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U.S. Campus Life
Poolside party
Several weeks ago, I received a professionally printed card in the mail inviting me to attend a poolside party on the rooftop of a hotel in downtown Boston. The party was to commemorate the second anniversary of a Boston-area restaurant guide called "Where to Eat."
I noticed at the party that some of the people looked like personal friends of the editors and others looked like members of the press.
I was invited because I write restaurant reviews for a local Japanese magazine and I am therefore considered part of the press.
Although I'm just a freelance writer for a small publication, I've had quite a few opportunities to attend restaurant openings and other public relations events. Needless to say, I have enjoyed getting an insider's view of the restaurant business. One could argue that there's something mildly unethical about private businesses courting the press, but I've pretty much gotten over the guilt of accepting free food. I'm not a politician, after all.
Many of the restaurants featured in "Where to Eat" put out booths at the poolside party and handed out samples of their food. The food was not just "street food." I sampled raw oysters and clams, lobster sandwiches, roast beef canapes, scallop and avocado salad and mascarpone fondue. There was an open bar that featured green apple martinis. All of these foods are luxury foods on their own, but the chefs added their own twists. For instance, the lobster sandwiches were made with a yogurt-like cream instead of mayonnaise and they were topped with tiny lavender buds for a burst of flowery essence with each bite.
The swimming pool itself was very, very small and it was clear that the party organizers did not expect anybody to swim in the pool. However, they did put some yellow plastic ducks in the pool to add a humorous touch, and the water definitely helped create a summery atmosphere.
I spotted the man who organized the party right away since he had on a bright-red Hawaiian shirt. Even though I've met him only once before, I had the feeling that he would show up in a Hawaiian shirt and I was right. He's in the PR business and I knew that he would dress in a way that would add life to the party. He's a very handsome man and he stood out. Before I met him for the first time, I expected him to be very attractive and I wasn't surprised that he was. It might seem unfair, but it's probably one of the job requirements of a party promoter.
I congratulated him for the wonderful party. He told me that finding the location was one of the most difficult tasks in planning the party. Many different restaurants are featured in "Where to Eat," so he couldn't hold the party at a restaurant. The rooftop pool was a neutral space, but he had to pray that it wouldn't rain. Many of Boston's top restaurants donated their precious resources for the event and rescheduling would've been impossible. Apparently, he even contacted a meteorologist to check which dates would be the best.
All I can say is that his prayers worked and the day was lovely. I knew that photographers would be at the party, so I put a bit of thought into choosing the right costume. Basically, I knew that I should wear something that would look good at a resort: light and casual, but not too sloppy. I settled on wearing a pair of shiny orange pants, a no-sleeve shirt and purple sandals with heels. I bought the sandals specifically for the event. I bought lip gloss to match. I also bought some crystal-like beads and strung them on wire to make my own necklace and bracelet. I chose the same color scheme used in the invitation that was sent in the mail.
In spite of all these efforts, including changing my hairstyle at least three times during the day, none of the photographers took any pictures of me. I was mildly disappointed, although I know I shouldn't have been. This party was to congratulate the editors of the restaurant guide for a job well done. I didn't know the editors, so I felt uncomfortable walking up to them. In the end, it was a mystery that I had been invited at all.