Well, after waiting for yet another tour around our city block, Jack Daniels stayed the night in Los Angeles for yet another yearly event.

My friend, The Leaux Project , and social wing girl Lauren, has been out of the social scene for awhile, but that didn’t prevent her from diligently informing me that our favorite drink hotel party was back in full swing. Since our last whiskey night with Jack Daniels, we were on the hunt for another night long hotel reservation with a room key for more friends; and of course the process of making sure we were perfectly legal and geared up was exclusive to only those that knew about this event. But this time around, I think Jacks little brother Juan locked him out of the hotel room and brought in his own new friends.

The event started at 8 pm, but due to the fact that Lauren was unable to make it, my friend Laquan had to work late and Carmen wouldn’t be joining us up until 10, Laquan and I decided to get there closer to 9. The party was being held at the same “secret” location as last year was limited parking where you’d either have to get there early or hike up a few blocks. I got there earlier than Laquan being that we drove separately, and the moment I saw the line wrapped around the building, I kept my fingers crossed that showing up fashionably late wouldn’t bite me in the ass. Looking around at the crowd of guest, I knew there was something just a little bit different. As many should know, when I blog an event, I party first and ask questions later, but this time around I was a bit curious as to what I was walking into.

While it was definitely culturally spicy, it just wasn’t culturally diverse as it was the last time I attended. I patiently waited for Laquan to show up feeling just a tad bit over dressed but then again, I dress to what fits my mood and my comfort alone. Once the line began to move, so did my heart racing as I was getting closer to the door in hopes that Laquan would find parking in a timely manner and shortly after my worried thoughts, I spotted him driving up the street in his mini sports BMW. As soon as I got closer to check in with my private code on the screen of my phone with i.d in hand, Laquan casually walked up without causing an emotional frenzy from the people standing behind us.

Two women standing at the door checked me in with my phone and gave both of us glowing bracelets that we were able to keep with two drink tokens we could use for the night. I was already familiar with the set up, but due to my phone being on low battery I had to switch gears and go straight into work mode.

The place was already packed within the hour of showing up and I didn’t even know where to begin.

Last year, Jack Daniels was the night where I lived it up in my last blog. The crowd were a bunch of trendsetters from all walks of Los Angeles. Here, no one stood out. There wasn’t that initial sense of excitement. I just kind of felt blazé to say the least, but I didn’t want my energy rubbing off on my friend. Before we could make our way towards the middle of the scene, some extremely tall blonde guy with a big  smile and glasses ran up to us complimenting our look.

With Laquan wearing a vintage fringed white leather jacked and hat, I dressed in a turquoise blue and grey top long enough to wear as a dress but short enough to show some legs, yeah I’d say we stood out from all the basic black t-shirts and jeans. I left Laquan to chat it up with the quirky guy while I left the conversation to take photos. Bad Idea. As soon as it came to me that it would be hell to find Laquan in this sea of people, I started to head back to look for him; and just that quick he was gone. But thankfully he had been right behind me from the initial direction I had taken.

The set up of the place was completely different. There was no bar in the middle of the floor, and no Whiskey garden sitting area. There especially wasn’t the presentations of how whiskey was made, then again the ambiance was a complete total change. While there was food being passed around, a watered down snow cone machine, and  play area with a pool  and kickball table, I was still expecting a different type of mood.

We started to head towards the back where there was a line for photos and I took the initiative to ask a young woman if there was anyone in charge that I could speak to in order to gain a little bit of insight about this night. Of course she was only there to stand pretty, but she did know of a face I should look for.

Well that would be great if I knew what that face looked like.

I know that when I get in work mode, I tend to be all over the place while everyone else is either trying to keep up or leaning against the wall waiting for me to be done. I gave Laquan one of my tokens and asked him if he wanted to get a drink assuming that things would probably be smoother with a drink in hand. It didn’t take me long to follow behind him knowing that there was a drink menu I’m sure I’d be better off grabbing a drink from.

The line was long even though there were technically three bars in total, but we stayed in that one spot until I saw that same tall guy from earlier. Laquan wasn’t too sure of who he was, but gathering from his printed shirt and standing out like a sore thumb, he had to of been someone that would know a little thing or two about this event. Throughout the evening he had to of had a hand in the event making hinted gestures that he was either a guest of the Jack Daniels association, an assistant or a friend of a friend who’s a friend that knows the head poncho. He mentioned that he knew who I could possibly be looking for and would help me inside the vip area that was completely separated from the party with a Gatsby girl blocking the entrance.

I knew not to bother holding my breath so we just continued to stand in line. Right as soon as we got towards the front after standing behind a couple the entire time, some short desaliñada woman whose back had been turned away from us the whole time accused Laquan and I of cutting the line. Really pinche puta?! At that point I wanted to just throw her across the room, but Laquan calmed me down clearly seeing that a drink was not the end all be all of our night as she wobbled her way ahead of us. The guy that was with her on the other hand kept his mouth shut slowly easing his way past us.

Now I needed my drink!

The drink menu was nothing like those whiskey whimsicals that I downed the last time where here it was just your usual liquor with a chaser mix. I played it safe and just went for a whiskey ginger ale.

The crowd started to migrate towards the stage where a band and Dj were playing and that’s when it all made perfectly sense to alter my confusion. It was Cinco De Mayo in April. The entire music was all Spanish and once that light show started filtering throughout the room, everyone in the crowd were all Spanish and Latin with the exception of myself, Laquan a few other guest and that tall white guy with the big smile. I felt so out of place I didn’t know what was going on. Everyone excluding the few of us knew every word to the Spanish speaking band; and it wasn’t like the type of music that everyone could come together and enjoy up until the dj played his music with a little hint of some reggaetón.

Laquan shimmied his fringe and I two stepped with a twirl, but for the most part I was just trying to find my beat in the midst of everyone else. I gave up and just sipped my drink.

A group of young women surrounding a cart full of whiskey shots sounded off an alarm and made their way into the middle of the crowd handing out shots as if they were candy. Dressed as sexy fire women, they set the place on fire as people crowded around them looking to get lucky wasted.

We decided to head back towards the photo area that was this time moved towards the corner of the building where the main wall had now been closed off. The photo setup was a rock n’ roll theme with guitars, feather boas hats and a microphone with the backdrop being a rock stars bedroom decorated with an artist most prized possession, their golden records.

Laquan being an artist himself jumped right into the action. After having our photos taken, in order to get a free selection of free merchandise such as a bandanna, Jack Daniels playing cards, sunglasses and T-shirts, we had to hash tag our night and a photo.

Laquan caught the attention of a couple who were in love with his look and come to find out, they were the creators behind our glow in the dark bracelets. BeCreative being a branding marketing platform allowing people to put themselves in the forefront of today’s consumers.

While Laquan was trying to get their information to keep in touch, the tall guy tried once more to connect me with the main person involved with the party. I quickly grabbed Laquan and followed the leader only to be told that we couldn’t enter the vip area without a blue wrist band. I had no initial idea prior to my rsvp that there was even a vip area; and from my understanding after asking other guest, there was nothing worth trying to see. That just said it right there. If guest with the blue wrist bands couldn’t emphasize the point in the other room then that was all I needed. As much as the tall guy seemed to try to have any clout, he just looked like the friend of the person running the show and taking any amount of recognition he could get out of affiliation.

By this time I was over the night. I was kind of happy that Lauren and Carmen didn’t bother coming although Carmen is fluent in Spanish and would’ve probably understood the concept of this particular theme. For all I knew while one of the singers made a hand motion in the air with his fist, he could’ve been making a protest against Trump while the crowd cheered.

Laquan and I headed towards the front into the only room that wasn’t taken up with guest. A lone bartender and half passed out friend duo sprawled out on a couch were the only ones really in the room until a group of urban trendsetters entered the room. Laquan and I spend most of that time just talking and catching up which I find very hard to do at any event while my mind is running high on life, but I guess given the circumstances, I was fine not being a part of a party.

I would have loved to of known the idea behind this night,  but it was like pulling teeth without pliers.

The entire night was just a cluster. Spanish music mixed with a little bit of Gatsby while awkwardly integrated with a few sore thumbs just to add to the confusion. Overall though, it was a Spanish theme party which I will say  that they certainly know how to party no matter the drink or surroundings. Us on the other hand we just ended up being there for the drinks and conversation.