The Big 2-7

If you know me and/or follow me on any sort of social media outlet, you are more than likely aware that my birthday was this past weekend. I love birthdays and I am very enthusiastic in my celebration of them... (I think it's because I'm leo, but that's neither here nor there).  Whatever the cause of my lifelong excitement for birthdays, it led to a very fun-filled and wonderful birthday weekend this year (and Mary was here to join for all of it!). 

As fate would have it, 8/11 fell on a Saturday this year so I took full advantage and planned a large Olympic themed bar crawl for that night.  Of course I had to celebrate on my birthday eve too, so I invited a smaller group of my close friends to Masa (my fave restaurant). After we feasted on delish deep dish pizza and the most incredible bread pudding I've ever tasted, we walked to Mohawk Bend where we enjoyed artfully crafted cocktails and one my all time favorite activities: a photobooth. It was lovely.

The main event the following night proved to be a success as well. I got the idea for the Olympic themed pub crawl from my ever-so-creative friend Marissa, and with the closing ceremonies the day after my birthday, it seemed meant to be. A funnn big group showed up for the pre-party at my place where we served a plethora of patriotic food/bevs. I loved everyone's great costumes, but here are my faves: 

• Best female costume: definitely the 2 gymansts- Mary and Elisa. (extra points to Elisa for actually performing some gymnastic moves later in the evening). 
• Best male costume: I'm going to go with Mark who found out it was a costume party on his way TO my apartment and still threw together a killer costume at Target that included a full-sized American flag worn as a cape. 
• Best non-American country costume: Hassan (by default) who repped the Kenya track and field team. 
• Most legit attire: Alisha, who also wins "furthest traveled to attend," as she flew in from the actual Olympics in London earlier that day.  (She even brought me some legit Olympic swag too!)
• Best interpretation of theme: Jordan and Laura with their ingenious homemade "God Bless America" t-shirts featuring Speedo-clad Phelps and Lochte. 

We patriotically paraded to 4 bars around Los Feliz: Good Luck Bar, Ye Rustic Inn, Public House, and Pattaya Bay (and our costumes were quite a hit, if I do say so myself).  One of the most hilarious/ridiculous moments of the night occurred between Public House and Pattaya Bay when we decided to light the Olympic torch I had made (out of tissue paper, mind you) on fire and spontaneously sang the Star-Spangled Banner in its entirety. Hahah. (Check out the last 19 seconds of this craziness in the video below). 

Overall, it was a GREAT birthday weekend. 
Thanks so much to everyone who came out and helped me paint the town red [white and blue].
You're the best. 

xoxo,

Annie.