The Prom Committee, led by Rye Girl Abigail Gullo and Rye House’s Lynnette Marrero (full disclosure: I am a member of this committee, as well), were hard at work posting up posters, creating banners, hanging tissue paper, twisting ribbon, and inflating balloons this past weekend. The grunt work was well under way, and the pay-off wouldn’t take place until that Sunday night, when the USBG/LUPEC Winter Ball would be in full effect: music bumping, guests dressed in 80’s garb, and hot dogs from Criff Dogs being stuffed into guests faces.
Fast forward to Sunday evening, February 21st, 2010:
The first combined effore of the Unites States Bartenders’ Guild NY Chapter and the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails came off without a hitch. Guests arrived at the requested time of 6pm at the Philip Coltoff Center in the West Village, walked up the 3 flights of stairs, strolled the “red carpet”, and skipped to the tunes of Bunnie England and The New Originals. The room was decked out to the nines: 80’s movie posters, twisted ribbons in all shades of pink, painted paper banners welcoming guests and the USBG Chicago chapter (our guests of honor), brand-sponsored tables, punch bowls filled with the spiked liquid of the same name, and much more. Too much to include in one blog post, in fact.
If you thought this Winter Ball 80’s prom couldn’t get any better, you’re wrong. Lush Life Productions was there taking prom pictures, yes, prom pictures, in a back room. AND the make-out room, complete with blacklights, spinning records, and squishy mats for sitting and laying down, saw a bit of action, although not as much as we thought…or wanted.
Anything with the words “criff” and “dogs” in it is bound to alert the presses and result in perma-grins on people’s faces. Grandma pizza from Ben’s Pizza in the W. Village rounded out the spread.
Booze-wise, we had punches laden with Bulleit Bourbon, Averna Citrus, Don Julio Tequila, and Ron Zacapa, and tasting tables featuring the following brands: Tuthilltown Spirits, Grand Marnier, Glenmorangie Single Malt, Plymouth, Absolut Berri Acai, Cointreau, Remy Martin, Famous Grouse, Mt. Gay Rum, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, and Milagro Tequila.
Thanks to all who made this specatucular event happen! Thanks to Steve Wobido at the Philip Coltoff Center.
Pictures, you ask? Abso-freakin-lutely!
Carmen, Eryn, Alex, Hal, and Emily livin’ it up 1986 style!
Cathy and Gable Erenzo from Tuthilltown Spirits. They’re lovely, aren’t they?
Deborah and Brian Van Flandern. Kinda scary.
These two ladies were on hand to do our hair!
Frankie Marshall did an amazing Alanis rendition. Words cannot describe.
Megan and Jonathan having a ball. Yes we did!
Crif Dogs…yum.
The Cocktail Guru Blog 