pool party – Page 2 – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

Shaken Not Stirred, the Los Angles party bartender service covered three different counties in southern California last weekend. The weekend started in Eagle Rock, moved to Santa Ana, and ended on Sunday in Lake Elsinore.

Friday night Shaken Not Stirred was on hand to bartend a cocktail party and impromptu concert by a Los Angeles based trio. The host set up a small, well stocked bar by the pool for me, and I served Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and other classic cocktails in real glassware. The hosts were both accomplished photographers in the food and beverage industry, so presentation was important.

The trio played for an hour or two and approximately forty guests sipped wine and had appetizers. The House was on a hill that had views of Griffith Park off to west, and a very well landscaped back yard perfect for entertaining. It was a nice mellow party and great way to start off the weekend, and the third of forth nice event I have done in Eagle Rock. It seems to be a really happening neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Saturday night I traveled to Orange County to the city of Santa Ana to bartend a birthday party. The host requested a server and I took my friend, Alex to help me. He has extensive fine dining and catering experience. He is one of several experienced assistants I have available. This was a larger party than the one in eagle Rock and about 80 guests were in attendance.

I quickly discovered that the host was of Chilean descent. There were many Chilenos in attendance, and they like to party. My ex wife was Chilean and I love the culture and the people. When Chileans are at a party, they usually drink a lot of wine, and that was the case here too. I want to do Pisco Sours at some party and have yet to find any takers. I also served a lot of Jack Daniels and Marker’s Mark (I think that is an Orange County thing). I booked another party for May while at the event, and I always love doing that. This was my third event in Santa Ana.

Sunday, I traveled to Lake Elsinore in Riverside County to bartend a surprise birthday party. This was my first party in Lake Elsinore and I really liked the area. The hosts had just recently moved into the house and I think it was their first party there. They had a nice backyard and pool for entertaining. I set up my portable bar and served a boatload of Modelos, Bay breezes, and Mojitos, and a few frozen Margaritas.

I had an event scheduled for Apple Valley next weekend, but unfortunately they had to cancel, so as I write this, I am still available for April 18. The Los Angles party bartender may end up anywhere in Southern California on that weekend, and I know I am getting a lot of calls and have to turn many jobs down. I am grateful for every job I get.

Wedding Bartender

Palm Springs Rehearsal Party

March 28, 2015March 28, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

The second event of the weekend happened Friday night at the Korakia Pensione hotel in Palm Springs where Shaken Not Stirred was on hand to bartend a wedding rehearsal poolside party. There were approximately 80 guests in attendance, and I had a new girl, Kellie, working with me, and she did an excellent job. Good food, good drinks, and good music were had by all.

The Korakia Pensione hotel is a very cool little hotel nestled right up next to the mountain, west of downtown Palm Springs. It was supposed to be a hot day, but it didn’t feel that bad and the sun was behind us as we set up. We served blended Cadillac margaritas, and strawberry margaritas, along with a lot of Corona, Imperial lager from Costa Rica, and Chronic IPA. The biggest disaster of the night was when we ran out of limes, which is an ongoing problem. From now on, I am bringing the limes.

I think margaritas are so much better with fresh lime juice. A very good bartender taught me that good drinks should have an equal amount of fresh citrus and sweetening agent. A sweetening agent could be simple syrup, agave, or pineapple juice. We used fresh strawberries for the strawberry margaritas. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir were the wines of choice.

After I post this I have to start getting ready for my event in Santa Ynez. According to the map, I drive to Los Olivos, and then take the Figeroa Mountian Road until it ends. Should be interesting. GPS is worthless out in these remote areas. My son is going with me on this one, and he always does a great job. Pictures will follow.

Next weekend I have no events scheduled, but I’m sure something will come up. Shaken Not Stirred is the flexible mobile bartending service. We will go anywhere, anytime to bartend.

Mobile Bartenders, Party Bartenders

Palm Springs November Pool Party

November 3, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

Saturday night I traveled to Palm Springs to bartend a November pool party. What is wrong with that sentence? Well, most areas of the United States are not conducive to pool parties on November first, and actually Palm Springs usually isn’t. In fact, Saturday was probably the first cold and windy day of the season, but the air temperature was probably around 70, and they had the pool warmed to bathwater temperature. Many of the guests were from NYC and even across the pond – the UK, so this was a treat for them.

I set up my portable bar next to the pool and I served Mojitos, Cosmos, and Cadillac Margaritas. The party was actually kind of a late wedding party for the hosts, and a house warming party for their Palm Springs house. They use the house as a vacation rental, and were taking advantage of an open weekend. I have bartended many parties at similar rental units around Palm Springs. People from the colder regions love them, and I certainly understand why. Soho Tacos catered the party with their taco cart and I have worked with them before. They make some excellent fish tacos.

I bartend parties in Palm Springs about once a month. I like going out there as kind of a paid vacation. I have a motel that is reasonable where I stay, and I just enjoy myself. There is something about getting away to the desert that cleanses my soul. This time, I had a new girl, Brier, who helped me. She live out there and I am glad to have a new contact in the Coachella Valley. The hosts had here taking pictures with a point and shoot camera. I have another party scheduled in Indian Wells in December and hope to book some others back to back.

The Palm Springs pool party didn’t really start happening until everybody jumped in the pool. Then the liquor started flowing. I brought drinks to people in the pool and was happy to do so. I like bartending parties where they keep me busy. It was another very successful event and I think everybody had a good time.

The next day, instead of driving straight back to Los Angeles, I decided to visit Joshua Tree National Park. Wow, what a fantastic place. I was so glad to have done that. It is one of those things that I always wanted to do, but never made the time. I highly recommend and have included one of the pictures here. This coming week I have a corporate event scheduled in Westlake Village and another birthday party on Saturday in Woodland Hills, in the wonderful San Fernando Valley where I call home.

Mobile Bartenders, Party Bartenders, Private Bartender

Studio City Backyard Party

August 17, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

Last night I bartended a backyard party that served both as the host’s birthday party, and to celebrate the recent completion of landscaping to the backyard. It was another hot day in the San Fernando Valley and I couldn’t wait for the sun to go down as I set up my portable bar beside the pool. We were expecting around forty guests and I transferred the host’s liquor from his indoor bar to my portable bar by the pool. He had a pretty well staffed bar and we were able to cover almost all bases in the liquor department.

I made a batch of cucumber/mint syrup to try out at this party and it went over well. Several guests requested cucumber margarita over and over again. The cucumber syrup also mixes well with vodka and rum. It is very concentrated and I only put about an ounce of it into each drink. I can’t wait to try other concoctions, like peach, mango, and melon. Somebody else brought jalapeno syrup and I made her favorite drink with that. The second most popular drink of the night was the Malibu Bay Breeze.

The sun finally went down and there was some relief from the heat. Some of the guests brought their swimming trunks and dove into the pool, turning the backyard party into a pool party. The host requested that I stay an hour longer than my scheduled time and I was glad to do it. I think it is foolish for a bartender to leave when a party is still going strong. I always stay later when requested and am glad to do so. When I schedule a party on a Saturday night, I have no other pressing business.

It was nice staying in my neighborhood doing parties for the last two weeks, but am going on the road again next weekend to do a wedding in Tehachapi. Then I have two more weddings to do the following weekend in Camarillo and El Monte. The wedding season obviously isn’t over because I have other weddings already booked in September and October.

People ask me how far in advance they should book me, and I say if you agree the price is right – do it now. About a week ago somebody was talking to me about a date in November and they said they would get back to me. The next day I booked a party on that same date and took a deposit. I always book with the first person who pays a deposit. Even if a better deal comes my way – I honor my agreements with those people who have paid me a deposit. You can follow me on Twitter here.

Mobile Bartenders, Special Event Bartenders

Mobile Bartending from Beverly Hills to Quartz Hill

August 4, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

Shaken Not Stirred mobile bartending service did three events last week starting with a Beverly Hills cocktail party on Thursday, then a post wedding reception in quartz Hill, and finishing the weekend off with a company pool party in the hills of Burbank. The actual bartending is only part of the story, because each of these events required planning, including the shopping lists and drink menus, and in the case of the Burbank party I did the actual shopping for alcohol and beverages. I’m glad I did that because it was a great learning experience for me and I came in $47 under budget.

I did a little research and chose Smart and Final for 95 percent of the items I needed. They had everything from cups, to straws, good prices on soda, and most of the alcoholic beverages I needed. There were only a couple of specialty items I needed which I found at a very nice liquor store, Mission Wine and Spirits on Burbank Blvd. If you are in the San Fernando Valley I highly recommend this place. If you are planning a party and need help with the shopping list I have many lists already made for various numbers of people. I can also do the shopping for you for a fee, of course.

The Beverly Hills cocktail party was repeat business for me and I was glad to have it on the Thursday night. The host told me she would be using me a lot, because I am dependable and not priced out of sight. I am a good bartender and am worth the going rate and more, but I also realize that bartending is not brain surgery, and price my service accordingly. Each crowd that I service is different, and in Beverly Hills it seems it is all about business. They want somebody who comes in, does the job, is tactful and discreet, and then cleans up and gets out of there without a lot of fanfare and I can do that.

Saturday, I was off to Quartz Hill, outside of Lancaster to bartend a post wedding reception. The wedding took place in the Bahamas and the hosts wanted a reception for their family friends back home. I served many blended drinks there including Pina Colladas, Cadillac Margaritas, and Strawberry Margaritas. Shaken Not Stirred is a mobile bartending service that serves most of Southern California, including the far ends of Los Angeles County

The company pool party on Sunday was held at the host’s home in the hills above Burbank. There are some incredible houses up there, and this was one of them. It was spitting rain all day, but that didn’t keep the guests from drinking delicious Mai Tais, Cadillac Margaritas, and Blue Hawaiians in and out of the pool. No lightning scares. You will notice that I serve Cadillac Margaritas at almost every party I do because people love them! They are by far the most popular drink I serve. Next week I do at wedding at CBS Studios in Studio City. So far August 16^this still open, though I have some inquiries floating out there.

bachelorette party bartender, Wedding Bartender

Fillmore Wedding and Palm Springs Bachelorette Party

May 26, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

This was a busy weekend for Shaken Not Stirred. Saturday night I did a wedding in Fillmore in Ventura County, and then was off to Palm Springs the next morning to bartend a bachelorette party. I travel all over Southern California to do gigs, and I put a few miles on my car this weekend.

My son helped me with the wedding in Fillmore and did an incredible job. That was the second job he has helped me with and I am comfortable with him bartending or serving. I have extensive experience as a server and am not afraid to get my hands dirty. We had to clear the plates on all the tables at this wedding and help serve the cake. The wedding was set in an orange grove and it was a very nice location for it.

At this particular wedding the bar was set up quite away from the tables and dance floor and everyone was congregated at the bar after dinner, while the dance floor was empty. The bride asked us to move the bar closer to the dance floor and we quickly did it, kegs and all. It all worked out. They had two kegs at this wedding and the beer was popular, but I would say half of the beer was left over. I don’t recommend kegs unless it is a party over 200. They usually slow service way down – it takes about five seconds to open a bottle of beer and hand it to guest, whereas it may take a full minute to fill a draft beer, when there are twenty people in line.

I drove to Palm Springs bright and early for the bachelorette party. I must admit, my mind was racing, wondering exactly what goes on at a bachelorette party? Well, what it boiled down to was several close girlfriends celebrating their friend’s final month as a single person. They rented a house with a pool in Palm Springs for the occasion. I set up my portable bar by the pool and served them Moscow Mules, and wine. It is getting hot in the desert and I have two more events already booked for later this summer in Palm Springs.

Wednesday, I am playing mixologist at a cocktail party in Beverly Hills. I have a list of complex classic drinks the host wants, including a Singapore Sling. This will be a challenge, but I welcome it! Then, next weekend, we are doing an anniversary party in Santa Clarita.