A whiskey distiller, a long list of email sign ups for more info from the L.A. Scotch Club, a favorite local mixologist, an author, beer cocktails, a bitters lesson/tasting, a sake expert, a professional dancer, gin in a sparkling wine, dozens of restaurant owners, a fun DJ, killer orangecello, whiskey under the table, a guest that bought a $200 bottle at the event to sip on with pals, boozy bundlets, thick mocktails, dancing the Macarena, a free bakery, spirits from a winery, an appreciative school board…why do I need to write an article? Read for yourself what the guests thought of the first Cocktails on the Roof below, in the coverage here from KHTS hometown station, here in the Signal newspaper and check out the red carpet photos too!
The Buzz That Night
Starting off with Amy Daniels, Executive Director, Wish Education Foundation – Clearly, people in our beautiful SCV understand the value in great public education and are open to creative, fun, responsible ways to support the WiSH Education Foundation’s mission to assist our students and educators! Cocktails on the Roof was only possible because of the invaluable generosity of our sponsors, participants and a great group of organizers. Cheers to all for the newest, “best party the SCV has ever seen!”
Kathy L. – So much fun tonight at Cocktails on the Roof. Great event Eve Bushman.
Ken and Frances P. – (we) had a great time. Too many people don’t know about LA Scotch Club. Now they do! Thank you Eve!
solita tacos and margaritas – Thank you so much for including us! We truly admire all that the WiSH Education Foundation does and it was an AMAZING event!!!
Kathi D. – Looking forward to the 2016 version…as long as all your terrific vendors (and more?) are back! Great vibe, amazing food and spirits, inventive (and tasty) cocktails, awesome DJ – a fun, fun night for a good cause. Thanks for pulling it all together.
Theresa H. – Such a great time.
Cheryl D. – A most enjoyable evening!
Emily C. – I found new loves of food from every place I tried, I will definitely be frequenting all of these food vendors again, not only for the amazing food they have but for the continual support throughout the community for all of the events that they do…Chicken kabob…Steak kabob, bacon wrapped scallops, scallops Poke, garlic hummus, salmon salad, empanadas, cup cakes, bundt cakes, pasta Bolognese, and a lot and I mean a lot of sweet cocktails…. Oh and bread and oil and bacon wrapped shrimp… So much good food last night my appetite doesn’t want anything else than the wonderful food! Good friends good dancing good cocktails at #Cocktailsontheroof. And had a fun time dancing on the dance floor with the amazing dancer Janine Jones.
Gail P. – Awesome! Great job Eve!
Sonya R. – Excellent time!!! Thank you for all your work and effort!
Kathy W. – The shrimp wrapped in bacon from Salt Creek and those Diego Lara drinks were our fave.
Jennifer C. – What a fun event…beautifully executed!
Dee Dee J. – Great event! Definitely coming next year!
Lori C. – A very nice affair for our city…we just got back from Cocktails on the Roof, a benefit for the William S. Hart District. It was a who’s who of many of our local eateries – with each providing a sample tasting and a signature drink. All we can say is “Wow”! This was on par, nay, even better than many of the foodie events hubby and I have attended. Kudos to our own Eve Bushman for co hosting this event with Marlee Lauffer. The bread, delicious by the way was provided by Scott Ervin of Speakeasy fame.
And more from Lori C. – Loved this event Eve! Santa Clarita needs more of them. Loved how each restaurant made a signature dish and drink to pair with it – and what a selection of eateries both old and new. Location and weather were perfect and the white tents, twinkling lights and trees just added to the elegance. Best of all – not a single t shirt or backwards baseball cap in sight! Thank you for making this such a must attend event. Can’t wait to see what you do next year.
Paul de la Cerda – Excellente!
Margo B. – Great event, well organized, very fun!
Scott E. – What a wonderful event. Can’t wait for next year. Thanks to all of the organizers. *dropsflatonbackfromexhaustion*…Good time all night, but things definitely took a turn for the better after “someone” brought me a special glass of scotch, followed by our neighbors, Salt Creek Grille, handing over some wasabi stuffed, bacon wrapped grilled shrimp in BBQ sauce. Yeah, definitely better… My favorite moment was watching Larry, Larry From Yelp, dance The Macarena.
Shari S. – What a fun night! Thanks for hosting such an organized and unique fundraiser!
Mitch R. – Very proud to be a sponsor and on the organizing committee. Great event for a great cause!
Pam I. – This was a great event. Nice to see so many “new” faces. You were able to pull a different crowd. Food and cocktails were amazing! Janine Jones on the dance floor got the crowd going. Can’t wait until next year!
Jamee B. – Amy and team – kuddos for days!
Danise D. – A sold out crowd under the stars. It was terrific…I had a blast! Glad to be a part of it!
Tamar H. – Best event of the year!
Scott C. – We had a Fabulous time. Great Atmosphere (really, the parking lot was a great idea) Great Vendors, Well Organized, and a great crowd and vibe. There was a great variety of food and the cocktails were delicious. Sign us up for the next one!
Louise C. – There was a red carpet??? Hahaha more bourbon pleeeease.
Cindy H. – A blast!
Carin C. – Good party vibe...Fantastic evening of fine cocktails, good food and visiting with some good friends and meeting new ones. Eve Bushman, what a tour de force! It was good to finally meet you.
Alex H. – Cocktails on the roof was sooo fun! We had a blast!
Margo B. – Fun fundraising event.
Maureen M. – What a perfect evening for Cocktails on the Roof, which raised money for Wish Foundation, (William S. Hart School District). It was so nice to see so many of our friends there! Great job, Marlee and Eve!
Theresa H. – A wonderful inaugural event at Cocktails on the Roof. Thank you Eve!
Jane B. – Had so much fun forgot to take more photos…I didn’t want to leave! If I put this on again (with a photo of her wristband) right now and tap my shoes 3 times, will I end up back on the roof tonight? #cocktailsontheroof #nextdaywantingmore
Lori D. – Great and well organized event. Look forward to the next one!
Gloria M. – …Great event! A fun time was had by all raising funds for our classrooms. Great job by the WiSH Board in bringing a new signature event to the SCV.
Bruce P. – It was awesome event. Really enjoyed it, thank you.
Michael P. – Great event. All involved should be very proud.
(And a different Michael P.) – Thanks Eve, we had a great time, looking forward to next year!
Larry M. – Exceeded my expectations. Number of guests was not too much. Food and drink were all high end…And I discovered several local restaurants that I now have to try based on their offerings last night.
Sandi N. – Great event!
Roland G. – It was a great time, and the vendor offerings were superb!!! The 90 prof Whiskey wasn’t bad either!
Alexander H. – Cocktails on the roof was sooo fun!! We had a blast!!
Kathy W. – It was a very marvelous event Eve. We had a fun time tasting all the mini cocktails & foods & mingling. All for a great cause. Thank you!
Juliet K: We had a great time!
The Wish Education Foundation – Overwhelmed and thrilled by all of the wonderful comments – we are glad you all had a great time at Cocktail on the Roof 2015 – guess what? SO DID WE!!! Keep your pictures posting, we love to see them smile emoticon Participants and sponsors, we hope the joy you brought comes back on you TENfold!
Who Was Seen Creating A Buzz
Marlee Lauffer and Laine Hedwell, Amy Daniels, Claudia Sheridan, Cheryl Gray, John and Adrienne Carlson, Chris and Jeannie Carpenter, Moe, Alex and Linda Hafizi, Arnold Bryant, Paul de la Cerda and Andrea Nelson de la Cerda, Doron Schleifer and Joyce Carson, Robert and Karen Kaplan, Simon and Shannon Mee, Michael and Karen Perlis, Tyler Bushman, Scott and Lori Cruit, Sandi Naba, Gail Pinsker, Bruce and Liz Pack, Scott and Madeline Ervin, Jeannie Wagner, Louise Castaldo, Lynda and Jennifer Chadwick, Dee Dee Jacobson, Greg and Chell Amsler, Diego Lara, Martha Aguilera, Steve and Carla Corn, Diane DeBoer, Don and Cheryl Dellepiane, Robin Allison, Robin Becerra, Kai Ellis, Bruce Fortine and Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Margo Berg, Carmel Farnsworth, Tracy Hauser, Steve Dole, Theresa Hayes, Les Hershberger, Steve and Elizabeth Hopp, Pam Ingram, Dan and Janine Jones, Michael Parks and Dawn Elliott, Shari Schlaman, Tamar House, Tracy Hallinan-Cookson, Cindy Higgins, Ken and Patrice Rifkind, Danise Davis, Jon and Sonya Rowin, Tim Honadel and Holly Schroeder, Pamela Verner, Mitch and Leslie Russell, Mike Lebecki, Jackie Clavon, Kathleen Marquart, Larry and Stephanie McClements, Derrick and Maureen McKaughan, Kirsten Quinn and Perry Smith, Sue Tweddell, Steve and Julie Sturgeon, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson and David Solmonson, Laurie Auger, Steve and Rose Chegwin, Homayoun Daryani, Michele Buttelman, Dana Turner, Lora Taylor, Andrea Vibe, Mark and Julie White, Lisa Johnson, Julie Wolfe, Ed Masterson, Amanda Benson, Richard Soto and Jane Bettencourt-Soto, James Carling and Manuela Zaretti, Alesia Humphries, Jennafer Madden, Yoshi Murakami, Cathy Craig, Alison Needham, Sherrijon Gaspard, Herve Guillard, Kathi Dirkse, Kat Kombrinck, Angela Freeland, Sonja Randall, Laina and Rob McFerren, Patrick Lage, Roland Gonzaga, Rob Cruikshank and Cathie Baker.
Thanks To
Sponsors included the Santa Clarita Magazine, elite magazine, Whole Foods Market, California Credit Union, Balfour Beatty Construction, Littler Mendelson, 24/7 Events, Steve Chegwin CPA, SCVTV, SOS, the Signal, Valley Crest Tree Company, Burrtec and KHTS.
Committee members: Amy Daniels (WiSH Foundation), Marlee Lauffer (host), Eve Bushman (host), Claudia Sheridan, Mitch Russell, Ed Masterson, Judy Penman, Lynne Secrest, Chris Donald, Nicholas Javier and Stacie House.
And all of our hardworking volunteers that signed up for Cocktails on the Roof duty: Cathy Craig, Cheryl Gray, Danise Davis, Ellen Hawthorne, Kat Kombrinck, Keisha Williams, Leonard Leto, Michelle Wagemaker-Dawdy, Pat Willett, Steve Dole, Tori Osburn, Verna Velasquez, Vicki White, Yvette Diaz De Tuesta, Brenda Schaecher, Jackie Clavon, Jennifer Primero, Lorraine Beaulieu, Mark Beaulieu, Matthew Williams, Nicole Williams, Robin Wimsatt, Roland Gonzaga, Tricia Decker and Tyler Bushman.
Story in the photos I barely had time to take can be seen here.
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
