Sweet Temptations @ Montmartre Lounge

Chapter 30: Sweet Temptations @ Montmartre Lounge

Attention all the sweet-tooth among you!
For some, the Factory of Dreams generates
sweet fantasies, tempting to pursue those
with delectable aromas of glitz and glam.
For many though, it's the land of sweet
revelry, deliciously intoxicating everybody
who dares to nosh on it - with heart and
mind. Immerse into the Land of Dolce
Vita - but do so with care...

The sweet reality is that La La Land's
neighborhoods are lusciously studded
with lovely bakeries and de luxe
confectioneries attracting sugar loving
Angelenos with sweet incentives, lovely
chocolatey tidbits and sugary temptations.
It's a Hollyglamorous sweet secret, a
delicate affair and a sinful treat - since
officially everybody's dieting. So come
with me on a saccharine, mouth-watering
event in the heart of Tinsel Town and go
La La about the most delicious, elaborate,
artistic, fancy and enormous - in every
respect - cupcakes that were gloriously
exhibited on a fabulous Sunday afternoon
at a super hip Hollywood venue - The
Montmartre Lounge.

Who makes the best cupcakes in town?
That was the quest of this hot afternoon
when I hoped on the 217# bus up Fairfax
Boulevard and to Hollywood & Highland.
After having a chat with a fellow passenger
about "where they had flown me in from"
on the - as usual - stuck in traffic Metro
bus, I hoped out when the bus stopped at
the famous intersection - in L.A. you have
to pull a cord to let the bus driver know
that he has to stop at next stop - and was
immediately hit by the scorching heat -
yes, busses have AC too. Dizzy from the
rattly and bumpy bus drive and abuzz
from the masses bustling around me on
the star-studded Walk of Fame - hanging
out in and in front of packed souvenir
stores, speaking foreign languages and
sipping at Starbucks cups - I was almost
knocked down by some youngsters
rolling by on skateboards. A hipster -
blue-framed Ray-Ban specs, skinny
jeans clad - guy was just getting (more)
ink on his sleek chest behind the front
window of a tattoo studio while a size
0 female, wearing next to nothing and
hiding behind a huge pair of Chanel
shades stepped out of her convertible
with a tiny pwesh wriggling in her
skinny arms while she was talking on
her phone squeezing it into her shoulder/
neck crook. Additionally to the dizzying
buzz, exciting vibe and Hollywood-
movie-like scenes my European senses
were befuddled with exhaust fumes
from the ever present bumper-to-
bumper traffic - along Hollywood
Boulevard.
This was when I started to shovel my
way through the crazy Hollybuzz. It
was my 13th day in the Land of non-
stop sun-shine and azure blue sky and
that day I was assigned to attend "The
Cupcake Challenge" - an appetizing
contest, where L.A.'s best bakeries and
cupkerias participated in a contest
judged by a media panel and audience
members.
Finally finding the mysterious gates
to the upscale venue, I had to line up in
order to sign the guest list and see if my
coworker already arrived. She did, and I
was relieved to be at the right spot on
time. Excited to get inside and out of the
heat I made my way upstairs into the
spacious main room where I was
overwhelmed by the sight of oodles little
sugary artworks in the form of gloriously
arranged and variously styled and themed
cupcakes that filled every little space in
the fancy arranged rooms and infused
the air with sweet aromas. This is when
I was approached by my coworker and
was assigned to take pictures of guests
and all the competing participants which
were among others Lucky Devils, Mrs.
Beasley's and Vanilla Bake Shop. A heavy,
dark wooden bar appointed with sleek waiters
fiddling around behind it, invited visitors
to sample wine from the wineries "Flying
Wine Cellars" and "Arthur Earl", and
nibble on savory sesame crackers topped
with aromatic Cheddar cheese.

Adjoining the bar was wide doorway
leading onto a lovely patio that was
brimful at that time offering a wide view
over Hollywood Blvd.'s buzz, and was a
sunny and welcoming escape from the
endless sugary colorful scenery of fluffy
cream toppings and decadently thick
icing covering every mini-cupcake
masterpiece - not to mention all the
ingenious trimmings, elaborate
garnishing and artistic design - it was
a thoroughly sensational feast for all
senses!
Discovering my coworker - she was
one of the judges of the media panel -
in a separate booth, savoring some
fine samples of the sweet temptations
that where en masse artistically
arranged all over the space, I took
pictures of her and the other judges
of this taste buds blowing event. While
she was indulging in many sweet
sensations, to find and honor the
creme de la creme of the wide array -
which were divided into two categories,
a traditional and non-traditional
dessert - I was flouncing through the
rooms, watching sugar aficionados,
playing "I spy surgery"and trying to
capture this saccharine extravaganza
with my camera at hand.
Being not the only photographer and
with the event gradually drawing to an
end, a handsome man with camera in
hand, sporting a black outfit, chatted
me up and invited for a drink at the bar.
After a small talk consisting of all the
obvious W-questions and a red wine I
went back to work and so did he. The
stands were folding up, packing up the
remaining cupcakes in paper boxes
giving them randomly away to the
patrons that were gradually leaving.
Over some cheese crackers and wine,
at the by now deserted bar, my coworker
and I reviewed my shots and summed
up the event while watching the sun
disappear through the open patio doors.
We both were lucky to secure a box full
of sweet ridiculousness which we decided
to bring to the office the next day.

The air cooled off and the sun disappeared
when I stepped out into the hustle and
bustle at Hollywood & Highland and
walked down one block to soak up some
more of the intoxicating vibe before
catching the bus home. When my "Walk
of Fame" was interrupted by red lights,
and I found myself amid swarming crowds,
I spotted - out of the blue - a familiar face
at the very front of the line in a black
convertible. Soon he discovered me, smiled
beckoned, stopped by, openend the door
and let me slide into the car graciously -
in the middle of a busy intrsection.