Cocktails and Luxury Consignment

It turns out that school fundraiser parties can rule your social life, and it's a great way to get you out, be with friends and raise money at the same time.  You bid on being a party guest, and the parties have all sorts of themes, from Mardi Gras to Beer Ping Pong and others.

For two years now I have happily partaken in the Mimosa & Mingling party at Labels, a luxury consignment shop on College Ave, in Berkeley (accessories only) and on Main Street in Walnut Creek (clothing and accessories).  The owner, Lynn, my friend and a preschool Mom is one of the most happy, energetic, fun persons I know.  And as a Mom of three, a successful  family business owner, she amazes me at how she does it all.  She runs both stores, with her husband and has three kids.

Labels, Berkeley location.

Lynn

Her beautiful shop opens for just us small group of moms, browsing around, sipping drinks, nibbling food and trying on things.  It's like being in a giant rich persons closet.

Last time, I scored a 1960s yellow crystal bead necklace and a green patent leather clutch. 

The store interior is beautifully custom designed and all the inventory is nicely categorized by color, style and size, making it fun to look at.  Shoes, bags, jewelry, scarves, hats, all accessories are at the Berkeley store.

There's my yellow necklace in the bunch.

Shoes on the second floor.

Bags in cubby holes.

Scarves

Labels in Walnut Creek is their original location.  It's bigger and also beautifully designed with gorgeous tables displaying tons of shoes, and their signature square cubby hole bookcases housing their luxurious bags. 

The second time I joined their party was at their Walnut Creek store.  Cocktails, food, friends, trying on Chanel dresses and vintage furs...  I can't wait for the next one!

Shoe display

Rows of shoes...

My cocktail, with furs, bags and shoes in the background.

For those who do not want to pay full price, consignment is the way to go, especially luxury consignment.

Oakland Art Murmur - First Fridays

An especially fun event to go to is the monthly Oakland Art Murmur - First Friday, held on most first fridays of every month.  It's a great example of what makes Oakland great.

It's a night time festival (5-9pm) in Uptown on Telegraph Ave. between Grand and 27th, featuring open galleries, live music, food trucks and other vendors.  It's a constant scene of people watching and senses overload. Great fun.

Art Murmurers on the street.

When I went I made it a family affair with my three kids, 2, 5 and 8 yrs old at the time. Although not appropriate for all children, mine did fine and enjoyed themselves.

Cool cats and their hot rods.

The event, although organized by the city, seemed a tad unorganized and really run "by the people", which made it all the more interesting.  The vendors and musicians seemed to set up camp randomly where they wanted to.  Sometimes clashing music would be playing within feet of each other, but it all worked out somehow.

Stand up comedian, trying to gather his crowd.
Not sure what that cut-out monkey is about.

Rocking it in a school bus with strobe lights
and white masks. 

The people watching was great. Every single interesting looking person in the city was at the Art Murmur that night, it seemed.

My kids walked through old school buses converted into mobile art galleries, or little mini rock clubs, with bands in side playing (or on top of the roof), or vans used as a clothing boutiques that you can walk into.  They checked out the various vendors selling things like jewelry, installations, or displaying strange barbie doll art. They listened to tons of music, and danced around.

Barbie doll art.  Barbies on hats, and doll faces on pant legs.
The girls were amazed.

The first thing we did when we got there was head for a cupcake food truck.  And although the cupcakes looked appetizing, they were a big disappointment.

Standing in line at the not so good cupcake truck.

There were other food trucks there, but we had already eaten dinner before at home.

DJ-ing with old school stereos strapped to a frame.

Our friends underneath a dragon/horse/van with a DJ on top.
Still covered in dust from their Burning Man trip.

Dancing in the street.

We got back to our car at 9:30pm, and everyone was in a good mood, even our youngest, Austin who had missed his bedtime by two hours.  I love my kids for being such troopers!