WASN’T THAT A PARTY? - Graham Hicks Edmonton Sun
The Epiar/Top Draw corporate anniversary party Saturday night, was, by all accounts, one of the best parties this city has ever seen.
It was a “coming out” party for Epiar, Ken Jurina’s Edmonton-based “search-engine optimization” company that has quietly become an Internet powerhouse that now boasts Microsoft as one of its many clients, plus Epiar’s companion company Top Draw.
Rumour has it that Epiar, an obvious takeover target by Internet giants, has turned down purchase offers several times into the tens of millions of dollars.
“The Gog,” a private downtown residence that doubles as a private party palace, was transformed over a day and a half by event producer Chill Decor into the famous Paris nightclub the Moulin Rouge.
Every space had its own unique decorations and props, as if there were five or six different parties at the same time.
In the massive kitchen, 20 to 30 NAIT culinary students and staff pumped out non-stop Vegas-style lamb/shrimp/you-name-it delectable dishes. The dessert table was to die for.
There were champagne fountains, strolling musicians, jugglers and magicians, an open bar and standup tables, each with its own candelabra, ringing the dance floor.
Dancers dressed in alluring flapper-style outfits were on the side go-go stages. The 11-member Retrofits band took the stage (it’s quite the house!) at 10:30 p.m. At midnight, DJ Nestor Delano took over.
Jurina greeted each of the 250 to 300 guests personally, offering each lady a Moulin Rouge-style boa.
Among those in attendance, some of the “superstars” of the Internet world, flown in as guests of Epiar: Vanessa Fox, founder of Google’s Webmaster Central; Internet marketing guru Rand Fishkin; Todd Friesen of Range Online Media; Jim Hedger of Webmaster Radio. In the industry, these folks are headliners.
In Edmonton, a real cross-section of the city’s next-gen, including Epiar’s Matthew Glass, Century Hospitality’s Chad Murphy, Derk’s Formals’ Sterling Derk, CTV’s Carrie Doll and The Team’s Jason Gregor. Jarret Stoll dropped by after the hockey game and new Eskimo alumni Ed Hervey and Singor Mobley were enjoying themselves.
No figures given out, naturally, but those familiar with event production estimated this party, with its open bar, had to have cost $100,000 to $140,000.
“This event,” said Blue Sky Limos’ Jim Korchinski, “will never be topped. Unless Ken throws another one.”
