One Week Countdown: E-vites & RSVPs

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?

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...

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

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

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!

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

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.