BrightestYoungThings – DC – PHOTOS: Class Is In Session

all photos: Franz Mahr, Shauna Alexander and ONOMONOMEDIA Photobooth

When a few weeks back Spike Mendelsohn gave us a ring telling us that “he knows just the place to have the best party/benefit EVER” we obviously agreed to go check said space out. Having said that-our expectations were, as always, lower than “BEST EVER” since here in the event planning biz you get your heart broken by not quite so “BEST EVER” spaces all the time.

However, the second we walked into the Pierce School Lofts (managed by EVOLVE DC), we were in love. And when we say we’re in love, you better believe we’re in love. L.U.V. Add to that: a great cause (helping send two kids to culinary school through KIPP DC), a fantastic chef line-up (more on that below), a 250 lb pig, amazing beverage partners and a solid gold theme (CLASS IS IN SESSION-since, hey-we are IN A SCHOOL, we are SENDING KIDS TO SCHOOL, we are ALL LEARNING SOMETHING HERE) and we ended up, in a matter of weeks, with what is now fondly referred to in BYT offices as “The Best Night Ever”.

Before we dive into the massive amounts of food porn that await you below, we just want to say some THANK YOUS:

to all of you for coming out and helping raise a good solid 5 figure donation for KIPP
to Chris Swanson, Jeff Printz and Evolve DC for letting us host this in their amazing home
to Chef Spike and his team for thinking of us and being a terrific partner

and to everyone who participated:

Your Lunch Ladies:

Chef Spike grilling up some Prez Obama Burgers
Scott Drewno of The Source making his signature Tuna Cones
Chef Mike Isabella and his taquitos
Chef Bryan Voltaggio & Bev Eggleston roasting a whole pig
Erik Bruner-Yang of Toki Underground making Shrimp and Mushroom Dashi Chips
Chef Victor Albisu whipping up some Chorizo Sandwiches
+ tons of Oysters provided by Rappahannock

Recess Entertainment:

DJ Philippe Chetrit (Fatback) & DJ Aaron Baird (Que Sera)
DJ Stylus (Sol Power)
Photobooth from OnomonoMEDIA
Contortionist Shelly Guy
and more!

Juice Boxes and After School Snacks:

Full open bar courtesy of Diageo Liquors and DC Brau
Champagne Cocktails Courtesy of St. Germain
much help from Jocelyne and David from TRYST/Diner/Open City
Dangerously Delicious Pies (which we have no photos of because they were consumed faster than we could get a photographer to the table)

Spiked Prom Punch:

Ashley May & Patrick Owens of American Ice Co./Spirits in Black
Rachel Sergi of Jack Rose
Julia Hurst and Alexandra Bookless of The Passenger

Hall Monitors:

Metropolitan Security Professionals, LLC (not actually pictured below)

with much love from:

snaps by Franz:

snaps by Shauna:

+ some choice snaps from our friendly ONOMONOMEDIA yearbook photo booth (to download the whole set, click here: www.onomonomedia.com/vendor/BYTSPIKE.zip )