enforce it, too. Check-in for the prom will be in the Andaz lobby. Once you get past us, you will be allowed in the elevator and taken to the penthouse where the ballroom and event are.

There will be a bouncer and two blogger prom committee members who take this event seriously and who will check people off. And no amount of begging, bribing or bullying is going to get you in if you're a plain Joe or Jane.

Everyone else will have made an effort so why shouldn't you? Once you're in, you'll get to partake of all the cocktails, wine, beer and Andaz's fabulous food. There will be professional photographer, Claire Barrett, to capture your promness. You may even get a chance to win one of the many fab raffle prizes and who can forget your guaranteed bag o' goodies? Dressing up is a teeny-tiny entrance fee to pay.

And we want our guests to not be afraid of rocking the cheese, be it hoop skirts, powder blue tuxes, mullets, acid wash jeans, neon tutus, Gunne Sax bridesmaid gowns, etc. So if you were worried, "I don't want to be the only one wearing Prince's purple velvet suit!" Don't be. You are not alone and we'll make sure of that.

If you haven't gotten your outfit yet, check this post for some ideas on where to shop. There's still time to shop this weekend!

-- Caroline on Crack

Oh, goody - everyone wins with bloggerprom goodie bags!

2009-07-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

We've blogged about what to wear and the music that will be playing, but let's talk about the real fun stuff, the free goodies! Besides the free booze, cocktails and eats from the sponsors featured on our left side bar and giveaway items to be raffled off at the party, everyone at Blogger Prom will be going home with their very own gift bag.

In fact, everyone will get a reusable canvas gift bag from Fresh & Easy (on right), which we are filling with the following goodies:

Hungry Card Decks Los Angeles 2009: $10 off select restaurants. 52 ways to try something new.

Free margarita and free mojito cards from Border Grill in Santa Monica

A Free Taco card for the new Border Grill Truck.

A box of Extinguisher Candy a bold flavored candy that puts you in control of an intense sour experience! Eat the tangy, sour and super sour candies, followed by the blue Berry Sweet Relief candy to “put out” the sour – then start all over again!

Sleep Pretty in Pink (not to be confused with the Molly Ringwald flilm) and Hearos earplugs from DAP World. Perfect for blocking out a snoring partner, harping boss or for your next concert.

W et personal lubricant products. Yup, everyone Wang Chung tonight! ;)

Mini sized Martin Millers Gin and Pinky Vodka

Bear Naked & Kashi items - to get your morning started right the day after!

Coupon for a free Carl's Jr. Six Dollar Burger

Hair Polish & Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier from David Babaii for Wildaid. Each retails for $9.99 and can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply, Rite Aid or on their website.

Coupon good for a freshly baked English muffin from La Grande Orange (Santa Monica & Pasadena location)

A 120z glass bottle of the new Pepsi Natural, a premium cola made with all-natural ingredients, including natural sugar, natural caramel, kola nut extract, natural apple extract, and lightly sparking water.

A four-piece gift box from Charles Chocolates, including one tea ganache, one pecan fleur de sel caramel, one peanut butterfly and one heart ganache.

$10 off certificates for Layers Cupcakes

30% off discount coupons for Live! on Sunset.

10 ½ oz. packages of Sun Chips where the bags are made with 33% renewable materials. The really exciting news is that in 2010 though, Sun Chips plans to introduce the first fully 100% compostable chip bag. Check out this video about it, pretty cool.

Free passes for two at the Comedy Store

Silk scarf from Rosangel Tequila

Warner Bros' DVDs The Big Bang Theory! or Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles or Pushing Daises.

'Born To Blog' t-shirts from The Gap #GapBornToFit

Free Pinkberry Fruit Parfait coupon

And who knows there might be some more last minute suprises too!

One Week Countdown: E-vites & RSVPs

2009-07-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Wow, did time fly by that quickly? BloggerProm is less than seven days away! If I had two extra fingers I can count them on one hand.

Anyways, see below for the e-vites with the basic event info (click to enlarge) of course, keep an eye on this blog for additional details, last-minute updates and other juicy gossip.

Needless to say, much thanks to all our sponsors for making this happen!

And one final note for RSVPs: if for some far-fetched, outlandish reason you or your plus one cannot make the event after your replied 'yes' or 'maybe' to our Pingg e-vite site, please change your RSVP so that we can bump up the bloggers-in-waiting on our waitlist. Thanks!

~H.C.

Prom Parking, Pretty Please?

2009-07-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

HAY GUYZ, there's a spot!

Being Angelenos of some experience ourselves, the committee's got your back when it comes to finding parking for the bloggerprom at the Sunset Strip. Thanks to our partnership with the Andaz (which also hooked us up with some nice room deals too), they are offering $7 valet, w validation, for bloggerprom attendees! Pretty sweet, considering their regular rate is up to $26 and one can easily use up just as much in gas and rates looking for spaces on the street or at other lots on the Strip.

However, discounted spots at the Andaz are limited (100) so do carpool with your +1 if possible. Or better yet, do it in the true cool prom fashion and squeeze in as many peeps as legally possible in those hot rides! Just like those days when everyone didn't have a car and a license.

We look forward to seeing you there minus the blood, sweat 'n tears of space-stalking.

~H.C. (photo courtesy of Caroline)

The Blogger Prom Yearbook Says...

2009-07-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Looking back at old yearbooks, it's fascinating to see who was chosen “Most likely to succeed,” “Class Clown” or “Prom King & Queen." But now we, the Blogger Prom Committee, have editorial control of the superlatives that describe us this time around.

OK, actually, most of us had opened it up to our Facebook and Twitter friends for ideas on which superlatives best suited us, and here are the final decisions. Drum roll please...

Most Likely To Be Banned From a Bar - Caroline

Most Likely To Have a Freezer Full of Baked Goods and Nothing Else- Marni

Most Likely To Have an Asterisk in Her Name - Esther a.k.a. e*starLA

Least Likely To Root for the Red Sox - Tara, who was formerly voted "Class Preppy" and "Best Smile" back in her yearbook days.

Most likely To Bring a Red Pen for Grading Something at Blogger Prom - Lindsay

Most Likely To Show Up to Dinner With Dog Hair on Her Clothes- Maya

Most likely To Drink on the Job- Natalie (only because drinking IS her job...)

Most Likely To Be the Token Male - H.C., given my inclinations for afternoon teas, brunches, desserts and the like . . . real men can, and should, handle Irish Breakfast and souffles

Most Likely To Close the Blogger Prom Bar - YOU?! We'll have to see come July 22nd.

What superlative would you like to have describe you now-a-days post school and post floppy disks?

Because Your DD Needs a Break: Special Rates at The Andaz WeHo

2009-07-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

AS IF there weren't enough to get all Blogger Prom attendees excited about our special night - now there's incentive to not have to worry about getting home at the end of the night.

No, I won't mention that there's two signature cocktails and three sponsored spirits plus beer and wine that you weren't legally allowed to drink during that other prom. I also won't mention that Tommy's mom - the one who kept sending you to the principal's office - won't be there to chaperone.

But what I will say is that all Blogger Prom attendees will be given a deep discount and be able to book one of Andaz West Hollywood's fabulous rooms this night (Wednesday, July 22) for a one-night stay for $150. To top it all off, they will include a $50 credit to RH restaurant as part of the deal. Wow!

To make a reservation, all you have to do is call Andaz West Hollywood at 1-800-233-1234 and tell them you are part of the cool crowd. Say you are a guest of Blogger Prom to get the special rate. And as a note to party crashers, all names on the reservations made with the hotel will be verified with our Blogger Prom attendee list. If your name isn't verified, your card will be charged the regular rate - $245 for the night.

So go ahead. Stay with us. We won't be calling Mom & Dad to tell them you really aren't sleeping over at Kevin or Jane's house while watching Mallrats on VHS.

- e*starLA

Vino and Suds at the Blogger Prom

2009-07-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

We of the bloggerprom committee do love us a good drink and we don't discriminate, so to round off the fantastic cocktails that Natalie have created for the event, we've teamed up with other sponsors to provide us some tasty wines and beers too for those preferring grapes and suds.
First, we have the 2007 Boro Hills Sauvignon Blanc. According to the notes provided by Fresh & Easy, this is made from grapes in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, the grapes are primarily cool fermented in stainless steel tanks (with a fraction barrel fermented and aged for 3 months). The final product has aromas of "elegant gooseberry" and "ripe, tropical" fruits, with a "nicely balanced acidity on the long finish" not to mention striking a nice middle-ground between minerality and fruit. Best served chilled, either as an apertif or to pair with lighter dishes such as salads and seafood dishes.
For those preferring something more red 'n robust, Fresh & Easy is also supplying the award-winning 2008 Ambas Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. Again, the grapes are primarily fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit notes with a portion aged in oak for richness and complexity. The flavors and aromas are "rich and concentrated"; expect "bold, ripe blackberry" with a long, velvety, smooth finish. And, if it's anything like the 2007 version, it's a "stick to your ribs country-style breakfast" kind of wine. Best paired with steak or tomato-y dishes.
Finally, for the beer-inclined - we partnered with Newcastle just in time for the debut of their DraughtKeg (using the same technology as Heineken's), a pressurized, recyclable mini-keg with a internal CO2 mechanism that dispenses up to 10 pints of "fresh-from-the-tap" Newcastle Beer, And, in case you can't finish it all, the DraughtKeg keeps the beer fresh for up to 30 days!

The best part? You can bring home the experience without a whole lot of wallet damage! At Fresh & Easy, you can get these exclusive sauvignon blanc and malbec for $5.99 and $4.99, respectively; and the Newcastle DraughtKeg will be available at select Southern California locations for approx. $23.

So no matter what glass you'll be holding (yes, even if it's a water goblet) there's something celebratory to cheers to!

~H.C.

Get Your (Jungle) Juice On at Blogger Prom!

2009-07-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

Your blogger prom committee has been working tirelessly at lining up all sorts of cool raffle prizes, goodie bag swag, an amazing venue, sumptuous nibbles and, of course, a buzz-worthy array of lascivious libations. In addition to the wonderful spirit and wine companies providing the liquid fuel for this celebration of So-Cal’s blogosphere, we have two specialty cocktails for you to enjoy. My cocktail blog, The Liquid Muse, is the backbone to my beverage consulting & mixology services. So, what better for this committee member to contribute to Blogger Prom Signature Cocktails!

The Prom Punch Jungle Juice is, of course, designed especially for this event. Springboarding off the Jungle Juice of high school days (which was likely some variation on Everclear & Hawaiian Punch) this grown-up version is easy to make, tastes delicious and can be whipped up in big batches (should you decide to make it for your parties). Best of all, this recipe features natural juices and a quality spirit: Pinky Vodka. Touted “the most beautiful vodka in the world,” Pinky is kissed with rose and strawberry notes, making it extremely mixable and delightful chilled, straight up. The sugar rim and lollipop on this “tini” style Jungle Juice are whimsical garnishes because – hellooooo – Blogger Prom is all about the fun!

The Flor de Maria is a slightly more serious drink for the discerning cocktail-lover. Its teeny bit more labor intensive and a recipe I’m rather proud to have created for the celebration of LA’s female mixologists at the Gran Centenario Roseangel tequila party at Malo, a few months ago. In addition to the hibiscus-infused Roseangel, this drink includes a homemade ‘hibiscus cabernet syrup,’ which I created especially for this drink. This cocktail takes the tequila lover beyond the margarita and into the world of creative mixology.

I know I speak on behalf of the whole Blogger Prom committee when I say that we look forward to clinking glasses with you all!

Prom Punch Jungle Juice
© 2009 Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse

2 ounces Pinky vodka
1 ounce pineapple juice
1 ounce pomegranate juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 lollypop (garnish)
Colored rimming sugar (garnish)

Rim a martini glass with colored sugar, set aside. Shake all ingredients with ice. Gently strain into rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a lollypop across the top of the glass.

Flor de Maria
© 2009 Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, The Liquid Muse

1/2 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
1/2 ounce hibiscus cabernet syrup
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces Gran Centenario Rosangel Tequila
Spritz orange flower water
1 - 2" piece lemon twirl

Muddle orange zest in the bottom of a cocktail glass. Add maraschino liqueur, syrup, lemon juice and tequila. Shake, with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Spritz with orange flower water. Garnish with a sliver of lemon zest.

The Verizon Wireless Computer Lab

2009-07-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Blogger Prom is so awesome, we are getting our own cloud! No, not the smelly kind that wafted out when you opened the high school bathroom door or these ugly June Gloom ones up in the sky. We’re talking about an internet cloud!

Verizon Wireless is decking up the Andaz roof for prom with several MiFi devices and HP Mini netbooks, so we can blog live, web tweet, upload photos, all that geeky stuff. If you haven’t played with it yet, the MiFi is the size of a thick credit card and delivers a personal Wi-Fi cloud for up to five users in a small area (Engadget article here) at one time. Plus, it’s a secure connection for anyone whose blogging may get a bit rough after several of Natali's cocktails.

So, bring your own PDA, iTouch, whatever or borrow one of the netbooks that will be set up in our mock school computer lab, either way, you’ll be wired at the prom! Be careful of drinking and blogging though, opps too late.

On the rooftop of The Andaz West Hollywood Hotel, Verizon Wireless engineer Peter Kheang tests the company's EVDO network, which will provide poolside internet access during Blogger Prom.

Stop, Raffle Time. You can't touch this!

2009-06-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

When you check-in at Blogger Prom you'll receive a special raffle ticket that will hopefully score you some fun prizes from our many lovely sponsors featured on the left-hand side bar <--. Even if you don't win one of our giveaways during the party that same ticket will still get you one of our awesome Blogger Prom Gift Totes filled with swag (more info to come). If you're feeling lucky, though, below is a list of the awesome goodies that we will be raffling off live throughout the night. There are over 30 prizes in all, so some pretty good odds!

Chocolate Afternoon Tea for Two at The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena -Value $118

Two Alterna Professional Haircare Gift Baskets with their Caviar Anti-Aging products - Value $150 each

Namco Bandai Games for the Wii - We Cheer & We Ski & Snowboard, The Munchables and Klonoa

Threadless $50 gift certificate and Two Twitter tees (Size M) - Value $86

Zimzala Restaurant Dinner for Two - $150 value

Two $100 gift certificates to Goldstar events

$100 chocolate gift box from Charles Chocolates, which has an assortment of confections, Pate de Fruit and other treats.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood Admission for Two

Electronic Arts assortment of Wii games

Pogo.com An assortment of Casual PC Games

An Edison Downtown gift basket worth about $300 with a $100 gift certificate, some booze and a flask

$75 Border Grill gift certificate

$75 Ciudad gift certificate

The Lek "Date Night Package" -- 8 oz. Burger Bar Dinner sponsored by The Lek and "free Lek credits" on the site

$100 gift certificate from Lago

"An evening at ArcLight" package -- $25 gift card good for dinner/lunch at the ArcLight cafe/bar and two anytime passes to ArcLight

Hollywood Bowl Presented by LA Phil – voucher good for 2 tickets to selected Hollywood Bowl concerts

Two spots in a Kiss My Bundt cooking class

$50 gift certificate from Allston Yacht Club

Lunch for two at Crustacean

Two V-Moda Vibe II headphone microphone sets - $115 each!

Two $75 gift cards to Wokcano in Santa Monica

Two pairs of tickets to the comedy troupe The Groundlings

Two sets of Ty Ku Sake Bomb kits

Two grand collections of brittle assortments from Morning Glory Confections - $62 value each

$200 gift certificate for designer sunglasses from Fred Segal Eyes

$150 gift basket from Coffee Bean

$50 gift certificate for Hangover Brunch at Rush Street in Culver City

Night at the Comedy Store package: a booth for Main room show, tickets for 2, a bottle of champagne from South Coast Winery, Comedy Store T shirts, and swag

So, which do you have your eye on?

We Take Requests: Prom Playlist

2009-06-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

What's the cheesiest prom song, the song that evokes memories of that special night, or the song that makes you want to pull that special someone for the night close and just slow dance? Add your suggestions to the comments and we'll add it to our prom playlist! Everyone, Safety Dance!

Here's what we have so far:

1999 by Prince
99 Red Balloons by Nena
Always by Atlantic Starr
Atomic Dog by George Clinton
Be Near Me by ABC
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes

Breathe by Faith Hill

Cannonball by The Breeders
Crazy for You by Madonna
Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
Double Dutch Bus by Frankie Smith

Dreams by the Cranberries

Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon
Eternal Flame by The Bangles
Fight for Your Right to Party by Beastie Boys
Footloose by Kenny Loggins
Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Head to Toe by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar
Hungry Like a Wolf by Duran Duran
If You Leave by OMD
If You Were Here by the Thompson Twins
I Get So Emotional by Whitney Houston
I Melt With You by Modern English
Into the Groove by Madonna
I Touch Roses by Book of Love
It Takes Two by Robb Base and DJ EZ Rock
It's Tricky by RUN-DMC
Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode
Just Like Heaven by the Cure
Karma Chameleon by Culture Club

Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

Love Shack by B-52's
Lovefool by The Cardigans
My Prerogative by Bobby Brown
My Sharona by the Knack
Nasty by Janet Jackson
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley

Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode
Pop Muzik by M
Pretty in Pink by Psychedelic Furs
Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
Push It by Salt n Pepa
P.Y.T by Michael Jackson
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
Rockit by Herbie Hancock
Safety Dance by Men Without Hats

Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb

Straight Up by Paula Abdul
Tainted Love by Soft Cell
Tenderness by General Public
The Glamorous Life by Sheila E.
Time (Clock of the Heart) by Culture Club

Together Again by Janet Jackson

True by Spandau Ballet
Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham
Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson
We Got the Beat by the Go-Gos
What I Like About You by the Romantics

What's Up? by 4 Non-Blondes
White Lines by Grandmaster Flash
Wishing Well by Terrence Trent Darby
With or Without You by U2
Word Up by Cameo

-- Caroline on Crack

A Holler on Twitter for #BloggerProm!

2009-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

tweet tweet . . . what's #FollowFriday?

Hey, H.C. here and wanting to let you peeps know (as if you didn't already) that we of the BloggerProm Committee are not only prolific bloggers, we are some crazy tweeting fools as well! Should you care to find out more #BloggerProm gossip in-between our posts, not to mention all the exciting going-ons we have in our individual lives, check us out at:

Caroline @CarolineonCrack
Esther @estarla
Marni @happygomarni
yours truly @LAOCFoodie
Maya @shopeatsleep
Lindsay @SquashBlossom
Natalie @TheLiquidMuse
Tara @tarametblog

And of course, there are our sponsors who are making some pretty kickin' donations*, from the venue to hold the event, to the alchy and food to keep us happy and full, to plenty of schwag to give out (more details on that in upcoming posts.) So a big THANKS to:

Andaz WeHo (the "Riot Hyatt") @andazweho
Martin Miller's Gin @MillersGin

Pinky Vodka @pinkyvodka
Fresh & Easy @fresh_and_easy
The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa @LanghamPasadena
Threadless @threadless
The Lek @thelek
Lago Santa Monica @LagoSantaMonica
Goldstar @goldstar & @goldstarla
Kiss My Bundt Bakery @kissmybundt
ArcLight Cinemas @ArcLightCinemas

CKE Restaurants @HappyStar & @CarlsJr

Also, to hear every twitterer's hullabaloo about this enchanting event, do a #BloggerProm search. Got your own #FollowFriday twitterers to share? Drop a line in the comments.

All right, over, out and tweeting! Let's make #bloggerprom a top twitter trending topic on July 22!

*P.S. It's not too late to get into the sponsoring game and reach out to many of the top bloggers (and twitterers) in the Greater Los Angeles Area; for more information, feel free to contact me or the others on the BloggerProm committee.

Come get your flair!

2009-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

OK, you've eagerly submitted YES! to the exclusive Blogger Prom RSVP and now you're rummaging through your closet and local thrift stores for the perfect cheesy outfit, so why not also add one of the following badges to your site? Display them proudly my friends! Oh, and of course link them back to http://blogger-prom.blogspot.com/

Also, if you have any better design submissions, we're open to them.

Everybody Wants To Be At Blogger Prom

2009-06-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Save the Dates are out and yes, we have been adding names and blog URLs to our invite list via comments in that aforementioned post. We're at capacity and while we'd looove to have all of the Los Angeles blogging community there, we simply can't. This calls for more clarity about what makes one eligible to attend Blogger Prom.

You and your guest must be 21+
You must have a blog - thereby making you a blogger at Blogger Prom!

While the first is self-explanatory, the second needs some more clarification. Here, we have to go into the "don'ts."

You can't start a blog just to come to Blogger Prom. We will be able to tell! We want dedicated bloggers to attend and ultimately this is up to the Blogger Prom Committee's discretion.
We love Tumblrs but because of the work we put into the agreements with our sponsors and the reciprocal nature of our event, micro-blogs do not count.

Thank you for understanding. Things with our sponsors are surpassing all of our expectations and we are all so excited!

What To Wear to the Prom

2009-06-09T22:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of people have been asking us what they should wear to the Blogger Prom so here it is: Go for cheesy prom attire. Don't worry about being the only one dressed in hot pink with lace tights and huge shoulder pads because you won't be. And I'm not just addressing the ladies.

For some ideas here's what the Blogger Prom Committee is thinking of wearing:

e*starLA: B&W Houndstooth. All over. With black and white feathers in my bouffant. And tick-tack-tackity black fishnets with holes of alternating circumferences, symmatries and shapes. Work.

H.C.: Undecided on whether to do a suit jacket w fancy jeans, vest w slacks and hipstery tie, or a two/three-piece that I will have to diet to fit into (somewhat outgrew the matching slacks).

Marni: I'm going to wear the ugliest dress EVER! Because ugly is the new black? I don't actually have the dress yet, so I'm going to forage through my friends' closets till I come up with something. Or go shopping. Perhaps piece a bunch of outfits together. Doh! I don't know!

Maya: I still have my winter formal dress from high school...it's chartreuse and is poofy! We're going for funny, right?? I better not show up in this thing with everyone else wearing something that's actually, like, fashionable!

Tara: I actually just ordered a poofy, short and ugly dress on eBay that I'm hoping will fit. lol (eBay 80s prom dresses)

Me (Caroline on Crack): I'm hoping by then I can fit into that teal puffy-sleeved prom dress I wore to the Saints & Sinners prom years ago. If not, Forever 21 sure has some cute stuff. That pink dress with leopard or lacey leggings! And e*starLA and I were thinking of getting our makeup done beforehand at MAC. Fun!

BTW, here's a list of suggestions of where you can probably find some great prom wear:

Forever 21 (Santa Monica store pictured above)
Jet Rag
Out of the Closet
Shareen Vintage
Stores on Melrose Avenue
It's a Wrap
Wasteland

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments!

Shhh, the Save the Dates Are Out

2009-06-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

All right we just mailed out the save the dates last night so if you're a blogger and want to come and haven't received one, just include a link to your blog and your email address in the comments. We have to be strict with the list and monitor it ever so carefully since there’s limited capacity for this event. You know, cuz of space, booze, food, etc.

In any case, if you did get the save the date, please don't forward it to your friends. Again, cuz of the above reasons. Just have them contact us directly with their blog link. Thanks!

Shout It From The Rooftop: Venue Finalized

2009-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

As they always say: Location, location, location!! We have finalized the venue of our phat Blogger Prom, and it will be on the rooftop of The Hyatt Andaz Hotel, located right on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

That's right - the rooftop. Caroline and I (Esther) made a visit to the space and were absolutely floored - so to speak! The north view is of the Hollywood Hills and the south, The Sunset Strip in all its glory.

Not only that, Andaz will be providing food featuring their very own chef Sebastien Archambault, who hails from France by way of a short stint in Mexico. He procures the menu at the hotel restaurant, RH, with fine detail and is always revising and perfecting. Our blog-happy guests will enjoy a very special Californian menu at Blogger Prom.

The Andaz Hotel just finished their serious $35 Million remodel in January of this year so Blogger Prom guests will be some of the first to really experience the "reformed" hotel known as The Riot Hyatt. Yes - this is the famed stop-off where members of Led Zeppelin have rented entire floors and driven motorcycles through the hallways (the movie Almost Famous also recreated these scenes here), Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones dropped a TV off the balcony and Jim Morrison permanently lived for years.

So be ready to enjoy nothing short of a posh, pool-side setting nestled in between some of the best views available in all of Los Angeles. Better wear your bathing suit underneath your cummerbund or sea-green ruffle dress. ;)

Because bloggers are the new rockstars.

Andaz West Hollywood
8401 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California
90069

323.656.1234

Your Blogger Prom Committee

2009-06-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Esther and I (Caroline on Crack) have chosen some of the most well-known L.A. bloggers to be in the blogger prom committee, not only for the blogging personalities and their Web presence but, let's face it, for their contacts so that we can ensure that we get all the best swag for this event and its giveaways!

Here are the blogger Prom Committee members (in alphabetical order):

H.C. of LA and OC Foodventures

Lindsay of LAist

Marni of Happy Go Marni

Maya of Shop Eat Sleep

Natalie of The Liquid Muse

Tara of When Tara Met Blog

Together we're getting liquor sponsors so there's free booze for the entire event, as well as giveaways and of course the awesome Andaz venue complete with free food!