Seen at the GOTO Gala NYC 2010 (Part 1)

Seen at the GOTO Gala NYC 2010 (Part 2)

Jazz & Gin on Guest of a Guest

Another year, another action-packed GOTO Gala at Capitale.

The GOTO faithful showed up in force on Friday night. Weather be damned.

The silent auction spread was almost as impressive as the food. Three of our past scholarship receipients wowed the crowd by belting out jazz standards from the stage. And by all accounts, the hundreds of partygoers who attended Jazz & Gin had an amazing time. If you don't believe me, head on over to Guest of a Guest's site to read their Jazz & Gin recap.

The official gosince01 Jazz & Gin wrap-up is coming shortly, accompanied by even more photos of GOTO partygoers doing the worm.

Until then, stay tuned ...

A Flapper Dance "How To" Post

Next Friday, the GOTO faithful will descend upon Capitale for GOTO NYC's 2010 Winter Gala "Jazz & Gin." And many of you will dress the part. But will you be prepared once the music starts jumpin?

If you don't know how to dance like they did in the '20s, check out this video below. Voted by Esquire as one of America's best bars, L.A.'s The Edison prides itself on preserving the glamorourous 1920's aesthetic. And what would the 1920's aesthetic be without flapper girls?

Watch the Edison's flapper girls get busy below. And best of luck trying to bring these moves to life on the 26th ...

1920's Fashion Tips

Jazz & Gin (GOTO's upcoming Winter Gala) is only three weeks away!

Many of you have already purchased your tickets and are starting to sweat about what you're going to wear on the big night.

While dressing "of the era" isn't required of our Jazz & Gin guests, it wouldn't hurt if you're looking to step your fashion game up. From our extensive internet research, we've uncovered that the '20s were a pretty fashionable decade.

If you're in need of pointers on 1920's fashion, below are a few gosince01 endorsed fashion resources in the form of movie trailers.

Please note - we're not endorsing the movies. Just the trailers. Just focus on what the actors & actresses are wearing and forgive the occasionally crummy acting.

• The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
• Harlem Nights
• The Aviator
• De-Lovely

GOTO Mentee Profiles

At our upcoming Winter Gala, we'll be joined by two former GOTO scholars who've agreed to perform for all of our guests: Alanna & Raven. Here's a profile on each of our star alumnus.

RAVEN

Q. What were your majors/minors?

Rock Band

Q. Do you stay in touch with other GOTO Grads?
Yes

Q. Tell us about your musical interests. Do you play any instrument? Do you like certain genre of music?
I love all music. I love to sign. I have a guitar.

Q. Tell us about your artistic interests. Do you enjoy

certain types of art? DO you enjoy performing arts?
I love art. I love the performing arts. Before homeschool I attended a performing arts school

Q. What other hobbies do you have? Do you play or enjoy watching any particular sports? Do you have a favorite team?
I love to watch college basketball especially. My favorite team is North Carolina. But in the NBA it woud be the Celtics then the Bulls. I like the #1.

Q. Tell us about any awards or recognitions that you've received. Please include acceptance to schools, special programs and any scholarships etc. This is your chance to tell us about you!
Accepted to Brown University Pre-College Program. Accepted to Columbia University College Prep.

Accepted to NYU Pre-College Program. (Raven has since been granted interviews to all three schools for undergraduate study.)

Q. Tell us about what you'd like to do with your BRIGHT future! Include college aspirations, career paths...All of that good stuff!
Be awesome at Yale! Get my PhD in Political Science. Own buildings. Begin my career in entertaining. Be a director. Get a castle in Ireland. Start saving the world.

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ALANNA

Q. What were your majors/minors?
Musical Theater, Drawing

Q. Do you stay in touch with other GOTO Grads?
Yes

Q. Tell us about your musical interests. Do you play any instrument? Do you like certain genre of music?
I like to sign! Genre of music: POP, ROCK!

Q. Tell us about your artistic interests. Do you enjoy certain types of art? DO you enjoy performing arts?
Yes. I enjoy performing arts-sing, dancing, acting.

Q. What other hobbies do you have? Do you play or enjoy watching any particular sports? Do you have a favorite team?
Favorite team: Yankees!

Q. Tell us about any awards or recognitions that you've received. Please include acceptance to schools, special programs and any scholarships etc. This is your chance to tell us about you!
*Salutorian of Renaissance HS graduation!! All 4 years of HS->perfect attendance, academic achievement in all subjects. *National Honor Society member. *Acceptance into #1 school SUNY OSWEGO! * Working at the Bronx Zoo (3 yrs now). *Performing at the GOTO Gala on Feb 20, 2009!!*

Q. Tell us about what you'd like to do with your BRIGHT future! Include college aspirations, career paths...All of that good stuff!
Attending SUNY OSWEGO for Zoology/Vet medicine for 5 years. Hopefully traveling & researching wild animals (African Wild Dogs and Big Cats). Working hands-on with wild animals at Bronx Zoo or San Diego Zoo.

Jazz & Gin Video

Friends of gosince01 ... below is a short promotional video for our upcoming Gala. Check it out to see what you missed at Gala's past & what's to come on Feb. 26th.

This version is a little grainy, so if you want to view the HD version, you'll have to visit gosince01's YouTube channel.

GOTO's 2010 Jazz & Gin Winter Gala and Casino Night

GOTO is starting the year with a little razzle dazzle...roaring 20's style!

On February 26, 2010, GOTO's annual gala will transport you to the 1920's when naughty was nice, bootleg gin was all the rage, and jumpin' jazz caught on like wild fire. Ladies, rouge your knees and don your flapper dresses, and gents, put on the ritz with your smokin' best and join us in enabling talented, young scholars to become shining artists of the future.

Feeling lucky? A poker tournament will last throughout the night with prizes for the finalists. Delicious hors d'oeuvres will whet your appetite, classic cocktails will please your palate, and music and special guest performances will keep you entertained.

Pick up your tickets right here.

GOTO NYC Halloween Recap - 12.16 Photo Update

Wow. What an amazing Halloween party.

651 guests. Tons of outrageous costumes. And good times had by all.

There's a great recap of our sold-out Halloween fundraiser in downtown Manhattan on CharityHappenings.org. Photos as well.

We should have a larger selection of photos up on our blog soon.

**UPDATE** Full photo gallery is now up on the mothersite: http://www.thegotogroup.net/gallery/v/halloween09/

Enjoy!

2/26/2010: Back to the Bowery

Ladies & gentlemen, mark your calendars.

On Friday, February 26th GOTO is going back to Capitale for our 2010 Winter Gala. If your idea of a good time is great music, amazing food, fun guests & a five-star venue, I promise that you won't be disappointed.

To get a feel for the GOTO Winter Gala vibe, check out photos from last year's party at Capitale here.

Tickets go on sale in a few weeks. Until then, save that date.

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 1)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 2)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 3)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 4)

Seen at Halloween NYC 2009 (Part 5)

Halloween 2009 Guide - New York Magazine

There are still a few more weeks to get your costumes in order for the New York & Boston Halloween Costume parties.

And in case you're still in need of more ideas & inspiration, here are a few Halloween costume recs courtesy of New York Magazine.

Lady Gaga & Michael Jackson anyone?

The Sports Guy's Halloween Costume Advice

Author, ESPN.com & ESPN the Magazine columnist, 'podcaster' and now costume consultant? Bill Simmons has some advice for all of you who are still searching for that perfect costume for GOTO’s Halloween Costume Ball.

He recently answered the following question from one of his readers:

I'm a 24-year-old female looking for a Halloween costume that (a) isn't skanky (does that exist anymore??) and (b) will piss off as many people in NYC as possible. I'm from MA and it goes without saying a huge NE sports fan and somehow got sucked into living and working in Times Square for the past two years so I'd love a costume that would further alienate myself from the people in this city. Suggestions??

Check out the Sports Guy’s latest column (and scroll to the bottom) for his four suggestions.

Come to think of it, maybe his suggestions are better suited for our Boston Halloween Costume Ball ...

Halloween 2009: The DIY Costume Year

According to the 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (seriously - this survey really exists), 16.8% of Americans will be making their own costumes this year instead of purchasing them. And 15.8% will be reusing last year's costumes.

At GOTO's Halloween Costume Ball, we strongly encourage do-it-yourself costumes. So you frugal '09 Halloweeners will fit right in with us.

And if you're still looking for costume ideas for this year's party, you won't find them in the aforementioned survey. Below are their projected top ten adult costumes for Halloween this year.

Apparently, 2009 is also the year when Americans will stop trying:

1. Witch.

2. Vampire

3. Pirate

4. Clown

5. Wench/Tart/Vixen

6. Cat

7. Devil

8. Scary Costume/Mask

9. Athlete

10. Police Officer

Hey DJ!

GOTO NY's Halloween Costume Party is a few weeks away and tickets are going quickly. That pace isn't likely to let up anytime soon now that we've got two of New York's hottest DJ's - DJ Karomel & Edgar Guerrero - lined up for the night.

DJ Karomel is a 16 year veteran of the New York underground dance scene. Having worked as an audio engineer and studio manager for major musical artists such as Eric Morillo, Karomel also found his musical inspiration from entertainers like Louie Vega, Danny Tenaglia, Armand Van Heldon, Audio Bully’s and Daft Punk.

Karomel has traveled around the world experiencing the house music movement on a global scale. His ability to adjust to his audience and seamlessly mix various genres of music makes DJ Karomel a unique and desirable presence in the New York entertainment industry.

Edgar Guerrero emerged out of the Miami dance music scene in 1996 and since has DJed, promoted and managed a number of Miami’s hottest nightclubs. In 2006, Edgar moved to New York to enlighten a new audience using his musical talents.

Guerrero is a much-needed breath of fresh air in New York nightlife, and his shows are a musical experience sure to entertain audiences from around the globe.

A Halloween Fundraiser Retrospective

Historically, Halloween has always been GOTO's largest & most debaucherous fundraiser. Our very 1st Halloween party was held in a lounge in TriBeCa called Obeca Li. Obeca Li was over 15,000 square feet large and our decision to host the party there was a HUGE leap of faith. It was the largest GOTO venue to date by far.

The gamble paid off.

We sold 400+ tickets. Our guests' costumes were awesome. And the party was a blast. We haven't looked back since.

We're 5 weeks away from our 9th Halloween Costume Party and there's no reason to believe that this one won't be as much fun as the first.

If 2009 will be your first GOTO Halloween, check out the photos in the posts below to see what you've been missing.