Acton – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

Acton Wedding at the Robert Ranch

September 12, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

On Saturday Shaken Not Stirred returned to the Acton area to provide bartending services at a new wedding venue called the Robert Ranch. It is set high on a hillside west of the 14 freeway, and as I was driving up there I wondered if my competition had booked a fake job and sent me on wild Goose chase. My GPS kept turning me onto a very rough dirt road and then it would say I was going the wrong way. This is why you can never trust GPS and should always write the directions down when going to a remote location. I finally found the place and it is very nice.

The wedding had 100 guests and I was bartending by myself. The bride and I decided that the guests would pour their own keg beer and I would make the cocktails. The hosts provided mason jars to all of the guests that had their names on them. This is such a better way to do it, rather than using hundreds of plastic cups.

robert2b — Bride and Groom great their guests

Robert Ranch Weddings

Great Views of the valley
Scenic photo ops
Beautifully decorated house
Large staging area
Gazebo for caterers and bar

I tapped the kegs and tried to pour the foam off of them. This why I usually advise against kegs. They are problematic in several different ways, unless you have a C02 regulator and tap. The pump taps are often a pain in the ass and they pour very foamy or slow. The guests managed to drain both kegs by the end of the night, even though they were pouring badly.

I served completely out of tequila, vodka, and whisky and the wedding coordinator had to run and get some more. The catered dinner was barbecue, and I didn’t get the caterer’s card, but it was very good. Later, and I have never seen this done – they brought in a taco cart and served a second meal – Elisa’s Catering Service provided that. Serving the second meal was a great idea, especially when people are drinking heavily.

Next weekend on Sunday I will be bartending a post Labor Day Party on Sunday for a repeat client in Sherman Oaks. Saturday night is still available. I like booking last minute weddings. The wedding at Robert Ranch I only booked a week in advance. They work out just as well as weddings that were booked a year in advance. If you haven’t done so already, please like us on Facebook.

Mobile Bartenders, Party Bartenders, Uncategorized

Acton Labor Day Weekend Party

September 7, 2016September 7, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

On Sunday, after doing a big wedding in New Cuyama, I drove back to LA and then to Acton to bartend a Labor Day weekend party. In many parts of the country, Labor Day weekend signifies the end of summer; in Southern California, we usually have a few more weeks to go. This summer in Los Angeles it has not been that hot, and it even got a little chilly on Sunday after the sun went down.

This particular party in Acton was a family pool party, and family members had come in from all over the country to attend. As I talked to some of the guests from other parts of the country, I felt very grateful to be living in Southern California because of the opportunities we have here and of course the weather. There are many benefits to living here, but of course there are many cons as well. I obviously think the benefits outweigh the cons, at least for now.

acton3b — A “guest” relaxes on the lawn at Acton Labor Day Party

I made blended margaritas, Bay Breeze, and a few other drinks. One of the guests was a former bartender and he invented a drink while I was there he called the “Nicky.” The Nicky has rum, banana liqueur, cranberry juice, splash of pineapple, and a splash of triple sec. A drink like that is too sweet for my tastes, but many of the guests liked it. The Banana liqueur, 99 Bananas, is 99 proof by the way, so don’t let its sweet taste fool you.

acton2b — Family and friends enjoy Labor Day Weekend in Acton

Labor Day Weekend Party Ideas

Hire a bartender
Invite a wide range of people
Music makes the party
Serve great food

Lorraine’s Catering (818) 233-4647 provided the food and they made some great meat quesadillas and tacos. I know many of the taco vendors make cheese quesadillas, but most have know meat in them. Lorraine’s pork quesadilla was a real treat and I saw many people going back for seconds. Lorraine actually hired me to bartend a party for her in October and paid me a deposit on the spot. Always love when I book other parties while doing a party.

This coming weekend I will be traveling to Altadena on Friday night to bartend a 25th birthday party, and I will be making 90’s themed cocktails, and then on Saturday I will be returning to Acton to provide bartending services at a backyard wedding. I have to promote my social media better, so please like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Cocktail Hour Bartenders, Party Bartenders, Uncategorized

Beaumont Cocktail Party

September 6, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

beaumont3 — Goodfellas standing by in Beaumont with their brand new taco cart

Thursday Shaken Not Stirred was called out to Beaumont in Riverside County to provide bartending service for a mid-week cocktail party. I was hired through a catering company I have seen at many events, Goodfella’s Tacos, and I hope to return the favor and get them some business, though they are very busy already, and provide great service. The party was held out a new subdivision south of the 10 freeway called the Four Seasons, and it is a very nice development.

The host told me that the party was actually a celebration of her wedding anniversary. Her husband had unexpectedly died less than a year ago, just shortly after they moved into the new Beaumont house. She said that she wanted to have a party rather than sitting around feeling sad on that day. She believed that is what her husband would have wanted, and I’m sure she is right. At least 60 of her friends showed up, and anytime you are able to get 60 people to come out on a weeknight in Southern California, means that you have done something right.

beaumont1 — Cocktail party in Beaumont warming up

Cocktail Party Ideas

Hire a bartender
Choose a theme
Create specialty cocktails
Hire a caterer
Choose entertainment

I served blended Margaritas, and Margaritas on the rocks. I also served some Daiquiris and a lot of beers. It was an older crowd of mostly retirees and I felt that we had way too many supplies for this cocktail party, but we went through plenty. The host hired a Mariachi band to perform and that was fun for everybody. The Goodfellas served their great tacos, and there was another dessert person that provided the sweets. The host and several of her friends wrapped up the party playing a dice game.

beaumont2 — Mariachis perform at Beaumont cocktail party

That was the first event of a busy traveling weekend for Shaken Not Stirred. On Saturday I had to drive to New Cuyama in Santa Barbara County for a wedding, and then turn right around and drive to Acton for a Labor Day party. Needless to say, I was quite tired on Monday – actual Labor Day, and was kind of glad I didn’t have an event that day.

Birthday Party Bartender, Uncategorized

Hollywood Hills Birthday Party

August 29, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

hollyhills2 — The Taco Guy setting up taco bar

Friday night Shaken Not Stirred provided bartending services at a birthday party in the Hollywood Hills home. The event was held in the courtyard of a historic Hollywood home in the hills above the Hollywood Bowl. The weather was perfect for late August and it even cooled down to jacket temperature when the sun went down.

I setup my portable bar in the courtyard and served Cadillac Margaritas and spicy Jalapeno Margaritas to approximately 50 guests. The host works for a wine distributor, so she had some very nice white and red wine on hand. She planned the party for her husband’s birthday and she hired me for the bartending and a taco cart for the food. The Taco Guy Catering did the tacos.

hollyhills1 — Late summer sunlight in the Hollywood Hills

Why Hire a Bartender?

Impress guests with consistent high quality cocktails
Prevent guests from over serving themselves
Continuous cleanup
Host can spend more time mingling
Help with shopping list

Many people I work for have never hired a bartender before, but they are almost always glad they did afterwards. Having a bartender frees up the host to mingle with the guests and also is much better than letting the guests mix their own drinks. That often becomes a free for all, and a disaster. Hiring a taco cart is also a good idea, and is usually quite reasonable in price. I see on the the taco guy website that they can do catering for 50 people for under $500. You can hardly beat that!

hollyhills3 — Guests mingle after sundown

The Hollywood Hills birthday party seemed to be a quite a success and it was a great group of people. I always like doing Friday night parties, and especially when they are this close to home. This coming week I am bartending an event in Beaumont in Riverside County on Thursday night, a 300 person wedding in New Cayama in Santa Barbara County on Saturday, and then a pool party in Acton on Sunday. That’s what I call a mobile bartender.