Highland High School Twenty-Year Reunion

Congratulations to the Highland High School Class of 1992! 

Pierpont Place was proud to host the 20 year class reunion for this wonderful group of alumni, including our very own colleague Trisha Anderson, a proud graduate of the Class of '92, who helped to plan and execute the event!

FORGET the stereotypical high school reunion held in an old gymnasium with dim lighting, deflated balloons, bowls of sickly sweet fruit punch, and groups of awkward and uncomfortable classmates...you all know that at Pierpont Place, we simply wouldn't stand for such a thing!

Instead, the Class of '92 was treated to a full-scale Pierpont Place welcome with a full cash bar, scrumptious snacks (skewers with watermelon, feta cheese, and tomatoes, caprese kabobs, sliced prime rib with chives and horseradish sauce on crostinis, and a plate of delicious cheeses and meats) and lively and spirited black, white and yellow décor to celebrate Highland's school colors!

Alumni wandered freely around the venue, eating, drinking, finding old friends and chatting about professions, families, and what's changed in the twenty years since high school! Friends recognized each other in the large yearbook photos hanging around the venue and laughed at themselves in the video of the 1991-92 school year playing at the front of the room.

The program put on by the alumni committee included a warm welcome to all who came, a recap of local and world events that have taken place since their graduation in 1992, and a sincere and sweet remembrance of those classmates that had already passed away. This was followed by a raffle with prizes donated by members of the class of '92, where each prize had to do with the professions, hobbies, or connections of one of the alumni--Such a great idea! Giveaways included books authored by classmates, photographs and paintings made by the artists in the group, teeth cleanings and whitening kits offered by alumni-turned-dentists, U of U memorabilia, and (my favorite) a "Get Out of Jail Free Card" from a law enforcement official, "to be used only if you find yourself in a West Valley City Jail"---priceless!!!

The party went on for hours, as old classmates reconnected over drinks and 80's dance music, and two well-remembered class clowns reenacted the famous botched lipsync of Milli Vanilli.

All in all, a very enjoyable event, and one to make us all stop dreading our own high school reunions! Thanks Highland High Class of '92 for choosing Pierpont Place, and congratulations on your 20 Year Reunion! Wow!

Outdoor Retailers Summer 2012...Come back, Come BACK!

AND NOW...The post you've all been waiting for...

Let's talk Outdoor Retailers Summer 2012!!!

As you all know, we here at Pierpont Place L-O-V-E the Outdoor Retailers convention that comes to our fine state twice a year in winter and summer! We're not the only ones who love the big OR Show--Salt Lake City thrives when this crew comes to town with thousands of national and international travelers, their hearty appetites, awesome outdoors gear and their thirst for FUN! Every time that these fantastic adrenaline-junkies show up at the Salt Palace, Pierpont Place kicks into gear to enjoy a week of parties with some of the coolest businesses at the convention! 

We kicked off our Outdoor Retailers excitement with Verde PR's 2012 Speak EZ; a boisterous flapper and gangster themed pre-show event for the OR--I mean, honestly, how could that NOT be fun! Verde PR is a Wyoming and Colorado based public relations and consulting firm that represents several outdoors-y brands (among many other clients). The Speak EZ was a fun and lively way for 14 of their outdoors, fitness, and natural product clients to meet, shmooze, and practice the quick business pitches that they'd be using for the next few days at the OR show, all while enjoying food, drinks galore, and great company! 

When I say "drinks galore," I really, really mean it! Verde PR didn't use the term "speakeasy" lightly...this event was reminiscent of Prohibition era alcohol establishments (except that this liquor was absolutely legal, and outdoor retailer technology has come a long, long way since then)! Scattered amongst each of the 14 retailers were tasting tables of 14 different brands of whiskey, vodka, and gin! My favorite new liquor finds were Pendleton Whiskey from Hood River in Oregon, and Anchor Distilling Junipero Gin from San Francisco, although I have to stay true to my dear Utah and say that High West's Double Rye Whiskey always knocks the competition out of the water!

As SLC local DJ Knuckles was spinning tunes, attendees were strolling from one amazing retailer's booth to the next, sipping some of the best brands of whiskey, vodka or gin and getting a head start on other OR pass holders in seeing some of the coolest new products in the field from Cocona, Ibex, Julbo, Metolius, Mountain Mama, Nikwax, Northside, Outdoor Research, Princeton Tec, SCARPA, Tern Bicycles/Biologic Cycling Products, Vapur, Zuke's Pet Performance Nutrition, and K2 Outdoors Atlas and Tubbs Snowshoes! 

No exaggeration--these companies seriously do have some of the niftiest products ever!

Cocona Inc from Boulder, Colorado will soon be the BIGGEST thing in the outdoor apparel industry--their patented technology enhances the performance of fabrics for breathability, waterproofing, UV protection, and (whew!) odor management! The Cocona booth had a display showing just how good their technology is for waterproofing and wicking away water from outdoor apparel fabrics, and I have to say, I was convinced! 

SCARPA outdoor shoe company gained my approval not only because their shoes are amaaazingly comfortable, but also because each pair that they had on display at the Speak EZ was named after a refreshing cocktail (my favorite, the Mojito!) Gotta give kudos to the SCARPA representatives as well, for being some of the only attendees who truly embraced the flapper/gangster Prohibition theme (look at the first picture on this post to see what I mean)!

My favorite booth of all, though, was that of Tern Bicycles, a young company specializing in (get this) foldable bikes! Now, you may have seen the flimsy old folding bicycles that pack up small but ride like a death wish... forget 'em! Tern bikes ride like regular bikes and even look pretty sharp, but fold into an easily packable shape in less than 10 seconds! Some of the bestselling models have other perks too, like a bicycle seat that is also a tire pump (unbelievably cool!)

 I was just about ready to hand over a few hundred dollars and ride home on this one! 

All in all, a delightful party with some seriously awesome toys, tools, and travelers! Thanks to Verde PR for bringing your Speak EZ to Pierpont Place...we had a BLAST! 

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The next night, we kept the party going with the Canoe and Kayak First Annual Awards Banquet, presented by Zeal Optics! We've hosted Canoe and Kayak Magazine at Pierpont Place before, but this event blew the others out of the water! 

The awards banquet recognized excellence in the sport of paddling after a long process of nominating and voting by C&K editors and readers. Winners were named in the categories of Male Paddler of the Year, Female Paddler of the Year, Expedition of the Year, Paddle with Purpose, Movie of the Year, Reel of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award! (See C&K's website here for more info about the awards and winners!)

As the party started, we began to think that Canoe and Kayak should add another category...Partier of the Year, which everyone there would have won by the end of the night! With all of the excitement of the awards ceremony and the beginning of the Outdoor Retailers Show, it's not wonder that the gathering was boisterous and rowdy all night long! In true OR fashion, we kept the drinks flowing with Utah-based Shades of Pale Brewing Company's bottles galore, and Kru Vodka, one of the event sponsors! We encouraged the fun with a Canoe and Kayak ice luge (HUGE HIT) and a shot paddle (we thought it was fitting)!

As platters of delicious hors d'oeuvres (like thai peanut chicken with chili sauce and chives, shaved prime rib with creamy horseradish sauce, and bruscetta with crumbled feta...yum!) made their way around the crowded room, the adrenaline-pumped guests danced, drank, and talked for hours about their latest adventures paddling down hundred foot waterfalls and through Class 6 whitewater rapids! Photographers were kept busy taking pictures of attendees in front of the step and repeat as the DJ filled the room with party music and our bartenders kept everyone hydrated and happy!

As if all of this excitement wasn't enough, the actual awards part of the night had everyone clapping, cheering, and toasting as the videos of the winners were shown-- check these two videos out to see the kind of adventurers we're talking about here! 

Male Paddler of the Year Award: Isaac Levison

Reel of the Year Award: "Slippery When Wet" from Shasta Boyz Productions

What a priceless night with some truly awe-inspiring people! We LOVED partying with you, Canoe & Kayak! Hope to see you next year for the Second Annual Awards Banquet!

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To wrap up our Outdoor Retailers fun, we spent the next evening hosting one of our very favorite Salt Lake companies! Pierpont Place has been lucky enough to work with eXperticity (formerly known as SwarmBuilder) and its children companies, 3point5 and Promotive, for several years, and they just keep on coming back to us (thank you, thank you)! As always, eXperticity's party was the classiest thing going on in the city that night, and the crowd that filled Pierpont Place enjoyed the very best that Utah has to offer in drinks, cheeses, meats, and chocolates (and, of course, the very best Utah event venue)! 

Park City based High West Distillery (one of our favorite vendors) supplied the party with their famous and absolutely delicious whiskey and vodka (these guys can make a Whiskey Sour like non-other)! eXperticity's usual exquisite ice sculpture sat in the middle of the bar to keep shots and drinks perfectly chilled!

For those who wanted something to snack on with their drinks, we had some local cheeses from Beehive Cheese Company (my constant go-to is their espresso cheese) and Gold Creek Farms (incredible smoked cheddar). The cheeses were accompanied by a whiskey cured salami and a scrumptious moccetta (italian cured ham) from Creminelli Fine Meats, another SLC local company. 

To satisfy even the most aching sweet tooth (like mine), there was a spread of beautifully decorated (and extremely tasty) chocolates were supplied from Chocolate Sweet Confections in Ogden and from Millcreek Coffee Roasters. 

If you've read our previous blog posts about our parties with eXperticity, you'll see that many of these treats have remained constant--that's because they're the best of the best and we LOVE to support our lovely Utah! 

Guests for the eXperticity party enjoyed an elegant blue and white décor with some gorgeous and unique floral arrangements by our in-house florist and decorator. The party went on all night as guests sat in our comfortable lounges and enjoyed the fantastic drinks and delicious food, which went beyond the aforementioned snacks to include mouthwatering entrées cooked to order!

As always, eXperticity's party offered amazing company and good conversation! For those who don't know the company, check out our post about their party at Pierpont Place place last January, where the company's mission and their recent changes are detailed from a conversation with Patrick Purcell, eXperticity's Senior Marketing Manager! What a fantastic company with dedicated, knowledgeable and excited leaders, passionate about what they do! Always such a good time hanging out and hosting parties with eXperticity, 3point5 and Promotive--can't wait to do it again this winter! 

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It should be obvious why the two times annually that the Outdoor Retailers Convention comes to Salt Lake City are our favorite weeks of the year...these folks keep us busy and they know how to live it up!    Keep on coming back, Outdoor Retailers--We LOVE you!

Verde PR, Canoe & Kayak Magazine, and eXperticity--Thanks for the stellar parties! We hope to see you again in a few short months, when the weather turns chilly and (hopefully) the snow starts to fall!

Until then, we'll keep in touch through Facebook and Twitter, and we're always reachable through our website!

With love always,

Pierpont Place

Mark and Josie Anniversary and Fundraising Party!

Pierpont Place is SO PROUD to host a celebration and fundraiser for our friends Mark Wheatley and Josie Valdez!

Janice says: "I vividly remember Mark's very first campaign party at their home, gosh, over 10 years ago! I thank you both, Josie and Mark for supporting me in my business endeavors and most importantly contributing passionately to the very volatile political ring!
We need more politicians like the two of you fighting for the rights of fellow women, Latinos, small businesses and for the greater good of our community! I am proud to call you both friends, and proud to host your fundraising celebration. Best of luck to both you! You have my support!"

Lounge 202 Party: Open to the Public! Get your tickets today!!!

Are you ready to PARTY? If you made plans for this Friday night, it's time to cancel them! This will be the hottest night of the summer! Come one, Come all to Pierpont Place for Lounge 202! Call 202-570-0457 or go to www.nteutah.com to buy tickets and reserve tables!

Wrapping Up a Jolly July and Moving On To an Awesome August!!

Whew!! It's been a couple of crazy weeks here at Pierpont Place! Now that we have a moment to breathe, we want to highlight just a few of the fun things that we've been keeping busy with!

There are few things worth waiting five decades for, but Annette's SURPRISE 50th Birthday Party at Pierpont Place in mid-July just might have been one of them! The intimate party of 40-50 guests was planned in advance by Annette's husband Bill (note to self: find a hubby one day who will throw me amazing surprise parties). The best part: it was a heavily guarded secret until the lucky lady arrived to find a splendid soirée with good music, great food, and wonderful company!

Décor for this baby boomer's birthday bash was lively and colorful, including green and white paper lanterns and earthy flower arrangements, vibrant hanging decorations, comfy black lounges, and a perfect touch of the funky 80's with a glittering disco ball!

As always, we enjoyed the scrumptious food and drinks...

...but the best part hands-down was the great company! It's always wonderful to feel the love and friendship within such a close group of people! 

We were so happy to be a party of the lovely Annette's birthday!

Here's to many, many more!!!

The next week, we were happy to host Century Link's North Carolina Night! The global provider of high speed internet and telecommunications enjoyed the company of North Carolina politicians at Pierpont Place after the 39th Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council. The event was an intimate party with vivid yellow and blue decor to create a bright and cheery atmosphere perfect for networking and conversing. We loved shmoozing with the friendly folks from the East Coast, many of whom were in Utah for the first time! To give them a true "taste" of our beloved state, we served only LOCAL Utah drinks, including High West Whiskey, Five Wives Vodka, and Castle Creek Wine from Moab!
That ought to keep them coming back to the wonderful Salt Lake City, don't you think? We sure hope so!

Now, those of you who also stay informed on our every movement through Facebook and Twitter (by the way, we LOVE those people) have already seen how excited we were about this highlight, but for the rest of you...

Pierpont Place was SO excited to welcome Dateline's famous and award-winning correspondent Keith Morrison during the last couple days of July!! Dateline is notorious for its stories of investigative reporting, often focused on murders, mysteries, and justice. Morrison himself is practically legendary for his expertise in being the voice and the face of the mystery stories that Dateline is most known for. And no wonder...watch any of his Dateline mystery segments and see why--that ominous tone and expressive face gives us shivers!!
That's why we were a little bit starstruck and totally thrilled when Dateline chose Pierpont Place to film a new segment on a local murder mystery. For now, our lips are sealed on the content of the big story, but we promise we'll share it with all of you when it's released! Until then, enjoy some of the pictures we snapped while they were in the venue!

And, of course, one photo of our lovely (and very excited) owner Janice Boes with the handsome Keith Morrison.

What a way to end a fabulous month! Now onto an amazing August...summer may be winding to an end for some of you, but you can be sure that Pierpont Place will keep it HOT through the rest of the year!

Check back soon for news and pictures of our fantastic weekend with the Outdoor Retailers Convention Summer 2012! While you're waiting (on the edge of your seat, I know), make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook!

As always...
LOVE,
The one and only Pierpont Place!