Who: Twenty- and thirty-something women who party like it’s 1999
What: Backstreet Boys After-Party
Where: Epic Events Center
When: July 15, 2011
Why: Who doesn’t want to see their teenage crush up close, in person?

When I was six, I attended my first concert, New Kids on the Block. I sat on my dad’s shoulders, clutched my Jordan Knight doll (with a rat tail hairdo), and held a sign that read “New Kids Rock the Block.” When I was 15, I skipped my high school homecoming dance to see the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium Tour. Since I hadn’t been asked to the dance, I figured swooning over Brian, Nick, A.J., Howie, and Kevin would be the next-best thing.

Who: Esera Tuaolo, Bitch Flowers, and Seven patrons
What: A Hawaiian-inspired luau on a lazy summer evening
When: August 9. 2009
Where: Seven's rooftop Skybar
Why: To celebrate the Aloha spirit in downtown Minneapolis

Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It just feels good being there, surrounded by flowers, the ocean, the mountains, and it's impossible not to soak up the positive, low key vibe that permeates the salty, sultry air. On Sunday, a little glimmer of Hawaii sprinkled downtown Minneapolis at the laid back luau at Seven's Skybar hosted big kahuna Esera Tuaulo, the former NFL player and now aspiring singer.

Who: A sweet, gigantic former NFL player and his friends
What: Esera Tuaolo CD Release Party
Where: Trocadero's
When: May 9, 2009
Why: Because Party Patrol thinks music brings us together

I have no idea what the sheriff of the Party Patrol thinks about my lifestyle--does Steve like football? Does he like electro pop performed by former football players that have famously come out of the closet? But last Saturday, I was assigned the Esera Tuaolo CD release party at Trocadero's.

And I nearly turned in my badge.

Who: The tight and talented crew that make up Arena Dances, and its supporters
What: Arena Dances’ ArenaBikini Fundraiser
Where: Aqua Nightclub
When: Saturday, March 14
Why: Um…because dancers were going to be modeling swimwear. Do you need another reason?

Things got hot at Aqua during Saturday night’s ArenaBikini party and swimwear fashion show. Mostly because the place was packed to the gills (excuse the pun) with really attractive people who were watching members of Arena Dances strut their stuff in the season’s hottest swimwear.