Giveaway Time @ Blogger Prom!

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

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 . . .

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

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

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:

• Forever 21
• Buffalo Exchange
• Jet Rag
• Out of the Closet
• Shareen Vintage
• It's a Wrap
• Wasteland
• The Way We Wore
• The Goorin Bros. for hats

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

Verizon Wireless Keeps Blogger Prom Connected

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 . . .

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Heat application can help hasten the process, but don’t get impatient.
5. 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

1. Dark eyeliner contouring the eye and accenting the outside points help frame the eyes so they stand out.
2. Accentuate the top lashes over the bottom lashes. False eyelashes add extra glamour.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. If you are feeling particularly exotic, add a beauty mark. They were all the rage thanks to Marilyn Monroe.
6. 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

1. Watch an episode of Mad Men to see the many variations on the exact same shape.
2. 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.
3. With a fine toothed comb, slick the hair straight back. Let the hair rest so you can start to see the natural part.
4. 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.
5. 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.)
6. 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!