The Nightlife Blogger: Feeling Like A Celebrity At An Academy Awards Gift Lounge Party

Rafi Gift Lounge Is Like A Classy Cocktail Party

From drinking champagne out of the frame of an antebellum dress, to the red carpet, the gorgeous people and the fun & lively atmosphere, I felt like a celebrity while covering the Rafi gifting lounge at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills two days prior to the Academy Awards ceremony.

The only thing I did not get was a gift bag like the celebrities, but that’s okay because I would have had a tough time squeezing into those tight female designer jeans and wearing a few other items for the lovely ladies of Hollywood, although I could have walked away with a dozen roses from PassionRoses and I certainly would have taken the five days at a luxury spa in Bali.

PubClub.com was invited as press to cover the happening and it was definitely happening, all right. I had no idea what to expect but when I saw the girl gliding across the room in a dress frame full of champagne glasses, I knew it was going to be a fun time.

Being handed a glass of champagne is always a great mood-setter for an event and to have a girl from Bling Divas Entertainment there to present it in this way, well, how could I not have a smile on my face and feel as welcome as Spike Lee (whom reportedly was there earlier in the day).

The champagne (later she switched to wine) was from Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, which I am familiar with because of its participation in the Temecula Valley Wine & Balloon Festival the end of each spring.

The gifting lounge consisted of two rooms, an outer lobby with the red carpet and backdrop of sponsor logos known as a “step and repeat” banner and the main room where the gifts were laid out on tables staffed by product representatives.

Frankly, it was a bit like being at a trade show – a celebrity walked up to a table, heard a brief sales pitch from the sponsor representative (after all, the celebrities don’t actually need any of this swag but they do enjoy getting free stuff), took the product and stuffed it into a bag, not unlike the one you take to the grocery store.

With a DJ playing music (thankfully not at an ear-splitting level) and the wine dress girl walking around and bands on stage afterward, the lounge had a party atmosphere. It was less like a wild Vegas-style nightclub and more like a swanky cocktail affair.

The lounge was one room, with the Bali trip and roses located just outside the door. It wasn’t warehouse sized, in case you’re thinking it was like going to Costco.

I left thinking that celebrities sure do have the lifestyle, and it was good to be one of them for a day.

Cheers!