EVENT REPORT: STARLIGHT ARCADE - JUNIOR LEAGUE CHARITY BENEFIT AT SONY

(October 13th, 2007 - Culver City, Los Angeles, CA) Event Report by Don Rose

The annual Starlight Arcade event once again took over Main Street at Sony Studios for five fun hours tonight (VIP ticketholders were allowed early entry, preferred parking and silent auction bidding opps from 7 to 8 :30pm, with everyone else arriving at 8:30). The fun went all the way to 12 midnight, and even a while after as many partygoers were having too much fun to leave!



Everyone enjoyed a sampling of foods from LA's hottest restaurants, and vodka cocktails from V2 Vodka & POM (makers of The LA Report's favorite Peach ice tea beverage). Highlights included soups, Mexican food (Chipotle restaurant serving a carnitas dish), Asian food (from local fave Chan Dara) burritos, pizza, amazing chocolate and vanilla ice cream plus other dessert options ranging from gourmet cookies to cake that, well, took the cake - plus it would be a mistake to forsake cupcakes from Susie Cakes.



The game section at Starlight Arcade was bigger and better than ever, this year adding a "Wii Row" where you could play unlimited games of virtual boxing, golf, tennis and bowling on Nintendo Wii machines (which is ironic, since this was at Sony after all, makers of the competing game machine Playstation 3). Also fun were the classic videogames (Frogger, Ms. Pacman, Galaxa, Space Invaders and more), and many racing games (from oldie but goodie Pole Position to skimobile simulators to a full blown NASCAR simulation inside a giant truck!). I had the most fun, though, on the simple non-video basketball free throw game, located in a side area that also featured a Cigar Lounge, beer garden and airhockey game. Also present there was a booth hosted by Thrillist, signing people up for their excellent daily email service - a fave here at The LA Report (think of it as Daily Candy for men).



The annual party was a benefit for the Junior League of LA charity. All proceeds from the fundraiser benefited JLLA projects and programs. You really can't beat Starlight Arcade's combination of activities; there are not many parties in LA that combine unlimited free games, music, silent auction (dozens of items), raffle (for a NASCAR simulator machine!), food, wine, beer, mixed drinks, garden, cigars, and fine art (provided by Andrew Weiss Gallery, with Picasso, Dali and Matisse artworks up for sale at amazing prices). For more information on next year's Starlight Arcade, please contact Tina Mallam, Starlight Arcade Chair, tmallam@mac.com or 310-480-4900. Also visit the website for JLLA's Starlight Arcade: http://www.jlla.org/?nd=fallparty.

ABOUT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LOS ANGELES

The Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) is a non-profit organization of more than 1,200 women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. JLLA develops, sponsors, manages and supports projects with local community partners in areas where needs are unmet and existing resources minimal. With its 82 year heritage of service in Los Angeles, JLLA contributes over 60,000 volunteer hours annually.