A Hot Opening and a Fashion-Forward Prom Night
May 25, 2007
Marie Green is a fashion stylist and writer from San Diego California. She is the Fashion Editor of FINE Homes and Living Magazine and her column, “Fashion Focus” has appeared in FINE Magazine as well as LaJolla Light, The Del Mar Times, Del Mar Ink, The Carmel Valley Leader, Rancho Santa Fe Record, and The Solana Beach Sun. Marie is also the co-founder of SheWants.com.
"Z" Bar was "Z" place to be on Wednesday evening, May 16. The much-anticipated unveiling of the new Z Ocean Bar and Epazote Oceanview Steakhouse at the top of the Del Mar Plaza was a smashing success.
The steady stream of partygoers was treated to specialty drinks, sumptuous steak, tray-passed appetizers and delicious desserts. My husband, Dennis and I, along with about 500 others, had a great time checking out the new upscale scene.
Richard Kamibayashi, the general manager, says only the signature margaritas and the amazing view remain from the old Epazote.
All of the guests I chatted with loved the new "Z" and planned on coming back soon, including Vincent Andrunas and Lauren McCrink, who said they were very impressed with the food, especially the steak.
I had the pleasure of talking with designer Monique Van Dyke, famous for her Thinque Pinque clothing line. She was there with a group that included uber hair stylist Alex Schlange of Salon Int'l in Rancho Santa Fe. They said the food was very good, the ambiance was fantastic and they looked forward to coming back for upcoming music nights in the lounge. According to Bill Packard, one of the part-owners, the event was a great way to re-introduce the restaurant. "Z" lounge is going to be THE party place for groups and couples.
Prom Night
On May 11, I attended Cathedral Catholic High school's prom held at the University of San Diego.
"The students sure didn't look like this when I went to prom!" observed my volunteer co-worker for the night, Debi Eddow.
Debi and I were perched on the edge of the red carpet at the entrance to "A Night of Stars."
Before heading to our position on the red carpet, we were invited to check out the cafeteria, which had been transformed into an "Old Hollywood" ballroom. We were very impressed with the student-made designs under the direction of faculty moderators Marlena Conroy and Rich Farrell. I was equally impressed with the sumptuous dessert buffet bordering the dance floor. Michael Meissner, the prom chair and his committee of high school juniors, along with the drama students, made incredible life size movie posters, a huge statue of "Oscar" and amazing sets for group and couples' photos by Lyons Photography.
Vice Principal Margaret Mauro was doing quick once-overs to make sure the 600 students attending were dressed appropriately before entering and Principal Deeley made sure there was plenty of Elite security around to keep things running smoothly. The prom-goers arrived by car, limo and every other kind of transportation imaginable-the most creative was an English double-decker bus.
Kara McNair and her date were the first to walk the red carpet. She looked gorgeous in a light blue beaded dress she borrowed from her mother (who must wear a size 0).
Many of the girls had dresses from Cachet, BCBG and David's Bridal. Some of the dresses had very interesting originations: Oriane Barret and Molly Collins are two lucky girls that had their parents buy their dresses in Paris, France. Cheyenne Brencick bought hers on Daddy-0.com and Ariel Vandershoit got her long black lace dress at the Mirage in Las Vegas.
Yellow is one of the hottest colors for summer and I saw a lot of it at the prom.
Heather Peterson was wearing a fashionable yellow dress from Cachet and her date, Elijah Ray, was accessorized in the same color. I asked Candace Caster, who was wearing a yellow Nicole Miller dress, how long it took her to get ready for the evening. Since she was on the decorating committee, she said she started working there at 6 a.m. and only had 30 minutes to get ready, but you would've never known it.
Metallics are an essential summer trend some of the girls displayed on the red carpet. Courtney Kuntz looked beautiful in her short metallic gold dress from Del Mar Kids. One of my favorite dresses was a very pretty, full-length gold metallic dress worn by Thara Nazareth. I asked her where she got it and she answered, "At Ross, it was only $10."
It was the best line I heard all night.
