While speakeasies ran rampant in Atlantic City during Prohibition in the 1920s, there's no way a ban on alcohol and nightclubs could hold the LA Yelp Community down! Downtown LA's former stock exchange building and tri-level architectural gem, Exchange LA, was transformed into AtLAntic City: Yelp's Boardwalk Empire, a wild saloon filled with frisky females, gents in flashy suits, gambling, jiving, bootlegging, swell libations, and a fine selection of savories and sweets. Guests got all Boardwalk Empired out and had the rest of DTLA thinking they were in a time warp. Pearls, sequins, fedoras, feathers, and suspenders were seen around every dark corner!
Kitchen12000 took the night to the next level by decking out the place and having a swarm of swanky guys and gals classying up the joint. They also manned a sausage station, pasta and meatball outlet, and olive and cheese buffet. Meanwhile, the bar was fully stocked with Dolce Touch Vodka, Karma Tequila, and Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice. Drinks included The Mistress (Dolce Touch Vodka with pineapple juice and Chambord), The Bruiser (Original Moonshine served on the rocks with a fresh lime), The Light 'n Dirty (Dolce Touch Vodka and Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice shaken over ice and served with an olive), and The Exchange Express (Karma Tequila with triple sec, sweet and sour, and orange juice). Those with secret agent skills sneaked their way up to the mezzanine level for the Widmer Bros bar, where a hot to trot Betty served up draft Drifter Pale Ale and Hef.
The main room was in full swing with endless amounts of entertainment. Newestra's DJs, Dances with Wolves kept the room booming with a fantastic mashup of '20s and modern day hits, which paired nicely with the black and white stills of a simpler time. It was truly the bee's knees. The saucy sirens of The Lalas Burlesque dazzled guests with two gorgeous numbers that had eyes popping out of heads and jaws dropping to the floor. Let It Ride Events turned the mezzanine level into a bonafide gambling pit, where people traded in their tickets for clams (ok, poker chips) and bounced from craps to black jack to poker to roulette. Congrats to Love C and Anthony N for being the biggest gambling addicts, er, winners who each took home a pair of tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL and a gift certificate to Lexington Social House for being the top two earners of the evening.
Downstairs was home to the High Roller's Sweet that contained the most impressive display of desserts yet! Shortnin Bread charmed the crowd with themed treats including a mustache cookie on a stick that doubled as a photo prop and unique rice crispie squares. Pacific Cheesecake Company hasn't even celebrated their Grand Opening yet but after their buffet of mini cheesecakes, they'll surely be a sweet tooth favorite in no time. My Delight Cupcakery turned out their infamous Breakfast Cake (buttermilk cupcake loaded with applewood smoked bacon, topped with a maple syrup frosting and covered with bacon bits) and Vanilla Almond Salted Caramel cupcakes. Farmers' Market fave, Crème Caramel LA, served up decadent bread pudding and their signature and sinful creme caramel. Porch Pies sliced up whole blueberry and buttermilk pies that were as delicious as they were cute! The Fry Girl made a repeat appearance with their adorable donut machine and staff, pumping out the small fried numbers to nibble on (or swallow whole)!
Cooling guests off in the sweets room was Don Francisco's Coffee with an iced vanilla coffee concoction that paired perfectly with the sugary delights. And of course who could forget The Original Moonshine whiskey bar shaking up crafted specialty cocktails like The Spicy Shine (with a real jalapeno) and The Shiner – they tended bar like nobody's business. Vocal stylings added harmonious melody to the room courtesy of 1920s jazz singer, Richard Halpern, "Mr Tin Pan Alley!" Project Photobooth created an entire lounge that had attendees posing for mug shots left and right. The pics are definitely the cat's pajamas!
A suggested $5 dollar donation benefitted California Farm to School, a local nonprofit organization that connects schools and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and supporting California's farmers.
And let's not forget the businesses that helped make our two @YelpLA Twitter contest winners Eduardo G and Liz M feel like VIPs: Crown Limousine, Jamaica's Cakes, Epione Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica Place.
Pretty sure Nucky would be proud of the scandalously sinful evening, but you can read the reviews and peep the pics here to see for yourself (courtesy of Santiago Valencia Photography and our very own Albert E)!
Thankfully Prohibition is over and drinking (and yelping) is legal!
LA East Community Manager
