While most Hollywood kids did the usual club atmosphere, after parties or loitering the streets, only a selected bunch were invited to one of the most talked about events for the NBA.

You might have seen this poster all over the city of Los Angeles as I did. Once the anxiety of getting an rsvp confirmation for the Blake Griffin and Chris Paul BGCP3 event started getting to me, I soon realized how much I wanted to be there that Saturday night.  Going down the list of girls that either ended up a no show, no call or too tired, my friend Lauren took on the last minute invite. Hollywood is a big city, but sometimes with small minded people. A walk down the block would be the normal if ever considering going out, but anything past that is a gasp of air.

Playa Del Rey isn’t a typical destination to many; but it would make perfect sense having the event at the Jordan Hanger right down the street from the Clippers training center. Anything other than the same clubs and over exaggerated people, I wanted to be in a different environment. A mutual acquaintance and well established promoter, whose ad you’ve probably seen on just about every street corner with actor Aaron Paul and friends,

Chris Paul, Not the basketball player, and The Alliance, another well known promoting team in Los Angeles, sent out their invites to the lucky guest to attend. I for one knew that anything this group collaborated with would leave it being a good night.

You couldn’t miss the building with this signaling in your direction. We clearly were the first two to arrive as the invite had stated to arrive by 9 p.m, but everyone else showed up fashionably late. I overheard one of the Alliance members mentioning how scattered the staff had been in the building leaving doubt that it would be filled up towards the end of the night. Although the building was huge, I wouldn’t be surprised if people slowly made their way inside after valet and check-in. Once inside, it was as if a personalized museum was set up to promote their Nike line towards the entrance as you made your way into the warehouse space.

A signature wall, Nike walk of fame, had a glass case filled with Nike shoes and enlarged posters of the guys slam dunking in mid air.

Great traffic blocker!

It took seconds to make my way to the bar. Hearing that the event was going to have an open bar and trays of food being walked around by young models,

forget the boys, forget whatever celebrities were roaming around,

a drink and bite sized food was my first mission set into place. Being that Lauren and I were two of the first few people to make their way inside, I was also one of the first to grab four drinks in a few minutes flat.

See that’s the idea when you go to a party. The mingling can be put on hold for a second because once there’s a line… girl bye!

 

Okay, so I’ve been craving a Moscow Mule lately.  If it’s made right then I’ll drink it like juice; unfortunately not everyone knows how to make it and then it just ends up tasting like soda water and syrup, not trying to throw anyone under the bus cough… Cafe Roma.

This Euro stud with his strong accent, made thee best Moscow Mule. His natural senses of knowing my non alcoholic taste buds, added sugar syrup to lighten up the taste made him the perfect bartender of the evening. I ended the night having five. In fact I encouraged three manly men to get theirs exactly the way I had mine… and so they did. People started slowly sauntering in, but still not enough to fill in such a huge amount of space.

 

So Lauren and I found a counter with some of my favorite Korean taco buns. I was quick to grabbing one, as they looked absolutely mouth watering. wait… jalapeño’s, beef and sauce… that’s a red flag for some mouth wash and gum.
And that we did not have, so we passed it up.

So unfortunately we stuck with the sushi trays. Weird right for some odd reason the spicy foods do more work. One model food runner even asked us to just take his entire tray. I mean if no one else wants it why not and I have no issue helping to get the load off his hands. We are girls who could live off sushi. Not the weak ass California Rolls. No I’m talking sashimi, as long as it’s fresh with no parasites, I’ll eat it. Typically when I eat sushi I do my normal Wasabi blended in soy sauce, but the trays came out with just the fish and rice. I’m not too sure as to whom catered the event, but connections need to be made because that sushi was everything!

 

Yeah I think I had taken a few off the plate before taking the photo.

I noticed in the corner of my eye, Promoter Chris, at the taco counter and made sure to approach him with a big hug and thank you for the invite. My hermit crab days have been far too many, so I was more than happy to get out of the house.

I ran into a dear old friend of mine Chelsea and her friend Sydney, who I haven’t seen in a while. I was thrilled to be able to catch up with her for old times sake and just let the conversations flow.

 

Throughout the evening, our group of girls laughed, took selfies, had more drinks and ate… a lot! We were back to our old ways of acting like the goof balls that we once were. After a couple of hours our group went from four to three until Chelsea went home shortly after and it was just myself and Lauren again. After years of knowing Lauren, there’s not a day that we’re not weak in the knees from cracking too many jokes and making side eye stares.

A few minutes after, I bumped into another friend of mine Sam Sarpong, who I had assumed was shooting a film and wasn’t going to be able to make it.

 

Me and Sam just click. Every time he makes a surprise entrance to a party, he arrives with more humility and positive energy that could fill an entire room. It’s never a cheek to cheek kiss and a see you later. He takes the time and effort to engage; so I was happy he could take a break from work and enjoy his night.

Most times when I go to an event, I pretty much know what to expect. Okay well not this time. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one, as a few other familiar acquaintances and party crashing rats, smirk, who attended were only there just to be at another social party. Communication was pretty vague and non existent even when I tried to buckle down to the prime leading sources towards the end of the night. Some didn’t know how to respond to a young woman just looking for answers to her questions in order to write a review; some were in a different mind space and others were just …there.

Hey better stories told by me.

In my mind, I thought it was going to be a building filled with fans, media and celebrities alike watching a game between some of the players while being hosted by players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. In between the festivities,  people could walk around and mingle among each other while enjoying drinks and food. That was my initial vision set in my mind. So when we got there it was far from the imagination.

The amount of times we circled the venue, I probably burned a few calories from the food I had eaten.

 

There were a couple activities, one being able to have a screen printed and personalized for you through a touch screen mobile truck; and the other well, I wasn’t all that interested in. Once you’ve seen a few or a number of celebrities you’ve seen them all, especially in the atmospheres I’ve been around my entire life. Once I saw a crowd approaching swarming one individual, my curiosity didn’t peak until I saw the red hair. Blake Griffen had arrived. Now, I’ll make an exception because he, as unique looking as he is, is just so damn good looking in my opinion. His beady little brown eyes, freckles for days and masculine figure lures me in and captivates my attention.

I’d let him pick me up and slam dunk me.

pretty surprising for a girl who doesn’t like basketball players at the least. I’ve met him before several years back in Manhattan beach for the Six Man Group volleyball tournaments that they use to throw every year. Myself and my former girlfriends were eating at a restaurant that overlooked the beach. A group of black men who were affiliated with the tournament had offered to pay for our entire meals and drinks. I remember specifically when we were leaving and walking down the steep hill to make our way to the games. I saw a gargantuan fair skinned red head walking near by. Oddly enough, I have a thing for red heads. Not too fiery! But just enough flame. I’m not a sports girl, but I remember hearing that he was the new kid on the block in the basketball world. He was an absolute sweetheart and I just wanted him to pick me up.

 

 

At the event, once I realized that girls galore were ready with their claws out and thongs swinging, the business girl came out of me. I had to compose myself in a manner that would allow me to do the work that I was there to do. I cleverly squeezed my way past the ditz that were getting their cameras ready and walked up to the roped off vip section. Of course I was being blocked by a body guard not even half my size.

Really sir? What do you plan on doing and how do you plan on guarding a man that can pick you up and I could too?

Quickly I took out my cards and when I made eye contact, I nicely asked him if it wouldn’t be an inconvenience to take a photo with him for my blog, which he actually didn’t mind doing. I didn’t get the chance to ask questions as I had a line of girls just waiting to get a chest hair to take home with them, and I didn’t want to over stay my welcome.

As the night went on, the bar became even more packed which at one point they even stopped serving for a good 30 minutes for an intro of their new YouTube channel. 30 freaking minutes to stand there and wait for a drink while I had been standing in the front of the line, No Bueno! Around the bar and anywhere there were screens was being played a skit that the guys had previously filmed to promote their channel. I didn’t understand it, nor do I think anyone else really cared, well not at the bar at least, we just wanted our drinks. I mean not even a ice cube was being handed out. Well that’s a fine way to make sure people know why they’re at an event.

I watched it, but I wasn’t listening because I was just so mesmerized by Blake. Once that was over, I had already moved on to the dessert counter on the other side until Lauren made her way back from being outside. Now the boredom was starting to kick in, but I wasn’t ready to leave quite yet. All the table spaces had “Reserved” and out of respect I didn’t want to sit down. I noticed the VIP section filling up with people and I didn’t want to exclude myself, so I watched and observed.  The only familiar faces I knew in there was my friend Sam. So I made it a point to text him to get me in as I had told Lauren that, that was another mission I was going to make happen. As we stood around in the tight area of actors, artist and females, I saw another target I wanted to approach. Chris Paul.

Sam advised me that it would be easier to get a quick Q&A if I went right to the source, that being his publicist or manager; but with all due respect,  he’s standing right there talking to everyone else. I saw this meat head looking character whose arms were so pumped he could barely hold them down to his sides. When I asked him if he was affiliated he pointed me in the direction of his manager. A guy wearing a black, white draw string hoodie wearing a backpack. Immediately the manager flagged me down as if they could read each others minds. So I walked over to him, handed him my card and explained that I had wanted to take a photo for my blog and ask a couple of questions, but didn’t want to rudely interrupt Chris.

The manager was cool, just a little disengaged, but responded to my request. So I went back to Chris and waited patiently until I could get his attention. I tapped his shoulder as he turned around and asked if I could take a photo for my blog. He gave me the head tilt and eye squint stating I needed to ask “her”.

Well who the hell is her? There’s a lot of hers if you checked your surroundings;  and I’m asking you since you’re clearly standing right here.

Listen I don’t have patience for this,

So I explained to him that I had spoken to his manager at which he responded with “What manager?” Um… that guy right there drinking Ciroc right out of the bottle wearing the black, white draw string hoodie that just waved back at me.  Chris: “I don’t know that guy”. As quick as Chris said that I did a 180° turn and he responded again with “yeah sorry I don’t know him” and he walked off. Okay, now someone is pulling my chain and I don’t like it. So I immediately walked over to the “manager” and drilled him on the confusion. Didn’t you just say that you were Chris’ s manager?  and he looked at me, pointed down and said “Yeah… Chris Brown”

 

Did that really just happened. What the hell do I want an interview with Chris Brown for?! No offense Chris Brown. Is he sponsoring this event? Did he design these shoes? Clearly I was standing right next to Chris Paul the entire time when you flagged me down after that meat head character told me to talk to you. I knew that Chris Brown was in the area, but not to the point where I would had needed to emphasize on which Chris I meant. After that, I walked away annoyed and went to go make a T-shirt.

Brush it off and keep it trucking.

 

DJ Devin Lucien was spinning the entire night and I had yet to two step. Every time he played a tune I was up and moving. I hate parties or events with socially uptight prudes that don’t know how to have a good time other than standing around. Sure I was there to work, but lighten up buttercups. I noticed the guy and his cell phone recording me as I did my own version of the Bobby Shmurda dance and was even able to get a few more people to join. Closer to the time the party was ending, the place started to clear out. People were getting their last drinks, their last moments in the photo booths and making their last connections.

I found two guys hilarious with one drink in each hand. Screw the long line, might as well kill two birds with one stone. They were promoting their own brand, bg fashion. Their story was inspirational which not many people can find. After surviving a car crash, he chased after his passion and dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Through his story and his brand, which he was wearing on the back of his T-shirt, he was contacted and invited by the Nike corporation. Big! Make sure to follow and support the blessings of him and his inspiring line @bgin88.

The night was fun, the night was interesting and the energy was cool, in most areas. I came, I ate and I danced. I didn’t get exactly what I had wanted which was a simple understanding of the event, but I dismissed the half ass responses and formed my own opinion. It was a good time overall. Thank you to those  who made my night pleasant. The struggle is real as a social blogger. You have to “prove” yourself worthy of this pompous glorified crowd. Yeah, well one thing people will come to learn about me is that I don’t play by any rules. I’m a girl with tough enough skin to make a luxury leather hand bag out of.

 

 

xox