SECRET ROOM EVENTS’ PRE-EMMYS 2024 STYLE LOUNGE
My co-writer Laura and I loved that Secret Room Events returned to the rooftop patio of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles for their latest gifting lounge. Even though the roof is, of course, outside, the event was in the air-conditioned enclosed area up there, so everyone was deliriously happy with the surroundings.
Secret Room Events head honcho Rita Branch, (whose sandals I was coveting that day!,) with her son, (and helper,) Noah Udovychenko.
Laura says, “There’s something truly magical about the Petersen Museum. Kudos to Secret Room Events for choosing such an iconic Los Angeles venue for their event. Upon entering the museum, you’re immediately captivated by the cars on the first floor. But take the elevator up to the rooftop, and you’ll be equally dazzled by the stunning views of Los Angeles and the offerings from this pre-Emmys Style Lounge.”
Of the gifts we discovered there, Laura said, “My perennial favorite part of Secret Room Events is learning about companies that are really innovative. There were a duo there this time that especially stood out for me in that category.” (You’ll find-out which ones they are as we go along, so keep an eye out for them.)
Here are the highlights of the gifts we discovered there:
Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one at the top of this page.
HayMad & Co.—We loved this sponsor! Each guest got their choice of either a beautiful sturdy corduroy tote bag or a lovely black or gray crewneck sweatshirt with the words “Be Kind” on it, which is always my motto. I hope these shirts remind others to do the same. Laura noted that “in support of Mental Health Awareness, a portion of the proceeds from their Be Kind Collection are donated to mental health organizations, fostering a stronger community.” That’s just one more reason to appreciate this company. www.haymadandco.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
Phantomasy—Laura tells us, “In the cosplay world, a mask is an integral accessory, and Phantomasy transforms the mask into a work of art. I’m so glad that in designing these beauties, they’ve considered people who wear glasses, like moi, so we don’t have to miss out on the fun.” I was just impressed with all their gorgeous color combos! www.phantomasy.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
TeaVoila—This was one of the aforementioned companies that Laura adored learning about. She enthusiastically tells us, “Each package of TeaVoila provides a dozen ready-to-go biodegradable tea cups that you can refill a trio of times, each with the same taste and aroma. Their plant-based filters have sealing technology at the bottom of the cup so bitter tea is a thing of the past! You never have to worry about over-steeping. You simply top up the hot water when you’ve almost reached the bottom of the cup.” I just appreciated that white tea, the most healthful variety of all, is one of their choices! www.teavoila.com
Photo by Karen Salkin.
Ellovi—Laura loves that this skincare company is “proudly woman-owned.” And I appreciate that this particular woman is originally from Ukraine, a country I’m always happy to support. She concentrates her efforts on making only two products, so you know they’re good. She gifted her whipped body butter in three different “flavors,” (Pink Lotus, Serenade, and Midnight,) and the same for her trio of lip butters (Blossom, Wild Rose, and Coffee.) Laura says, “What truly sets this skincare line apart is its commitment to simplicity and safety. Each product is made from only six natural ingredients, ensuring that the formulations are both gentle and effective. In fact, they are so pure that you could even eat them, which speaks volumes about their quality and safety.” www.ellovi.com
Photo by Karen Salkin.
getCrewd Party Card Game—As someone who’s been in “the biz” since I was a teen, and has always loved games dating back to Candyland, I got a kick out of learning about this new card game created by a fellow female filmmaker. Laura, who has never had even a scintilla of show business aspirations, says, “This is a great game for anyone who has ever fantasized about becoming a real Hollywood producer. You build a crew and hire actors, and if you stay under budget, you win!” So now, after leaving acting behind for journalism, I can finally get a big victory in my original field! www.getcrewd.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
Mikel Kristi Skincare—This was such a fun table because we basically “trick-or-treated” for the proper skincare products! The reps asked questions about our skin, and then, as Laura marveled, “customized a complete skincare routine for each individual.” She added, “the small bottles are perfect for travel, and they’re all placed them in an adorable mesh travel case.”www.mikelkristi.com
Photo by Karen Salkin.
Scosche—This technology accessories company was a welcome gifting suite newbie. Just listening to their rep made me feel more intelligent! They gifted a choice of a power charger or a magnetic phone mount, called the MagicMount, which uses a StickGrip suction cup base to securely hold it to the vehicle dashboard. Laura was impressed that it “uses extra powerful Rare-Earth neodymium magnets which are much stronger than the standard ones.” www.scosche.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
Marigoldbub—This skincare company is interesting in that it offers items for both moms and their babies! Laura says their “intention is to provide authentic, exceptional products designed with your family’s well-being in mind.” Guests received a facial serum along with a tongue scraper, which is a very hip item these days. www.marigoldbub.com
Photo by Karen Salkin.
La dã Vie—This company is interesting in that they gifted two wellness products that everyone should use daily, but in different areas! One is a Pit Armor natural deodorant, and the other is their moisturizer that Laura did some research on, and found-out “is formulated with ingredients that provide multiple benefits for maturing skin, helping to address common concerns such as dryness, loss of elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” www.ladavie.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
MiGuard—Migraine headaches had just been on my mind because tennis player Victoria Azarenka had just suffered from a really bad one while she was playing in the US Open! So I suggested to this company that they send her a bottle of their drug-free, all-natural Migraine & Headache Relief Solution, which was created to stop migraines before they even start. Laura said, “As someone who doesn’t like to take aspirin or ibuprofen when I have a headache, I really appreciate when a natural solution is available. This product was created by a doctor and is backed by clinical studies.” www.getmiguard.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
SenQuil—Each guest received a choice of this line’s night serum, cleaner, or moisturizer. Laura checked it out, and says, “I really like that this company is committed to developing plant-based, scientifically-proven, evidence-based products with naturally-sourced ingredients that provide quality skincare for all.” (And I’m impressed that this product inspired her to write a sentence with a total of four hyphenated compound words!) www.senquil.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
Smoodi—The is the second company whose innovation “really wowed” Laura. Smoodi is an automated smoothie machine, which Laura says “could be a game changer for many retailers—think gas stations, movie theaters, and college or corporate cafeterias. This self-serve smart blender is interactive, (and quite fun to watch), and it even cleans itself. As someone who truly appreciates engineering, I find it to be an absolutely beautiful machine that can make your favorite smoothie with ease.” www.getsmoodi.com
Photo by Laura Saul.
Crazy Candy—This company let each guest choose which candy they liked best and fill a cup with it. Mom of two Laura says, “Freeze-dried candy is the latest craze sweeping the candy world, and my kids are absolutely obsessed with this unique treat.” www.crazycandy.com
There were a couple of other little snacks along the way, which we always appreciate. It’s a bit difficult to meet-and-greet so many people when you’re hungry, so tidbits help.
As always at Secret Room Events, each VIP guest also received a gigantic LL Bean bag chock-full of auxiliary gifts. Laura got to lift one up, and even though she has practically Herculean strength, she could not believe how heavy it was all from all the extra gifts!
Just some of the items in the gigantic Secret Room Events’ VIP gift bag! Photo by Karen Salkin.
We got to look through that bag, and here are some of our faves of what we saw: From Shadowcraft—an entire goodie bag of items, including two necklaces and fabulous earrings; an attractive box of greeting cards from thoughtful Canadian company Cardideology; a beautiful blue seaglass and stainless steel bracelet, which was created just for this event, from ShipShapeStyles; Treefrog Topical Pain Relief Gel, which I’m sure every guest needed after receiving the heaviest bag we’ve ever lifted; a pretty paperweight designed by Rachel Tribble; glitter sugar for cocktail glasses from Boujee Bartender; ILT Health’s magnesium capsules along with the most fabulous sleepy mask I’ve ever seen!; Brutus Bone Broth for your dog pal; ēcōMD’s Revitalizing Eye Cream; The Hair Forge’s hair accessories; Gentlemen 1677’s cologne; a little hand soap from The Little Lakeland Soap Company; a Rejuva Minerals mascara; a box of a half dozen squishy little NeeDoh “donut holes” toys by Schylling; and possibly my favorite—a gift certificate from Dooplikit, to create your very own custom figurine!
