With summer here, the regularly scheduled pool parties, day parties or anything that gives an excuse to be half naked, is in full swing.

Promotional and marketing strategies for these “exclusive” events, start circulating throughout social media geared towards the high rollers, party goers and the young Hollywood crowd, in order to gain a yearly reputation of being the hottest summer party from the last. Yeah well, with each year unfortunately, it seems as if it just becomes another played out session. XIV, although a popular hot spot for Sundays during these summer events, has passed the mark of being one of the longest running day time events that surpasses all of its competitors. Given its popularity, location changes and new generation of promoters with a few veterans, this place is still standing and doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.

While XIV might be new to some with the whole “Grand Opening ” concept, which I don’t understand how anything can continue being a grand opening when there’s nothing grand about it anymore, but its actually been operating for several years. The only reason why this place has been so recycled is because as the years go on and people start maturing, new kids start filling in those empty spots. The status level drops drastically and well..

supply and demand, becomes the nature of the game

This past weekend, I was tagged in a status on Facebook by the sexy double duo the Ec Twins. One of Los Angeles hottest Dj teams that bring out the crowds, the girls and of course the sex appeal. With all the different types of Djs, these two are by far two of my House Music favorites. About seven years ago, or somewhere around that time, I was introduced to the twins, Marc and Allister Blackham.

“Now I’m taking it back to the old school, because I’m an old fool whose so cool”

A friend of mine was a huge fan of there’s and was familiar with their growing popularity. After hearing so much details about these two identical studs from England, I was curious to meet them too. Then, XIV was a day time lounge event. Nothing like what its become now. Sitting smack dab where the current Hyde Sunset Lounge is on Sunset/La Cienega, is where the beautiful crowd would attend the cramped area of music, narrow paths and celebrities. Around the time

of Reggie Bush and Kim K (s) relationship, but that’s when Reggie was openly surrounded by every women other than the Kardashian herself.

The twins were playing to a crowd of a more mature scene where clothing wasn’t optional. You dressed to impressed and to get into the door with a sense of dignity. Though it was hot as hell with all the body heat, those were some great times. At least in my opinion before it downgraded to what it is now. I remember after their session the room began to clear out and we waited and stayed behind for them to come down from their post. Twins. A fetish and fantasy of having two identical hotties with an accent. Does it get any better than that. There wasn’t a swarm of females gathering them other than the close groups of friends that they had there. So it was much easier to personally identify yourself with them. A lot of flirting, swooning and bare chest was mostly what I could remember and since then I’ve been committed to them.

Okay, so fast forward. Throughout their popularity and growth, Marc and Allister started becoming the international EDM extraordinaires, known for their music and style. While traveling across the world into packed filled venues and talked about parties, they’ve taken the hearts of a growing and loyal fan base. It was without question that when I found out they would be back in their beloved city, that I had to go out and support them as I’ve tried to loyally do so throughout the years.

I’ve been to many of their shows, birthday festivities and even been at the same social events where they’ve been able to just chill, but it never stops there. So lets be honest, this isn’t their first time to the rodeo.

Clearly

They’ve done the whole XIV sessions for quite some time now before it moved to the now location that once was a place called White Lotus then becoming Ritual. Since the time that it was just a hot spot daytime restaurant lounge turned into a day festival, it’s now a rave frenzy for the cities rebellious. I’d like to consider it on the more trashier scale, but I’ll give it the benefit of doubt that there are still unfortunately a good selected amount of people that still attend these newer places.

I attended this event with my friends Dave and Raye and happened to bump into my dear friend Marquee whom I haven’t seen since last year. Immediately, as most everlasting friendships do, we acted like time never happened and decided to grab vip wristbands from the twins. I already told them I would be walking in with them a little bit later due to family obligations,  but good thing I showed up when I did because the girls were waiting wet and in packs. Dah because they’re delicious

Each year XIV tries to have a recommended theme to follow. This year, like majority of the years, is the cruise ship theme. Sailor hats and Polo shirts, just your basic yacht party without the actual yacht.

Packed as hell full of guys typically out numbering girls surprisingly with their competitive nature of who can buy the biggest bottle of champagne at the price of a down payment towards a car.  Then there’s the countdown to when the Djs drop the beat so a handful of wasted paper napkins can get thrown into the air as if it were counterfeited money.

I guess since they used every dime they had to afford the table and drinks, they could only afford to throw the napkins. What a waste of trees and stupidity.

Oh here’s the kicker. Those expensive bottles of bubbly booze, gets sprayed on just about every person within a  distance only to smell like hot vomit and alcohol.  Lovely. Hence where “Champagne showers” comes from

 

Listen, I’m a black female that clearly has to spend a days worth amount of  time getting my hair back to its shape.  Yep, and this is why I would prefer what  once was compared to what it is now. Even Rehab in Las Vegas which has gone downhill is more tolerable. It’s crazy how interpretations and times can have a sudden change on you once you’ve found Molly and molly whopped her ass all across this city. Ish gets old, and of course there’s that one time that I go into a regrettable stage of…what was I thinking.

Dave couldn’t find the table we were suppose to have been sitting at and his ADHD started to kick in preventing him from focusing on the goal. Being a natural hostess, my character kicked into full swing of making sure my group were happy and comfortable. I love crowds, but only if I can look over them. Once both feet are on the ground other than dancing, I’m not happy. The pushing, the shoving and having to get through the oblivious morons taking up the minimal amount of space in the walk ways, becomes the tick to my bomb. I especially hate being touched by the ones who feel that they can somehow move faster by nudging you out of the way until that nudge becomes hair wrapped around my wrist or a black eye. No I would never intentionally try to start a fight, but my vivid imagination tends to want to take me there. Excuse Me is either an improper phrase to be ignored or has becomes a foreign word lately.

I chose to take my group upstairs to a more private area looking above everyone on the lower ground level. Perfect if I wanted to be there in support, but still manage to stay incognegro; incognito while being black, from people I didn’t feel like bumping into for small talk. It was definitely low key and quiet with a decent amount of people. Unfortunately my friend ended up paying for her own drinks which she didn’t mind either. So clearly the standing on ground level had nothing to do with the guy who just had to make room for his hefty body weight that practically suffocated me on the railing just so he could talk to his European botoxed booty call who didn’t look a day over forty. Chivalry is a thing in the past, in fact I doubt any guy even knows how to spell it no more than understanding its meaning. I’ll admit.  It was a little different from being the center of attention, but this time I didn’t mind it. I saw a lot of familiar faces and they didn’t see me.

I was entertained by the group of females dressed as if they had just came from shopping from Rodeo, as if their expensive outfits weren’t going to go straight to trash if they happened to cross paths with one of those spray bottles. Tara Reid made her entrance…. Oh and lets not forget the chubby guy who was so proud of his table sitting in the back darkness, where he felt the need to give everyone of us the bird. No one witnessed his grotesque gesture along with his group, but we could’ve easily casted a nice wad of spit just as a returned friendly gesture of a screw you too or at least several rocks of ice.

This shall be him in the next few years. Jealous or no?

I would’ve loved to have been able to operate the confetti machine and smoke blower. Just to douse the crowd with all that cold air and thin sheets of paper just for the sheer entertainment. Unbeknownst to us, we didn’t realize we were actually staying for the entire time where the real lights would come on and you could see everyone in their glory. A walk to the bathrooms before we made our exit and you could see a racoon eyed girl bawling her eyes out in a drunkin state of mind because a guy didn’t love her after being surrounded by a group of half naked females all day. Go figure. Leave it to the Peter Pan Syndrome hitting fifty trying to get a group of people to head over to the after party if you had the wristband. We went, we had our fun and then we went home realizing that we had been in the party mode from 7-11 going on midnight. If it weren’t for the boys, I would’ve been at home and I was completely fine with that. They made it what it was, hands down. I could stand not having to wash out liquor from my pores and hair or the sweat of inebriated exhaustion. But for the sake of them…I was a loyal tropper.

Dang I’m getting old, but at least I can say we age with grace…good luck to the rest of you.