The mysterious blue martini drinks, along with the entire fleet of
South Asian DJs in sharp suits mixing with gorgeous women dressed in
colorful saris, made for a coup d’état of my right mind.
Mira Nair—director of
Salaam Bombay!, Mississippi
Masala, and The Namesake—was the reason everyone
looked so lovely on a Monday night. The goddess was surrounded, a queen
bee holding court. I wanted to jump into the monsoon and be blue and
pretty, too. Not knowing exactly how to chat up a great artist in a
large group setting—I felt like I was on a dating show corralled
in a tiny space vying for her attention—I backed away and
mingled, watching as Nair elegantly danced around the room. I moved on.
It was inevitable that I met a brother/sister act who traveled all
the way from Vashon Island dressed in Egyptian belly-dancing garb.
Apparently, “everyone in Vashon is an artist. Everyone! Even the
farmers.” They wanted me to “take our picture for The
Stranger. Doesn’t my sister look sexy tonight?” The brother said to
his sister: “Pull the strap off your shoulder for the picture. Look
sexy!”
Unfortunately, my memory card was full, and I needed another drink.
I left with a postcard promoting Vashon’s upcoming First Friday art
walk. I abandoned my daydream that I would dance bhangra
grooves, sip fancy drinks, or share insightful laughter with the
beautiful people. I was left to eat catered pakora skewers as Mira Nair
was whisked away to her magical palace of moving images. 
Want to inform The Stranger that you “didn’t notice” the
massive corporate logo on your clothes at your house party?
E-mail the date, place, and party details to partycrasher@thestranger.com.