Last night, as a cold front descended upon Los Angeles, several hundred VS friends, many of them leading members of the industry, gathered under two massive tents on the Playboy estate for what turned out to be a stylishly hot holiday celebration that equaled, if it didn’t surpass, last year’s festivities.
The party was not intended to celebrate a milestone, of course, but it hardly mattered. Holding an adult industry party at the manse is a marriage made in heaven, and last night was no exception. As one spent but happy partygoer remarked in the shuttle bus afterwards, “I had a great time, but you know, I always get excited about going to the Playboy Mansion.”
Adding to the atmosphere, the property grounds had been festooned with white lights and decorative garlands which, combined with the chill in the air, created a festive holiday ambiance that saw huddled groups of party goers stroll the park-like walkways that surround the old house, stopping impulsively to chat quietly under the trees.
There was plenty of fruit on hand as well to feed the famous Playboy monkeys, who climbed cautiously down to grab the goods before scampering back to cluster around the lights in the cage for warmth.
Other celebrants made their way to the game room, hidden down another pretty pathway, where pinball, billiards and more warmth were waiting.
Yet others enjoyed the main action in the tents, where revelers mingled around the warm waters of the grotto, imbibing, eating and chatting up their neighbors as a bevy of sultry Santas put the dance poles through their paces.
"It was a very classy event,” Kevin Blatt observed. “Video Secrets always knows how to take care of their affiliates and friends. What most people didn't know, though, is that the party was not an anniversary party. They just wanted to celebrate the fact that their home town's sporting teams are kicking some ass." Blatt is referring to the Boston-area teams.
(XBIZ had yet to confirm by press time whether Blatt’s claim regarding the motivation behind the party is accurate, though it is a well-known fact that VS-founders Gregory Clayman and Chuck Tsiamis are particularly proud supporters of their hometown sports teams.)
Partygoers were also the lucky recipients of a very heavy gift bag on the way out that contained special presents from DHD Media, XBIZ, AVN and others.