On Friday, September 16th & Saturday, September 17th, I had the pleasure of attending the Vanity Fair Social Club: Emmy's Edition 2 Day Event at Greenhouse at The Platform in Culver City!
I have always been a big award show junkie, so when the opportunity to attend came up, there were no words to contain my excitement - especially knowing it would be Vanity Fair (I still treasure to this day that one Young Hollywood issue from 2003 with Mary-Kate and Ashley, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, etc. on the cover) I knew it was going to be an amazing experience!
The first night was a YouTube Stars and Influencer party hosted by Vanity Fair and YouTube. I dressed in my best black dress and couldn't wait to take on the night!
I was also super excited because Santa Margherita Wines was the exclusive wine of the night, and I absolutely love all that they offer. I stopped by the Santa Margherita Bar when I first got there upon meeting some new friends, Samira of StyleMeSamira.com and Karen of SustainableDaisy.com.
Santa Margherita was offering a selection of red and white wines, along with some signature cocktails of the night including Pomegranate Bubbly (Prosecco Superiore DOCG, pomegranate juice and orange juice), Sparkling Rosemary (Prosecco Superiore DOCG and rosemary simple syrup), and Sparkling Rosé (my personal favorite for the night!).
We got to walk around, mingle and meet new people which was so exciting. Everyone there was someone in the creative world. That's something I always admire about others, especially being a creative person myself!
Our first stop was to the illustration table to get our portraits drawn out by the extremely talented Jeanette Getrost. She sketched minimal portraits of everyone who wanted one, and I loved that she used a red lip on the photos to represent Shiseido, another brand that partnered with the event.
Samira, Karen and I made sure to take advantage of ALL photo opportunities! It was so funny because everyone there was just like us - all about photos, Snapchats, Insta-stories... you name it!
We made sure to hit up the Step & Repeat at the front of the venue, and then the Vanity Fair x Youtube photo lounge.
We had SO much fun getting into the booth and having confetti thrown on us while the camera spun around to capture the moment. When I tell you that after I posted this on my Instagram I was getting a SWARM of texts and comments... I knew I think I just made #photoboothgoals! LOL.
We also stopped by the HAPPINESS ROADMAPS Wall brought to us by #HAPPINESSROADMAPS and Venetian Vegas. We were able to pick a fortune off the wall and take it home with us. Mine said: "Start every day off with a smile and get it over with." Couldn't have said it better myself. ;)
The following day was more relaxed, but still very busy! Santa Margherita Wines was there again to quench our thirst all afternoon - I was so excited for more of my favorite Sparkling Rosé!
All day were editorial panels, discussions and activations celebrating TV's best! The line up include:d a YouTube Red Panel including Joey Graceffa, Lilly Singh, Kina Grannis, and Tim Shea, moderated by Jeffrey Tousey; an Emmy Predictions Panel with Vanity Fair Hollywood All-Stars including Krista Smith, Julie Miller and Joanna Robinson; Power and Influence, Style and Television; A Discussion with costume designer Lyn Paolo (Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder) presented by Movado, moderated by Emily Poenisch, about perfecting power-dressing in a television era defined by strong, powerful women; and a Young Stars Panel including Emily Robinson, Yara Shahidi and Rowan Blanchard, moderated by Krista Smith.
During break time in the middle of the day, I got my lips touched up by Shiseido, and even walked away with a brand new lipstick! I was one happy girl.
We took advantage of one final photo opportunity - a video booth where we got to create our own little video. Let's just say we probably should have done about 20 "do-overs" but we laughed a ton along the way!
During the final hour for Vanity Fair's Happy Hour, I was so excited to also have run into my other two blogger friends Beatrice and Candice!
There was so much talent in one room all at once on Day 2! It was so awesome to hear everyone's story and how they blossomed their now careers from just a hobby into a lifelong, passionate journey. It was so inspiring, and just to hear it coming straight from such influential people in Hollywood, I felt so honored to be there!
It was such an incredible weekend that I will surely never forget!
A few weeks ago I attended an amazing event hosted by Bloggers Who Brunch LA x Bumble at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills! The event featured a panel of girl bosses: Anastasia Ashley: Pro surfer & model, Alex Williamson: VP of Brand Content at Bumble, and Sazan Hendrix, big time lifestyle blogger & YouTuber!
I got the chance to meet a ton of talented bloggers and digital influencers during our cocktail hour and at brunch, which was a four course meal provided by SLS Hotel! The panel shared their journey to success and gave us really valuable advice. We got awesome swag bags too which had some Bumble branded goodies and (my personal favorite) KaePop: Karrueche x ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Lipsticks!
One of the most fun parts of the event was the amazing fobo photo booth - a Kardashian favorite!
My ultimate fave part of the event? When I won the "Rosé All Day" custom denim jacket made by All My Relations! I cannot wait to rock this jacket at my future brunches. :)
I'm so excited #BWBLA event and honored to be a part of such a dedicated and talented community. Until then, here's some of my favorite photos!
On June 23rd, New Amsterdam Vodka held its "It's Your Town" party at LAB Art Los Angeles on La Brea and teamed up with local LA street artist, Moncho1929to showcase his art and celebrate with none other than New Amsterdam Vodka!
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
I was so excited to attend this event, and brought my brother Steven who is very into the art scene along with me. I have a huge respect for street artists and was so excited to learn more about Moncho1929. His work has actually appeared in the French Consulate, Soho House, Times Square and even on NBC'S "The Voice." New Amsterdam Vodka and Moncho1929 came together to celebrate the vibrant culture and people of Los Angeles.
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
First thing's first: the New Amsterdam Vodka featured cocktail: the Dam Good Mule. New Amsterdam Vodka's twist on the Moscow Mule! Warning: this drink is insanely good.. and hard to put down! It is so refreshing and really enjoyable to sip on. It is just the right amount of sweet (and a little bubbly, too), but still had that punch from the vodka to balance out the flavors. I am usually a tequila person, but I became so obsessed with the Dam Good Mule - which says a lot! What I love the most about it is that it's so simple to make and it can be made at home to enjoy whenever. Yay!
Here's how to make it:
Dam Good Mule Recipe:
5 liters New Amsterdam
3 liters Top Hat Mule Concentrate
10 liters of COLD/Purified Water
(ingredients above make one 5 gallon korney keg)
Garnish with a Lime Wheel & Fresh Mint
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Moncho1929's work was placed throughout the entire space amongst other artists. I personally loved all of his pieces that actually featured New Amsterdam Vodka! He incorporated the bottle in his artwork in such creative ways. My favorite was a piece he did that was a very colorful portrait of a lifeguard stand with a surfboard leaning up against it. The surfboard design had an illustration of New Amsterdam Vodka on it which I thought was so cool and unexpected. Another one that really stood out to me was an image of a big gun that had microphones attached to the top of it, mimicking a camera. I would assume that it's referencing the power that the media has over people, and it's very clever how he depicted that.
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
Photo by: New Amsterdam Vodka
I also loved the awesome graffiti screen that allowed guests to actually create their own art for the entire party to see. Seriously, when each person had their own chance to get up there in front of the screen, everyone surrounded you and anxiously awaited the message or drawing you'd be putting up there! I wrote "The Gilded Bellini <3 New Amsterdam Vodka" (Of course). Then, my design was transferred on to a t-shirt so I could save it forever.
I really was blown away at how well New Amsterdam Vodka and Moncho1929 teamed up and created such a truly unique event. Since New Amsterdam Vodkawas actually incorporated into his work, it really set the event apart from traditional gallery and cocktail parties. I walked away with even more of an appreciation for street art, a newfound love for New Amsterdam Vodka, and an obsession with the Dam Good Mule. It was just too dam good to be true. ;)
Every second Saturday in June, one of the most important holidays of the year comes back entitling every person to go about their day wearing rose-colored glasses. It's none other than National Rosé Day! This year, it falls on Saturday, June 11th.
As a bicoastal gal, I wanted to share with you some fun ways to properly celebrate the day. This weekend, it's all about drinking pink. Luckily, both LA and NYC take this holiday VERY seriously. From festive events, to restaurants decked in roses and even some rosé-infused cocktails, my two favorite cities have got you covered to quench your thirst for rosé.
1. What to Do
LA:Rosé Summer Soirée at Magnolia, Hollywood- On Thursday, June 9th, this soirée is encouraging you to stop and smell the rosé! Enjoy live music, fabulous mingling and delicious Magnolia favorite rosés from Italy, France, South America and California.
LA: Rose Café in Venice Beach - Let's be real here. Guests may book a res for the food, but they're really coming to take pictures in front of the gorgeous rose mural on the outside of the restaurant. Mini photoshoots and tons of Insta-worthy pictures happen right outside the door... Rose Café's door that is.
NYC: Palma- One of my all-time favorite restaurants in the city, nestled on the quaint Cornelia Street in the West Village. The space is known for its beautiful garden with ivy covered walls and plentiful fresh flowers. It's the perfect setting to enjoy a pretty brunch and a summery glass of rosé.
3. Drink the Best Rosé-Infused Cocktails
LA: Rosé All Day from Rose Café in Venice Beach - So nice I had to mention this spot twice. This pink concoction made out of Rosé, Moscatel Pisco, Lime, Grapefruit, and Orange Bitters. It's the perfect drink to ring in National Rosé Day. It's all in the name.
(Photo By: Mackenzie Anne Smith)
NYC: Frozémonade fromExtra Fancy in Williamsburg, Brooklyn - It's the ultimate Summer cocktail! The frothy drink is a staple at this BK restaurant. It's made out of dry rosé, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Aperol and Ice. No better way to cool down in the NYC summer heat than with a Frozémonade in hand!
4. Florals for National Rosé Day... Groundbreaking.
No, but really. They're necessary! Regardless of your respective coast, we all love a beautiful bouquet of petals for that perfect arrangement. Whether you have a rosé celebration at your home or not, it's always nice to wake up and smell the roses... or peonies or hydrangeas. Or just rosés. Here's where to go:
LA: Check out the Original LA Flower Market in DTLA.
NYC: The Jungles of the 28th Street Flower District. Need I say more?
5. Pregame on a Budget in Proper Rosé Fashion
LA:Rosé by the Pool Pregame - Gather up your closest friends and take advantage of any sun that breaks through the clouds during this June Gloom. BYO favorite rosé and chill by your apartment complex's pool if it's during the daytime. If it's closer to night, dress up and turn it into a pregame!
NYC: Rosé on the Rooftop Pregame - It's rooftop season. And, I know you all have one. Nothing is better than a rooftop pregame! Hit up the liquor store that's 4 inches from your apartment building's door, round up your favorite rosés and drink the pink. We'll be waiting for your festive rosé amongst skyline Instagram photos.
As rosé season emerges, one may ask how to appropriately ring in the precious few months we look forward to all year. The answer is: the annual La Nuit en Rosé Food and RoséWine Festival.
For the second year in a row, it was held at Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood and consisted of a three-day endless rosé celebration. My fab friends Kyle of From Hamptons to Hollywood, Mitch of Cavalier-Crew.com and I got the chance to attend, giving us the pleasure of accessing 6o different rosés from around the world along the gorgeous poolside overlooking all of LA.
Mitch and I attended the Rosé Sunset Soiree on Saturday night. It was a great turn out, with many people walking around sampling rosés, lounging by tables and mingling with others. Dim lighting with strung lights across the pool created a very sexy, refined ambiance. Although many attended, the charm of the intimate outdoor terrace created a very luxe, exclusive experience.
Of course one of the ultimate highlights of the event was this amazing video booth.
Rosé vendors were incredibly friendly and enjoyable to talk to. I loved learning about different rosés and discovering what makes them so different, whether they were more floral, fruity, dry, light, or sweet. It’s hard to believe that so many unique blends exist! It was super pretty and very fitting that many of the rosés on display were illuminated with pink lighting.
While nearly all of them were extremely pleasing to the palate, I hands down fell in love with Fantinel, a bubbly rosé from Italy. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly sweet because of its similar consistency and taste to champagne. And if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm totally champs obsessed. Fantinel was one of the select rosés at the event that was bubbly, but that made it really stand out from the others. It was so crisp, tantalizing and an absolutely gorgeous shade of pink. Mitch and I made friends with the Fantinel reps and couldn’t stop coming back over for another refreshing swig!
The following day was the Rosé Pool Party where Mitch, Kyle and I got to come into the event as a triple threat – determined to discover more amazing rosé and take endless pictures for our future posts. The blog is always on the brain!
The vibe of the pool party was very Hamptons-esque, which was really cool to get a taste of on the West Coast. Lots of people were wearing white (like myself), some springy pops of color, and a handful were donning their best swim suits.
Lots more mingling went on and we connected with a bunch of cool people. It was such a nice day out with the sun shining and the music bumping. With a glass of rosé in hand, you couldn’t help but just genuinely have a great time!
The event (which I wish spanned longer than just a weekend!) was incredibly chic and enjoyable. It was so cool to be able to meet people with similar styles and tastes, and to have the opportunity to open my eyes to so many amazing rosé brands from around the globe. With each sip of a different blend, I truly did feel more cultured! The weekend had the perfect amount of sexiness, sophistication, trendiness and lightheartedness – it was evident after each guests’ (and our's) frequent trips back to their favorite rosé stations that the event was a total success.
I already cannot wait for next year’s event! Huge thank you to La Nuit en Rosé for a very fun and beautiful weekend with friends. Life is waaay more fun through rosè colored glasses. ;)
Interested in attending next year? Be sure to visit nuitrose.com and follow @nuitrose on Instagram for all the deets on future La Nuit en Roséhappenings.
