BUBBLES N BRUNCH, DROP ANCHOR.

For those of you who follow my blog posts, you know that there is usually a plan for each event I attend yet nothing goes according to plan...  The plan for Bubbles N Brunch was to not only celebrate the birthday of my husband  but to get him so intoxicated that he didn't know himself and last, to make it on time.  None of the three happened.

I've learned from last year that I should arrive early and in regular Trini fashion, I arrived at 1pm (the brunch started at 10).  1pm was late.  Driving to the venue was decent enough considering that it was the beginning of Spring Break.  Parking was a bit challenging as there was no parking advertised but once we tried parking in a designated parking lot (that was full) we were instructed to go to the 2nd of the the 3 parking lots.  Attendants of the parking lot we went to never advised that there was in fact a shuttle bus running... so we walked.  The walk wasn't bad, especially since we had the original shit talker Folkesy walking with us.  It felt like we got there in no time.

Once we got in, I immediately noticed that the venue of last year was more appealing and the music was extremely low.  Figured I'd get the story on the unusually low volume later and attended to the first order of business.  Getting my little mason jar filled and getting food!

Lines for food were great.  I literally walked up to each station and got food with the exception of the bake and shark line.  There were complaints about the long line but I didn't have that issue.  I'm a woman...  I made 'new friends' at the front and never waited.  This was the case all three times I went. YES, I GOT THREE BAKE AND SHARK, sue me! I didn't taste everything as I felt time was against me so I tasted the pizza, bake and shark, pancakes and french toast.  The pizza slices seemed small, so I requested a whole pie.  It was the Hawaiian. They a made the pie in 10 minutes.  In the meantime I got a couple servings of french toast and got my first bake and shark.  I had more servings of the french toast than I did the bake and shark and feel that those two were the hit.  That french toast was life and after seeing the condiments offered for the bake and shark, I was discouraged but in my opinion the bake and shark was better than bake and shark that I've had in Trinidad! I returned for the pizza by now and set up shop.  The pizza was salty and the cheese never melted.  I didn't enjoy it.  It was salty and missing cheese.  Aside from the pizza, I had no complaints.  Friends enjoyed the jerk chicken but I didn't try it.

The little mason jars that were given upon entry seemed discouraging when I first got them but the size fooled me.  The jars held the same amount of liquid as a drink in any given club.  In a way, I'm grateful that they weren't larger because everyone was staggering while leaving.  The women and the one man I saw serving drinks at the bar were always friendly, served with a smile and gave occasional jokes.  The sun was scorching and the attitudes could have been very different but from beginning to end, I saw nor experienced none.  I hope they were compensated well because that sun was nothing to play with. To the left is a picture just to give you a visual of the sized mason jar.

I have no complaints aside from the sun and man has no control over that.  In all fairness, the weather in South Florida is bipolar and cooler weather was expected.  That sun felt like sun on a carnival Tuesday and some rain would have been appreciated.

As the day progressed I found out that the music was so low because residents across the street began to complain ever since the sound checks around 9am.  What haters!  The local police did work with the team and allowed the music to gradually raise until towards the end when they let it pump full force.  By the end, I was so intoxicated I didn't even notice.  The vibes were right, the company was great and I was loving it!

(PJ and Folkesy)

It isn't fair to compare Bubbles N Brunch 2018 with Bubbles N Brunch 2017 because they were completely different and so were the vibes.  They were both great but in their own way.  I can compile a list about a mile long of the differences but the end result was the same.  It was one of the best experiences I've had in a fete.  The goal was to cater to the patrons and I feel that was done.  The advertised time for Bubbles N Brunch to end was 4 and we were staggering out after 5.  Not a soul (that I knew) left sober.  The food never stopped being served (which is always a plus in my book).  The bar did stop opening bottles a little after 4 but for those who got there on time, it was fine.  The air conditioned portable bathrooms that I didn't get to personally use were awesome and the scented soap was a thoughtful touch.  It's the little things that makes us as patrons feel appreciated.  The generous top shelf liquor, food variety and vibes.... Everyone had a grand time and out of everyone I knew, only 1 has decided not to go back.... She will be missed because everyone else will be.

All in all, Aurora's Bubbles N Brunch has made it's mark on South Florida and it is an event not to be missed. Even while still trying to catch ourselves or peeling from that sun, plans are already being made for Bubbles N Brunch 2019.

For Official Vibes' full gallery of Bubbles N Brunch, you can click HERE  
For UK Soca Scene's full gallery you can click HERE
For Island Box's full gallery, you can view them HERE  

ONCE AGAIN 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TWO ORIGINALS

SIMONE, THE ORIGINAL ROLLY POLLY AN 

THE ORIGINAL SHIT TALKER, MY HUBBY FOLKESY 

(Photo bombed by Ravi lol)

BUBBLES N BRUNCH.......THE AFTERMATH

Bubbles N Brunch, where shall I begin?

When I initially saw the flyer for Bubbles N Brunch, I was skeptical and already decided I'd probably not go.

AURORA has a successful annual New Years Eve party that I've never attended so I didn't know what to expect.  This flyer is also the only thing I had to go off of besides the elaborate inclusive food and drinks menu.  It seemed as though the promoters were trying too hard to 'sell' the event.  I tried looking for who the DJ's were, (just to see what kind of crowd was being targeted) and that too was missing from the flyer.

The day before the event I got tickets to go.  Fortunately for me that very day, I was able to see the venue.  This venue was hidden in plain sight, I swear!  There was a plantation house sitting in the middle of a beautiful piece of land.

The back yard was equally spacious but there were less tables set up, I'll explain why later.

Parking was a breeze.  As cars were seen, they were ushered in and led to parking spaces.  From the parking area to the actual venue was a matter of seconds.  

The brunch was scheduled from 10am to 4pm so the plan was to arrive at 11.  Needless to say I got there at 12pm but it was actually the perfect time to arrive as there was no line and enough people inside to feel comfortable.  Upon entry, we were given beautiful signature glass favors that served as drinking glasses throughout the event and the cabanas were set up all along the wall on the opposite side of the entrance.

The first station that caught our attention was a daiquiri bar. The presentation of these drinks had us in awe, I don't drink daiquiris but couldn't help it.  The choices were mango or strawberry,  I chose the strawberry.   The drinks were given in a long champagne~flute crossover plastic cup.  At this point, I didn't know what to do with my original glass so in my purse it went and seeing that this one was bigger, it became my 'drinking cup' and the signature favor glass remained in my purse for the balance of the day. 

This was made out of fresh fruit, ice and English Harbour Rum.  I wasn't thrilled with the taste as I like all my drinks on the sweeter side but it wasn't horrible.

Let's get to the reason reason I left my house on a Sunday! After we got our drinks we went around to the back of the house.  The back yard wasn't as big as the front but had the same decor, about two or three tables set up, the second bar and the food.  

I've taken the liberty to copy the entire menu just as the AURORA STAFF PROUDLY ADVERTISED:

Brunch:

Pastry and Fruit Station
Yogurt Parfait Bar
Continental Breakfast (Omelets, Pancakes, Waffles, Eggs, Fruit, etc...)
Salt fish With Green Banana
Black Pudding
Jerk Chicken and Jerk Fried Rice
Corn Soup
Lobster Bites
Crab Rice
Corn on the Cob
Mac n' Cheese
Shrimp Skewers

Deserts: Premium Desert Station
Vanilla Cake Pops with white chocolate gold accents
Chocolate Cupcakes
Rice Krispy Treat Pops with white chocolate
Rum cake-balls
Rum Cake
Chocolate Cake
Two Tiered Vanilla Cake with Buttercream roses
Three Tiered Oreo Stacked Cake
Assortment of Doughnuts
Caramel Popcorn
Gold Sixlets Candy Coated Chocolate
Candy Coated Chocolate Gems

Bottomless Champagne / cocktails:
Mimosas
Belinis
Daiquiris
Rum Punch
Aurora Specialty Drinks 
Champagne

Premium Liquor:
Vodka - Tito's Hand Made Vodka and Ciroc flavors (Peach, Green Apple, Coconut, Pineapple)
Rum - English Harbor 5yo and 10yo
Gin - Bombay Saphire and Hendricks
Tequila - Patron Silver
Whiskey - Jack Daniels and Johnny Walker: Black Label
Cognac - Hennessy
Your musical enjoyment will be Top 40, Hip Hop, EDM, R&B, Latin, Disco, Caribbean (Soca/Reggae), and International. Our Djs will have a little something for everyone.

With the exception of the gin, *both the Bombay Saphire and the Hendricks 

EVERYTHING LISTED WAS PRESENT!

EVERYTHING WAS THERE!

WE ATE ALMOST EVERYTHING!

AND IT WAS GOOD

The first order of business was to attack the lobster bites.  I was expecting some sort of lobster fritter but no, I can show you better than I can tell you.  

This picture was retrieved from the Official BubblesNBrunch Gallery because I didn't get any. I've gotten complaints from some of my friends that the lobster finished too fast but I couldn't say the same.  I got to the venue at 12.  There were many people there before me.  I made a stop at the daiquiri bar and yes, went directly to the food line HOWEVER, when I saw the lobster in the foil pan I assumed that I had enough time to to eat, got off the food line and went on the drinks line.  The time that it took us to get the drinks and return to the food line, LOBSTER WAS GOOOONE.  Luckily the last batch was already on the grill.  We were told that they would be finished in about a half hour, that he would remember our faces and we shouldn't get on the line (that would be at 12:45).  Okay, we could do that.  While listening to the live entertainment and taking pictures, time slipped us and exactly 12:50 we all could have kicked ourselves because now we were scrambling to collect our things and race to the back. The disappointed look on the face of the server already told me that we have missed the last batch of lobster bites.  The lobster 'bites' from what I heard were everything and then some.  Friends of mine even bragged about getting seconds and thirds of it.  The crab rice, macaroni pie, shrimp skewers and corn on the cob were all appetizing but in the back of my mind was the missed lobster.  

In a quick switch around 2pm the music was taken off from the front and began to play in the back.  I believe this was planned as there were fewer tables set up there to encourage dancing.  By now, the majority of people were intoxicated and loosened up.  With the closer proximity in the back, the brunch felt more fete like and was now in full swing. Many shoes came off and we had a time. 

For the time frame given, there was just not enough time to eat and drink everything offered.  Imagine it was not until the Official Bubbles N Brunch Pictures posted on Facebook had I known there was a Hennessy fountain.  Never got a chance to taste, let alone see the Aurora Specialty beverage and was too full to touch anything from the Premium Dessert Table.  

All in all $65 was an excellent price for such an epic event.  This is the first time I've attended an event and felt the need to say thank you to the team.  Team Aurora went over and beyond to make their patrons feel like we actually mattered and feel appreciated.  Not just ticket sales.  Bubbles N Brunch exceeded my expectations.  An email was sent out to patrons requesting their feedback.  EXCELLENT! I have no complaints and there was nothing that I could think of that could be added to the event to make the experience more enjoyable. From beginning to end I loved it and it would be my honor to attend the next Bubbles N Brunch movie.

South Florida promoters, take note.