From Seed to Celebration: Blossom & Bloom in Review

Adrian Rand
Apr 17
6 min read

Updated: Apr 18

My name is Adrian Rand, the founder of Haus of Other and one of the hosts of Blossom & Bloom. Before you read my review of our inaugural event you should probably know that I'm more than a little biased!

Six days have passed and I am still reeling with a sense of pride at the amazing event our community created. Blossom & Bloom was a truly magical experience, and I am humbled by how successful and triumphant it was, thanks to you.

The idea for Blossom and Bloom was rooted in politics. My sister-in-arms Nadia Evangelina is trans, and when this administration immediately began targeting that integral part of our queer community, we really leaned on each other. We shared our fears, cried together, discussed plans and mourned the loss of our rights. Beyond that, we felt the need to do something. Trans people are the reason that queer people of all colors and creeds have any rights at all, so we wanted to do something to help the trans community and build a safe space of creative celebration and love.

The name Blossom & Bloom comes from the idea that when trans people embrace their authenticity they "blossom", or "bloom". Trans Lifeline felt like the perfect cause to support because right now the mental health of our trans family is a national emergency.

Once we developed the theme, our team worked tirelessly to put together this event, which would prove our concept. Now I can confidently say that our concept was proven. Here are the highlights:

VIBE: We originally decided the vibe would be 'Groundbreaking Florals' inspired by the iconic Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. The goal was to turn the back patio of Champagne Tiger into a fantasy garden full of immersive floral motifs. The Haus came through.

We spent our first crafting night creating paper flowers that were used in the final design. We spent the second making flower crowns for people to wear. In the nights leading up to the event, we created three gram-worthy backdrops that set the tone for the rest of the space. People came over and crafted together. We gave each other advice and bounced ideas around. I was truly, truly impressed by how all the costumes turned out! The floral patterns were patterning and the creativity was in full bloom.

Thank you to Zack Hartman of Zack Hartman photography and Sebastian Coco of Starhand Media for capturing the spirit and essence of the event.

VENUE: The party took place at Champagne Tiger on Colfax, which is a chic mid-mod lounge/bar and eatery with a delicious menu of French-American fare and a delightful back patio reminiscent of Palm Springs in the 1950s. Everything I have ever eaten there has been fantastic and the waffle fries are to-die for. Go check it out on Wednesdays for Pasta + Piano night!

After the event we all headed to Glow Lounge at Xbar for the official after party and danced our petals off! Thank you to Kelela for setting all that up and for everyone who joined us to keep the party in bloom!

ENTERTAINMENT: All I can say about the entertainment is that it blew my mind. Richi Ramos, DJ Buddy Bravo, and Vio the Violinist of Starlux were consummate professionals and world class performers. Entertainment can make or break any event, and Starlux elevated Blossom & Bloom into the stratosphere. As host and headliner, Richi Ramos didn't miss a beat and kept the audience enthralled and excited. As DJ and pianist, Buddy Bravo moved seamlessly between piano and DJ decks with masterful finesse, while Vio captivated the crowd with his violin, capturing the event’s unique vibe with effortless flair. I cannot say enough about this trio of talented artists. It is my ultimate wish that they stay booked and blessed, wigged and gigged, laid and paid, for the rest of their illustrious careers.

Vio the Violinist, DJ Buddy Bravo, and Richi Ramos of Starlux

Motherdaddy's thought provoking performance art piece was another gorgeous bloom in the garden. They performed a whimsical swan song to femininity, and the fact they they had their first shot of testosterone onstage at our event was a bold, brave, and beautiful choice. Their performances never fail to impress me.—they push me out of my comfort zone, get my brain buzzing, and then it hits me: The message is the essence, beautifully conveyed through performance and art.

The scavenger hunt—masterminded by the ever-clever Crafty Grant and Jason Schleisman—was an absolute crowd favorite. One of the clues was sneakily taped to the back of my costume, which led to an unusual number of people asking to snap a photo of my lily pads. The hunt added a playful twist to the night’s energy, and there's no doubt we'll be adding a 'treasure hunt' to our next event (hint).

ATTENDEES: My absolute favorite thing about Blossom & Bloom was the attendees. Seeing everyone take the theme and mold it to their own vision was incredibly inspiring. I consider myself something of a costumier, but there were some costumes there that truly gave my glue gun and sewing machine a run for their money. I cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with for the next event. And I can't wait to start working on costumes at our next crafting night, on May 22nd at Champagne Tiger.

SPONSORS: No event can come to fruition without support, and we are super grateful for our promotional partnerships for this event. Tony from Denver's Cupid and Denver Pride Professionals went above and beyond in helping secure press and promotions. Professor Andy Might from Rainbow Cult also championed our cause with his queer network, and Eugene and Ryan from ENR Events were invaluable with their contributions both before and during the event.

VENDORS: Our vendor market was a delightful little blossom in a garden overflowing with things to do. Special thank you to Thayne from Warne Art, Emily from Psilly Spirits, Rainbow Cult, and Shannon from Curio Cabinet Denver for curating a selection of awesome items to titillate our attendees.

VOLUNTEERS: One of the most touching things about Blossom & Bloom was how the volunteers stepped in and helped out when we needed it. I want to send a special shout-out to Mason, Jason, Jonathan, Eugene, Brian, Ryan, and Aaron. We rely on volunteers to keep the haus standing and it means a lot that Others are willing to donate their time to the cause.

PRESS: As this was our first event, I was beyond thrilled to get any press at all! So the fact that we were blessed with a mention in Denver Post and a story in OutFront Magazine really tickled my tulips! Thank you Jon, John, Maggie, and Addison!

TEAM: Haus of Other would be nothing without it's team. Crafty Grant worked their blistered fingers to the bone building beautiful life-size floral decor, Zack Sham organized the event itself and dealt with all the day-of snafus, and Kevin Allison kept the Haus from falling apart by handling all the logistics. I want to thank the team for all the hard work. Without you, this garden would have been a barren wasteland of kitty litter instead of a garden in full papery bloom!

As I look back on Blossom & Bloom, my heart is full of gratitude and pride. What began as a tiny seed of an idea blossomed into a vibrant garden and I couldn't be more thrilled with every aspect. Were there small hiccups and wig snatches? Of course!

But Blossom & Bloom proved something to me. It was something that I suspected, and hoped for, but wasn't sure about until I saw it, in every colorful petal on every attendee that joined us in celebration that night.

Within the foundation of the Haus of Other is a live, beating heart chock full of creativity, community, support, and love. You have all brought that into the world by showing up and showing out at our inaugural event, Blossom & Bloom.

And I deeply hope to see you decked out in coral reef couture at our upcoming summer event, Aquatica.