A Sweet 17th Birthday Celebration
This past week, I hosted an event in honor of my 17th birthday in the heart of NYC—and the celebration couldn’t have been sweeter. Held at Dylan’s Candy Bar’s Upper East Side location, the festivities included food, photographs, fashion sketches, and even a TikTok booth for children and adults alike.
Among the notable attendees were John Paul Jones (The Bachelorette; Bachelor in Paradise), Lilliana Ketchman (Dance Moms), Pressley Hosbach (Dance Moms), GiaNina Paolantonio (Dance Moms), Alexa Swinton (Emergence), Donshea Hopkins (Orange Is the New Black), Mia Sinclair Jenness (Fancy Nancy; Raven’s Home; Orange Is the New Black), Mikaela Astel (The Voice), Sway Bhatia (Succession), Adriana Camposano (Orange Is the New Black), Andrea-Marie Alphonse and Selena-Marie Alphonse (Netflix’s Holiday Rush), Chloe Lang (Lazy Town), Jillian Rose (Law & Order SVU), Lizzy Howell (dancer), Gianna Ferazi (actress), Tinkerbelle the Dog (social media star), Chloe Jane (DJ), Parker Winston (model), Bella Faith (Instagram star), and Casey Baer (singer).
Pick A Bagel catered hors d’oeuvres for the evening inspired by classic Manhattan meals, including bagels with assorted toppings (i.e. scallion cream cheese and lox), black & white cookies, cheese, fruit, and crudités. As for the desserts, Dylan’s Candy Bar provided Zola Bakes rainbow cookies dipped in dark chocolate, Taylor’s Bake Shoppe cookie sandwiches, Magnolia Bakery brownies, NY Cake Pops pink marble cake pops, chocolate dipped Rice Krispies, and candy, while Georgetown Cupcake served up vanilla, lava fudge, and red velvet cupcakes with assorted Carrie’s Chronicles logos.
The highlight of the evening was a TikTok booth, where guests had the opportunity to place their phone on a ring light and film videos in front of a silver glitter background. Stars on the popular social media app including Nicolas & Emiliano Maya-Tapia, Trechelle & Treona Andino (“Splash Twinz”), Emily Tifflin, Baylee Christine, Tori McKool, Adrian Anguiano, and Julia Molinari led the pack, collaborating with fellow attendees on trending web dances.
Throughout the course of the event, SamiaLynn by Samantha Shammas provided live fashion sketches—guests posed in front of the artist, and the next day, the drawing was emailed to each person.
The goody bags featured Winky Lux Juicy Glossy Boss Lip Gloss and Mini Sugar Glazed Lip Gloss, assorted Ulta Beauty products, Dylan’s Candy Bar chocolates, and an exclusive Carrie’s Chronicles makeup bag and “Be YOU-nique!” t-shirt.
Filled with friends, food, and loads of photographs, the sweet celebration was certainly an evening to remember.
Photo Credit: Getty Images (Lars Niki) and Briana Battaglia