The Harvard Hiatus: Holidazzle 2005 (HBS Christmas Party)

Last week was the annual HBS Holiday Party, known as "Holidazzle". It is a formal event, attended by nearly all of the first year students, and a good deal of second year students. After an initial cocktail reception, each first year section has has a banquet in their own banquet hall, first term "awards" are given within the section, speeches made, and a good deal of joking around happens. Afterwards, the entire group joins the main ballroom for a big party. This year it was at the Sheraton in Boston, near the Prudential Center. It was a good night, although the highlight (next to dinner) was my section's pre-party. We had planned to have a champagne party at one of the student's apartments (Kapil's) then arrange transportation, so we didn't have to suffer through the HBS busing arrangements. In the end though, we wound up securing sponsorship for our party from the Boston Consulting Group, under the aegeis of "recruiting expenses". This naturally required us to increase the quality and quantity of champagne, and so we dutifully purchased cases of Moet & Chandon. Our transportation was improved immensly, utilizing "stretch hummers" and a large "party van". (See photos below). I also used the occasion to buy a good quality tuxedo shirt and bowtie, which I think I've done a decent job learning to tie (if I may say so). Oh yeah: the stretch hummer I rode in (with 23 others) had not only plasma tv's, refrigerator and the like, but it also had a smoke machine and lasers. That's right: Lasers. Hilarious!

Left: Cocktails before dinner. (Morley, Gonzalo, Glenn, Clemens, Nicholas)
Below: Mac, Jayne, Dylan. (Mac's full name is Macomma Grayson III. Apparently, the nickname "Trip" comes from the title "III" and is somwhat common at east coast boarding schools. He went to Harvard undergrad, so I suspect he's heard "Trip" more than once).