Shaken Not Stirred in LA

Author: shakennotstirredinla

  • La Quinta Costume Party and Eagle Rock Wedding

    Friday night I worked a small costume party at a private residence in La Quinta. As I do more and more jobs I am starting to know neighborhoods – this place was just across the street from where I did another job. The house had a very nice granite bar, as most of the homes…

  • Last Minute Party in Newport Beach and Palm Springs Wedding

    I was a home on Sunday afternoon, contemplating going to the beach when the phone rang. Someone was a having a party and the bartender didn’t show up – no show, no call. “How fast can you get to Newport beach?”  the guy wanted a to know. “About an hour,” I said. So I put…

  • Chatsworth Engagement Party

    Shaken Not Stirred manned another successful back yard event last night – an engagement party in Chatsworth. Over 100 people attended the party and it seemed a great time was had by all. Although I wasn’t contracted to bring a barback, I brought my son, Willie, to train him. As it turned out I really…

  • Caribbean Birthday Bash in Hills of Sherman Oaks

    High above the sweeping San Fernando Valley in the hills of Sherman Oaks was a 65th Caribbean inspired birthday party on August 10th. 40 plus people attended and sipped frozen rum drinks, Margaritas, and Red Stripe beer. Nesta provided the steel drum entertainment, and a quartet of talented lady singers made a surprise appearance. Shaken…

  • Idyllwild Wedding Turned into an Upland Wedding

    Early last week I heard reports of a fire burning out of control near Idyllwild, California. I was scheduled to bartend a wedding on Saturday at the Quiet Creek Inn at Idyllwild Pine Cove. On Wednesday my client emailed me and informed me that the wedding had been moved to the bride’s parent’s house in…

  • Santa Barbara Wedding

    Saturday, July 6th was the date of a wedding at the Museum of Natural History in Santa Barbara. It was my first event in Santa Barbara and was a smashing success. I worked closely with the bride in the weeks preceding the event – planning the drink menu and shopping list. I guess we did…

  • June Birthday Parties

    The last two weeks in June I bartended two birthday parties – a 40th birthday bash in Valley Glen, and a 90th Hawaiian themed birthday party in Newberry Park, Ventura County. Both were virtually last minute requests which I was happy to oblige. The host of the 40th birthday party called me the day of,…

  • Summer Party Season In SoCal is Heating Up

    Party season is off in running in Southern California. I have many dates booked already and am getting calls every day. It never fails, every week somebody calls last minute needing a bartender because the one they hired flaked on them, showed up drunk, or worse. Sometimes I can accommodate last minute requests. If I…

  • Sherwood Forest 50th Birthday Party Mixologist

    June 2, was date of a 50th birthday party in the exclusive San Fernando Valley hamlet of Sherwood Forest (formerly, Northridge). My clients went all out and decorated the backyard pool area to create a memorable event for the birthday girl. I brought a server, Katie (who has worked with me several times)  to help…

  • La Quinta Executive Retreat

    The last weekend in April I was hired to bar tend an executive retreat at a fantastic home located within the PGA West La Quinta Resort. It was a different kind of gig than I am used to doing, because we were only serving 11 people. They requested a server also and I contracted a…