After ...
Paying anywhere from $80-$150 a ticket, many revelers are looking for answers. With Landry and Brogan at the front lines, LNS message boards are filled with commentators calling for accountability … and refunds. Others are saying they will report the party to the DC liquor board (they claim IDs were not properly checked and under-agers were let in. We could not verify this.). The National Building Museum, an architecturally admirable structure, bore the brunt of frustrated partygoers and overcrowding, thankfully, a rep from the museum confirmed that no permanent damage was done to the building.
Some are calling for boycotts of the George, Gin & Tonic, LNS and Kitchen – who must all feel terrible that this happened. But how did this happen? The National Building Museum is a huge venue so it took more than the usual Georgetown lacrosse crowd to fill it. With the number of tickets sold in the thousands, the faces that packed the museum were not just the Vineyard-Vines-cummerbund-wearing set (also known as those who would easily forgive Landry and Brogan for a sub-par party). Because of their successful past parties, Landry and Brogan lent an air of credence to this party and most ticketholders likely assumed that these Georgetown scenesters would provide ample booze, some good music and a decent time. The event started off well and people were having a good time. The music was great; then the alcohol ran out; it was crowded; you fill in the blank. Curiously, the band US Royalty usually caters to the H street set. We assume Landry and Brogan knew this would help bring in more people so they could fill the venue. But this might be one of the factors that led to tempers flaring once it got too crowded. Are we witnessing the errant mix of M Street and H Street – certainly two very different demographics? Hey, Washington is a city known for its partisan divides.
Eitherway, tensions continue to run high. To their credit Landry and Brogan sent out an email on January 2nd acknowledging the “shortcomings” of the party. In an effort to mend fences, the party planning duo closed the email by offering a $50 gift card/olive branch, redeemable at the George, a list-only bar in Georgetown and Gin & Tonic, a bar frequented late night by the preppy Glover Park set, both of which sponsored the party. Some didn’t exactly warm to the idea. “I just saw the email offering $50 to the guests! Are you kidding me? I have no interest in patronizing any of bars/events associated with the organizers” one commenter posted. Another vented “Are they seriously going to compensate me for ruining my night with a $50 voucher at one of their bars? NO THANKS! Shame on them!”
Things started off pretty good.
US Royalty has has its share of wild gigs. Maybe H Street is safer than Georgetown?
There was a great young crowd. Here are Mackenzie Cox, Emily Putze, Lauren Young and Olivia Kerr.
Luckily the National Building Museum was not damaged.
The question that remains is what’s next for Landry and Brogan? With strong and loyal fan bases for their businesses, it is unlikely the “boycott” claims will stick, plus, Kitchen and Gin & Tonic, are nice places. And, hey, there will be other parties to make up for this. However, with their New Year’s Eve debacle, the Landry and Brogan stamp of approval might not be selling out a party anytime soon – at least not to the those who prefer to frequent H and U streets and are used to flowing cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
