TEAM USA “ON THE ROAD TO PARIS” EVENT
As a lover of athletes, the Olympics, great food, learning something new about my city, and having a good time in general, I was so happy to be included in a recent event to celebrate that the Paris Olympics and Paralympics are just a year away!
And it was exactly the summer fun I needed! What an upbeat and interesting time it was.
Some of the mingling, while swimmer Ellie Marks gets asked for her autograph. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.
It appeared that the entire assemblage agreed with me because, even on one of the hottest nights of the year, with the doors open and the food being served on the back patio, absolutely every single person there appeared to be having a blast! This was such a happy party! It was so easy to talk to strangers, no matter how accomplished some of them, (especially the athletes,) might be.
As to the venue, no one who’s ever seen Mr. X and me on the old TV show Tattletales back in the day, (the one where celebrity couples competed against each other to win money for the audience, and on which we’re the All-Time Champions!,) would have ever guessed that I would have had such a fabulous time at a…tattoo parlor! That’s because one of the many questions we got exactly right was about where on my body I would get a tattoo. And we both knew the answer immediately, which was “no place ever!!!”
The choice of special Olympics “made-to-fade” tattoos guests could get at the event. Photo courtesy of Team USA.
But Ephemeral LA on LaBrea, where this soiree was held, is actually beautiful and inviting. And with so many guests getting ones from their special “made-to-fade” Team USA Flash Tattoo Collection, which are so attractive and adorbs, (and begin to disappear in one-to-three years!,) I was tempted to join in the fun and get one. (I know—who am I?—right?) But when I learned that they still required needling, I couldn’t go through with it. After several very painful injections into both knees recently, I’m done with needles for a long while. (Knock on wood.) Plus, knowing how attached to everything I get, I would have been sad when my cute design faded.
But those special tattoos and athletes weren’t the only attraction of the evening, by far. There was so much to it!
The buffet. I love when there’s a menu right up front, so we guests don’t have to guess at what the food is! Photo by Karen Salkin.
The food was delish and the personnel were very pleasant and kind, even in the heat. It was catered by Colette’s, who provided the perfect and easy Mexican buffet. We got to make our own soft tacos, (with a choice of chicken, beef, or vegetables, and even two kinds of tortillas,) with tasty rice and beans on the side. And they did the absolutely best thing I have ever seen at a fete—they provided take-out containers for us to fill-up and take home!!! That was soooo thoughtful!
The desserts were on a separate table, and very wisely, none were chocolate, which would have surely melted in the intense heat that night! Instead, there were Rice Krispies treats, lemon bars, and mini apple pies, (none of which I eat, thank goodness for my chubbette self.) My friend, Marc, said they were all great. And he doesn’t even usually like Rice Krispies treats! Perhaps he enjoyed these because they were made with limited edition red and blue Krispies, which combined with the white marshmallows, were perfect for the Team USA occasion.
Karen Salkin cheering for Team USA in the photo booth while her friend Marc is posing. (It’s blurry because it’s really a video!)
In addition to all the eating, mingling, and tattooing, there was also a video booth. We got to choose our background from a trio of Team USA designs, and then just moved around goofily (or maybe that was just me,) for about twenty seconds or so. It was amusing that Marc didn’t realize it was a video, (as opposed to a still pic, which we find at many a soiree,) so he just posed until I told him he had to move. So our video is basically of me breaking it down for him, which Mr. X got a kick out of when I sent it to him from the event.
But, of course, we were there to celebrate the athletes who are looking to compete in the Paris Olympics next summer. Marc was thrilled to meet very pretty Paralympic two-time gold medalist swimmer, Ellie Marks; he had to take a selfie with her right away. Then, as we were leaving, I spied adorable rugby player, Marcus Tupuola, lying in one of the open “rooms,” and I just had to pop in and take some pix of him getting ready to be tattooed. He told me he chose the “breakdancing” image. (They didn’t offer a rugby one, so his was a good choice because it will be the newest competition in 2024, even though I think breakdancing is a very odd choice as a “sport,” no matter how athletic you must be to do it, as is required with all forms of dance.)
Rugby player Marcus Tupuola, getting ready to be tattooed. (And look at whose pink business card he’s holding!) Photo by Karen Salkin.
I’m the first to admit that I can’t function in heat, so I wasn’t my most charming self, and therefore didn’t seek out anyone to chat with. So I feel a tad bad that I didn’t get to meet more of the talented athletes, including Paralympians Nick Mayhugh (who’s a gold medalist in track and field); high jumper Ezra Frech; swimmers Ahalya Lettenberger, Haven Shepherd, and Lizzi Smith, (who already has three medals); and Olympic hopefuls Colleen Quigley (track and field); Kyra Condie (climbing); and gymnast Donnell Whittenburg. But, of course, I wish all of them the best of luck in their Olympic trials next year.
The athletes’ poster cards, all ready to be autographed! Photo by Karen Salkin.
One thing I got a kick out of is that this was the most casual event ever! I totally messed-up my entire bedroom trying to find something casual-but-dressy-enough for the occasion, and then when we pulled-up to the fete, all I saw were jeans, tee-shirts, and shorts! On everyone! In my little very non-fancy dress, I looked like I was on the way to a ball in comparison! They all looked so comfortable that it actually made me happy for them, as opposed to being jealous for myself because I got the attire choice wrong, (which, trust me, was far from the first time!)
Photo by Karen Salkin.
As the guests exited the event, we each received a cute “Team USA” clear plastic goodie bag, (which will come in handy for anyone who still plans to go to a Taylor Swift concert at some point—the only bags you can bring in to them have to be see-thru!) In each one was a pair of hip sunglasses, a pretty Olympics-themed scarf/rally towel, and little stickers that say “Team USA.”
As if all of that was not enough, the event organizers provided Ubers for many of the guests, including yours truly. How generous was that?! As a crazy old friend of mine used to say about unusual instances, I never heard of such a thing! Marc was thrilled to not be the driver for once. (But I couldn’t help but still be the navigator. I could not believe how wrong the Uber directions were several times.)
Now I can only hope that next summer’s Olympics will be as fun as this celebratory party was. You know I’ll be watching it all, and cheering for this event’s athletes to go all the way.
