…as I celebrate (and happily perform Maid of Honor duties!) at EZ’s WEDDING WEEKEND!

In honor of this joyous occasion, I’d like to share a special video. Please do enjoy (+ thanks Erin Llana):

EZ’s found her Prince Charming and I couldn’t be happier!  I just love you BOTH so much!

Hip hip hooray for my girl!  Even though she’s found a new partner in crime… I can’t help but feel nostalgic about all the years we were each others! 

EZ and Jake, best wishes for a long and happy life together and that all your pain is champagne!

Can’t wait to CELEBRATE!

xx,

L

…in honor of Miss Erin Ziff’s 30th Birthday!  Newsflash: Erin’s actual birthday is the official kickoff to about a week and a half of LK/EZ BIRTHDAY MANIA. You see, my birthday falls just ONE day after hers and we have celebrated our birthdays together for the last 7 years in 2 different cities:

First there was Erin, Lauren, Tara-Palooza in NYC during a HUGE blizzard that forced us to WALK through the SNOW to the Bryant Park Hotel…

(then the year we took off due to geographical differences)

We resumed the next year for our 26th…Masquerade at Bazzaar

Oh, and our 26.5…

Because we can...and we did!

27th was 80’s at Sweet Lowdown

28th was Dirty Vegas at Sutra

29th was Party Preppy at Whiskey Park

and…wait for it….30 will be at the LOVELY Livingston Restaurant and Bar THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

You are ALL invited to the Launch Party of LK & EZ VERSION 3.0! Come drink some pink bubbly or the cocktail created in our honor… The “Dirty 30” (Van Gogh Pomegranate and Classic Coca-Cola with a splash of soda and a cherry on top!) and get ready to walk the red carpet at our most glamorous birthday YET!

You were there for Party Preppy, Dirty Vegas, Masquerade, and the 80’s
It’s Birthday time, so you must be thinking – what’s next for these ladies?

We couldn’t be more excited or thrilled for this year
We’re bidding adieu to our 20’s and our mission is clear.

We’ll be 30, still flirty, and more fabulous than ever
So please join us for the Launch Party of our latest endeavor…

Roll out the red carpet, pop champeezy, get decked to impress
(You don’t want to end up on People Magazine’s Worst Dressed!)

A new chapter! The next step! We’re putting on a show!
We’re proud to unveil…LK & EZ Version 3.0!

Worthy of Hollywood, E! News, and TMZ -
On 01/22 the EZ/LK Extravaganza is the place to be!

Champagne wishes and caviar dreams,
Erin Ziff and Lauren Kraselsky

30 won’t know what hit it.

xx, L

Of course, I have an affiity for costumes and theme parties in general…so imagine my delight when darling Amy Bananananananasack decided to have her birthday at this Polynesian wonderland located inside the Hilton Downtown Atlanta (on Courtland Street)

Happy Birthday, Amy!

I was not at all surprised to find this crowd embracing the experience 100% - decked in leis and birthday hats, coconut drinks in hand! 

To be totally honest, I didn’t sample any Trader Vic’s cuisine. But the other 29134715 people who were in our party did and said it was delish.  Plus, the service was fantastic – so attentive and so adorable!

I did, however, indulge in a coconut cocktail! The drinks really stole the show at TV’s.  First of all, the menu is massive.  Witness:

Secondly, the 2 bartenders on staff that evening worked together like a well-oiled machine.  You can tell they knew their way around a mai tai.  I couldn’t even get a good picture, they were so much on the move!

And you know, I don’t love a mixed drink. Vodka on the rocks or red wine usually does me just fine – but with ceramic coconuts and the other fun accoutrement…

…like rock sugar and tiny fertility dolls…

wait. what?!

…how could I resist?!

I couldn't!

All in all, it was a fantastic night that may or may not have ended up at

ok, so it did.

So, happy birthday, Amy! As they say in the tropics…

“May your coconuts always hang higher than your grass skirt!”

xx, L

Trader Vic’s
255 Courtland St NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
www.tradervicsatlanta.com

Here’s the Q+DD: Tonight, Wednesday, June 23rd, Neiman Marcus will host a Happy Hour from 5pm-8pm with live entertainment, cocktails, and snacks to welcome Stacey and her stylists who have been traveling across the country in a vintage airstream!

This awesomeness will be parked outside the Neiman Marcus entrance to Lenox

RSVP to 404.279.5860 or RSVPATLANTA@NeimanMarcus.com

Bonus: you can enter to win a makeover by emailing thetour@aliceandolivia.com. In related news…

PICK ME!  PICK ME!  I LOVE A+O!

And A+O loves me!  Witness:

Me in A+O Santa in...elf?

Welcome to the Dirty Dirty, A+O!

xx, L

(P.S.  We totally got the “plus sign is the new ampersand” memo, too!  xx, L+L)

ai! ai! ai!

LOVES.

Erin loves too…  
So come on out and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with me at LOCA LUNA on Wednesday night at Cinco de Spiral!

Remember – your $10 ticket is 50% off with promo code “kraselsky”  (no caps.)

And listen.  Don’t forget that CAMP DANCE is a week from tomorrow!

Get your tickets TODAY!

Happy weekend!
xx, L

Invitations designed by our very own Mark Wolfe of Wolfepack Creative!

What is Camp Dance, you may ask? Um, it’s only my favorite event of the WHOLE YEAR!

 

Camp Dance Preparty 2009

Camp Dance Preparty 2007

Camp Dance Preparty 2007

Camp Dance 2008

Camp Dance 2006

Camp Dance 2007 (nothing ever changes)

Camp Dance 2009

Besides being just an amazing event, Camp Dance benefits Camp Twin Lakes, a fabulous camp for children facing serious illnesses and other physical, emotional and life challenges will be held on May 8th, 2010. For more information on Camp Twin Lakes click here.

Christine, Stacey and I hard at work at the CTL Service Day a few weeks ago:
Here’s the Q+DD on Camp Dance:

Remember when Color War was your favorite activity?
When Bug Repellent was the preferred scent?
And when hand-written letters were the only form of outside communication?

Well pull out your favorite camp photos,
Re-read those cherished camp letters
and put on your favorite camp attire

‘Cause It’s Back!
Camp Dance 2010
presented by Camp Twin Lakes’ Junior Board
Saturday, May 8th
6:30pm-11:00pm at Zoo Atlanta

A Night Amongst the Animals

6:30pm-8:00pm
Sip, Watch, Gasp
Enjoy some complimentary spiked bug juice while you observe the pandas, orangutans, gorillas, and other animals during feeding time
(Animal viewing only during this time)

8:00pm-11:00pm
Eat, Drink, Party
Enjoy complimentary camp-style finger foods, beer, and wine
while you dance the night away to hot jams from Band X.

Cocktail Bar
Each admission ticket includes 2 free drink tickets to the cocktail bar.
Additional drink tickets may be purchased by cash at the event.
Beer and wine are complimentary all night.

Tickets:
$55 through April 4
$65 through April 30
$75 through May 8th

Attire is Camp Casual
Guests Must Be 21 or older to attend.

THE EVENT SOLD OUT LAST YEAR and I had NO strings to pull, PLUS ticket prices increase on Sunday, so get your tickets TODAY by clicking here and click here to see the event on Facebook.

I JUST CAN’T WAIT!

xx, L  (+L + C!)
*actually, you are invited by the three of us, plus the entire Junior Board of Camp Twin Lakes and all the fabulous people on the host committee, which I am lucky enough to chair. For a complete list of hosts, click here.

me + martini

But, I have three critical martini-related rules. 

(Please take note if you plan on ever ordering me a drink..)

Rule #1:  Under no circumstance do I want olives anywhere in or around my drink.  Ick!  HATE olives.  It’s a shame, too, because olives adore me…

Rule #2:  I want to be able to taste the vodka in my martini.  I am an adult – I am not 19 years old and I don’t want to be consuming mostly liqueur.  Thank you very much!  (A few too many nights at Carlos + Charlies in Puerto Vallarta put me off of sweet drinks fo’ life…)

Rule #3:  If I am drinking a martini, I’m going to be seated.  The martini glass is an incredibly poorly designed alcohol vehicle.  Further, I wear heels when I go out – but I am not great in them.  I’m telling you, I know my limitations, you do not want to be anywhere near me when I have a martini glass in my hand and I’m standing up.  I spill them when I’m sitting down!  So please bring the drink to me at a table and we won’t have to worry about our clothes making an immediate dry cleaning trip in the morning. 

Moving on…

I love Holeman + Finch.  (This all ties together, I promise.)  I just love it.  The food is excellent, the scene is superb and I really like the staff.  They are hipster w/o the grease + cut off jean shorts.  And, they are super friendly and attentive.  The high boys in the bar are my favorite location at Holeman to plop down + have a few drinks and small plates. 

holeman

So, I’m there on Friday w/ EZ, Ms. Meri + Loren (not Lauren) and we’re ordering our second round of drinks when our server informs me that my go-to-Gimlet is kind of a boring order.  I quickly assess him and realize that (1) he is wearing skinny jeans (funny + appropriate hipster-waiter attire, which I applaud) and that (2) I’m fairly certain he looks like he knows what he is talking about, so instead of taking offense – I ask for his expert advice.  I made sure he was clear re. my three martini-related rules and he said he’d run with it.  A few minutes later as we were all digging into the Holeman 10:00 p.m. burger that we’d patiently been waiting for since 8:00 p.m., our server came back to the table with my drink.  BIG problem.  He tells me there’s gin in it.  Gin??  I don’t drink GIN.  I drink VODKA!  Needless to say, I’m incredibly skeptical…

However, all it took was one magical sip to win me over.  I like gin!  Who would have thought?!

certainly not us...

I mean it when I say that this was the best drink I’ve had in my life.  It was like flying.  Like a day at the beach.  Like winning a new car on The Price is Right!!  

"one dollar, bob!"

The drink was an AVIATION.  Sayonara, Gimlet, you’ve officially been replaced…

behold its majesty

My old partner in crime, Mindy, is in town and last night we cooked dinner for her family, and then scooted over to Ormsby’s.  We were there for one drink + a meet up w/ the famous FB, when I heard the Aviation summoning me from Holeman.  So, at 11:00 p.m. on a Monday night we headed to Holeman for a late night burger + a few Aviations.  I’m addicted. 

It really is the most amazing drink.  You don’t taste the gin too much, it’s not too sweet at all and it’s surprisingly refreshing.   (“it’s magically delicious!”)

mindy + me + martini = perfection. (math is fun!)

You have to try an Aviation immediately.  Order it @ Holeman tonight.  Seriously!  Or, learn how to make it yourself + impress your friends:

Ingredients:

2 oz of Gin
1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Creme de Violette (optional)
Flamed Lemon Peel for Garnish (optional)

Directions:

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled w/ ice
Shake shake shake…
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish
Sip + Enjoy!

How to Make an Aviation Video: http://bit.ly/93rnBF

If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

xx, L

Holeman & Finch Public House
2277 Peachtree Road NE Ste. B
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.948.1175
www.holeman-finch.com

view of the sun showers @ piedmont park from the luckyfest tent

…we threw on green accessories + ventured out to LuckyFest @ Piedmont Park! 

It was a little bit crowded.

erin making her way through the crowd

There was a LOT of mud.

erin in massive mud puddle w/ a leprechan?

But, we’re seasoned Spiral Entertainment party goers – so a little weather wasn’t going to cramp our style! 

Here’s our afternoon in pictures:

we got the golden tickets! how? well, we told them we were all lauren kraselsky!!

slick + co.

in prep for luckyfest, jackie + christine ran 10 miles. i prepped by sipping cocktails w/ erin...

KILT-spotting!

(they were excited because they spotted the delta flight attendant who does the pre-flight instructional video)

We were our own paparazzi…  Such a fun day!

The REAL St. Patty’s Day, however, is on Wednesday!  Celebrate @ Fado’s Irish Pub in Buckhead w/ Q 100 + The Bert Show. 

Tickets here:  http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/10421.aspx

I took a day off from work for St. Pat’s last year and went with the little brother to celebrate @ Fado’s.  We had a blast!  And, I can safely say that it’s the only place to be on Wednesday. 

st. pat's '09 @ fado's

Erin go bragh!  Here’s to St. Patty’s 2010!!

xx, L

Always ahead of the trend...

The show had a heavy focus on technology. For instance, the tour was sponsored by Blackberry and you could BBM Will.I.Am and your message would appear on a screen during his set list. And they had dancing robots. That’s right. Dancing. Robots.
Witness:

see?

more robots

It was a great concert. Each of the Peas had their own solo time. Fergie was, of course, my favorite. I love her.

Check it out, it’s like she was singing right to me:

So pretty.

We had a BLAST. The icing on the cake was the after-party, though. JC produced the event, and as his +1, I got to accompany him not only to the party, but to the VIP section where all 4 Peas were hanging out. (!!!)

Appl breaking it down

It should be noted that I am NOT COOL around celebrities. In fact, when I lived in NYC, I worked at a high-end retailer on Madison Ave and eventually got banned from waiting on the celebrities after several awkward stammering incidences and a near meltdown over Liza Minelli. True story.
Anyway. Luckily, pictures were not permitted in VIP (otherwise you KNOW I would be plastering 283471242 pictures of my cheesy mug with Appl, Tabu, Will.i.Am AND Fergie all over the Q+DD.) JC and I tried to be sneaky and get them in the background. Unsuccessfully.

Who's that in the background? Oh, just my friend Tabu. Whatevs.

All I knew for sure was that I wanted to chat with Fergie. Bad. Luckily, JC was aware of my celebrity “problem” and was careful to spend what he thought was adequate time coaching me on my opening line. We eventually came up with:

“Hi, Fergie. My name is Lauren. My friend set up this party and we both live in Atlanta but I grew up in Birmingham and it’s great to see such a big name come through here. The show was great!”

We practiced several times. I felt prepared. I put my game face on, headed over to Fergie and….

“Hi. Um, HI. I’m Lauren. The show was…um…I’m obsessed with you.” <grin>

At which point, Jonathan saved me and I was eventually able to make a full recovery and act like a normal person with the rest of the BEPs and the crew.
Even though I was a bit of an idiot to Fergie, it was still “A Good, Good Night.” …In retrospect, perhaps I should have taken Mer’s advice and limited my conversation with Fergie to strictly discussing Kids, Inc…
…sssssssigh.

xx, L