10 Reasons Blogger Prom was better than my real prom

I’m not a bad blogger, you know, when I actually find the time to blog. I’ve a backlog of thousands of photos (sadly not an exaggeration) just waiting for me to post with glib and no doubt scintillating commentary. I’ll get around to them, honest. In fact, I’m going to start with …

… Blogger Prom.

I was a little rusty at blogging when I attended the Wednesday night event in September, so my photography underrepresented the event itself. Why did I forget to take a picture of that? Why is everyone blurry? Oh, c’mon, yet another picture of shoes?

Bad photography aside, I still view Blogger Prom with more fondness than my actual high school prom, even though I have no real regrets there. I can think of at least 10 reasons why Blogger Prom kicks real prom’s awkwardly maturing ass.

1) A personal invitation to an invite-only event.

Yeah, any one of the hoi polloi can buy their way into real prom. Like me. You can’t control the riff raff that way. But here at least, I was tapped by the Blogging Illuminati (LA-OC Foodie, E*star LA, Caroline on Crack, Happy Go Marni, Squash Blossom, Shop Eat Sleep, Tara Met Blog, The Liquid Muse) as worthy. This is the sort of ego boost that would have been welcome as a teenager.

2) Nifty venue

Yamashiro Restaurant view/grounds >> School cafeteria hung with streamers.

3) What to wear

Real prom isn’t all that interesting clothes-wise because of that need for conformity and limited teenage imaginations. At 18 I wore a short green cocktail dress, sheer black hose and a gorgeous corsage that my friends surprised me with. Yawn.

Blogger Prom’s theme, Hollywood Confidential, inspired all sorts of old Tinseltown glam. I’ve never seen so many fascinators, oversized jewelry, creative hairstyles or flower adornments. Sticking to the theme wasn’t really required either, as long as you got that fun and festive thing going on. This was the first time I’d ever worn a petticoat (the better to poof my skirt with). True story.

4) A real chef

I can’t even remember what real prom served because we knew it’d be so lame, we ate beforehand at another venue. Not so at Blogger Prom, the menu for which I knew was given the okay by that Blogging Illuminati. Chef Brock of Yamashiro presided over a taco bar. Yes, a taco bar. I had a decent short ribs taco and an insanely juicy duck confit taco. Between that and fancy passed hors d’oeuvres, my belly was nicely testing the limits of my corset.


5) Social media immediacy

The picture of the burro is not an indication of the taco ingredients, rather a teaser to get me to follow @ChefBrock on Twitter. (I’m not telling. Follow him yourself.) A huge Twitter projection also let guests stay updated on the prom’s goings-on in real time, such as when the king (@FoodMarathon) and queen (@JozJozJoz) were announced. Need more info on a vendor? Just follow them on Twitter, and all will be revealed. It just makes too much sense! Shoot, during real prom way back in the day, I didn’t even have a cell phone. Yes, I’m dating myself.

6) Liquor

We were only 18 or under during real prom. Any booze to be had was illicit, smuggled into nasty punch or furtive after parties. Of the Boone’s Farm variety. Blech. Blogger Prom knows its liquor.

Really knows its liquor. Besides Pinky Vodka (and the signature Pinky Confidential cocktail), we had brews from The Beer Chicks and wines from Fresh ‘n’ Easy. And, in case there’s any finger wagging at possible DUIs, a car service by Y Drive LA was even provided for the overly inebriated. Honestly, I was tempted to use them even when I was sober. How else could I enjoy watching them stuff their scooter in my trunk? (Not a euphemism.)

7) Entertainment

Old Hollywood movies were projected on one wall. Blogger Prom knows how to fully research and execute a theme beyond a simple color palette, streamers and balloons inflated by the aspirations of young adults.

Sweets

Don’t let the mini cupcakes fool you. These are grown up desserts from Crumbs bake shop and the Chocolate Box Cafe. Coolhaus also had a table to serve up its signature gourmet ice cream sandwiches. I’m actually bummed I didn’t even get to try the Cheese Empressario since I’m more of a savory person.

9) Cool pictures

No traditional dude standing behind the girl poses here. We actually look happy.

10) Lovely parting gifts

Did real prom give me anything to remember it by other than some old photos lost somewhere in my mom’s house? I can’t recall. Blogger Prom gave me a bag heavy enough to act as a weapon if swung.

A quick list of sponsors who contributed to the weapon: The Disney Store, LuxLash Beverly Hills, The GRAMMY Museum, The American Cinematheque, Pinkberry, Dermatologica Spa, Degree Women Natureffects, Proactiv, O.N.E. coconut water, Pinky Vodka, Border Grill, Hugo’s Restaurant, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The Manila Machine, Cost Plus World Market chocolate, Orowheat, UNITE hair care, Lovin’ Scoopful, 7Eleven and Mintwater. (For more details, check the Blogger Prom site).

Oh, and I totally forgot …

Reasons 11 + - No slow dances! No metal detectors! No chaperones!

Tagged as: blogger prom, costumes, cupcakes, Food event, Hollywood, tacos, Yamashiro