A Birthday Full of Surprises | Newport Beach House

December 21, 2018

A Birthday Full of Surprises | Newport Beach House

More than 100 friends and family gathered on a warm August evening for a day-to-night surprise birthday celebration, where beachside appetizers and craft cocktails transitioned seamlessly into a handpicked dinner fare. But the big “surprise” wasn’t just for the man of the hour – this was an event full of high-touch details and live music, including Don Felder, legendary guitarist of the Eagles.

At a Glance

Flawless day-to-night space changes
Stage and sound system for 3 live entertainment performances
Fully customizable dining options with chef collaboration

When a celebration was planned to ring in a great friend’s 60th birthday (a full six months early!), the shake-ups didn’t stop at his complete surprise. The flawless segue of day-to-night festivities and fare – where cocktails on oceanfront couches turned into live music and a lit up dance floor fun – astounded the 100+ guests and had them already planning the group’s next Newport Beach House event.

The Big Little Things

A Bit of Everything

With many twists and turns to the event, it was important to Longwood Venues’ VP of Culinary Arts and Chef David Blessing to consult with the group beforehand on all things food related. From presentation to frequency and variety, the daylong menu of snacks and hors d’oeuvres struck the perfect balance of light and local ingredients with flavor and flair. Bite-sized lobster rolls were a daytime favorite, and shoestring truffle-parmesan french fries were among the late-night bite menu.

Unmatched Entertainment

Keeping everyone entertained for a full day required a space flexible enough to accommodate some big and very different performances, like the night’s electrifying show put on by Don Felder of the Eagles. Earlier on, jazz pianist Lois Vaughan warmed the crowd while guests socialized, played lawn games, and relaxed on the outdoor beach-side couches. As the sun began to set, the music heated up with EYE2EYE, a Boston-based funk band that played favorites like “Cake by the Ocean” and “Best of my Love” to get the crowd ready for the night’s headlining act (Felder).