Miguel R.
Yelp
This place was an honest-to-Santa Hollywood hotspot, or, to be more Yuletide-appropriate, a genuine frost-zone. Defined by in-your-face Christmas decor--deep and dazzling orbs--it was packed to the brim with candy-cane lanes, full of both the naughty and nice. Expensive like hot cocoa in the North Pole, head-bopping beat-driven, and brimming with photo ops, it was a whirlwind of booze, buzz lights, bling, bounce, swoosh, and slurps. I feel like Elsa writing--each word I type stirs a dance of snow all around me!
I bought tickets the day of. I got tickets for early entrance at 6:15. I'm usually on time, like annoyingly so, but for this occasion, I arrived about an hour late. Yes, if Frosty was waiting for me, he would've melted before we sleighed ourselves away!
I still had to park, and then I saw a long line. My first thought: Would I still get in? I was more than an hour late to my designated entry time. Ugh. Buzzkill thoughts. Then I got to the parking lot and had to wait in a small car caravan before I got to an attendant. That's when I was shocked anew--parking was $40. But it wasn't just for the event; it was for the entire night. So, I'd go to the bar, do this and that, and then take myself to Hollywood Blvd., letting the magic of the scene swirl me into adventure mode.
The line was long, but it moved quickly. Not slowly. So that was great! Even in the line, the party vibe was solid. People wore different holiday gear. I liked the pink Christmas hats and matching skirts. I saw another guy whose sweater said, "If you know how, why do you invite me?" This was the quote given by the drunk uncle of the family. There was a lot of Christmas swag on display. It was like driving through a neighborhood adorned for Christmas, but instead, it was a line adorned with festive cheer.
The inside was holiday glee to the max. You entered, and ornaments adorned the ceiling and walls--literally. The ball hallway gave way to two different spots: an outdoor area and an indoor area with a regular bar (where they did not serve shots) and a shot bar (where they only sold shots). That part was crowded. You could not claim a spot--it was packed. Like bursting. I had two drinks to help me vibe with the crowd. They were vodka cocktails that were Christmas-themed. I didn't get their names, or I should say, I don't remember them now. I know, bad Yelper. They had vodka (my spirit of choice), chocolate, and whipped cream. They tasted a bit like eggnog. Okay--I checked. They were called Santa's Mocha Martini. They were good. I could see why Santa drinks, especially if he needs to ease his nerves while reading the naughty list or to toast the nice list.
I also had a shot--vodka, cranberry, and orange. It was called a Jingle Ball. It was all good. I bought two shots for two strangers to join me, using a paddle-like shot device. We set shots in holes, then, together, we used the platter to drink our shots. It was great! Like great! The bartender took a video, and we all reveled as strangers. It was a moment made possible by liquor and magic. It was wholesome and pure--like toasting Christmas should be.
This place did get truly too packed at times. But everyone seemed friendly, at least everyone that I met. They also had fake snow dropping from the sky. They had 1,001 photo ops. I helped a group of girls take some memorable boomerangs. It was a great time!
Too bad it only comes once a year, like Santa.