Mollie Fontaine is Hot

This year, the hotties photoshoot was supposed to look like a party with ridiculously, ridiculously good-looking guests.

You know, eating, drinking, chatting ... just having a good time.

I was initially kind of worried that we'd get our assorted group of hotties (and some spouses, partners, etc.) together and they'd look at each other and it would be


*crickets*





BUT it totally wasn't. At all. We set up shop at the unparalled Mollie Fontaine Lounge around 5 p.m. and the hotties started getting there a short time later.

We had the upstairs pretty much to ourselves, which was good, b/c I think we would have been disruptive to any other diners.

We got everyone drinks and Melissa started shooting and we started talking and some people actually knew each other and, suddenly, it didn't just look like a party. It WAS a party.



Seriously, people who didn't know each other an hour before were suddenly laughing like they were old friends. I felt like I had known them all forever (and not just because I knew all of their favorite colors).

So, first off, thanks for everyone who nominated someone for the issue. It was extremely hard to choose, b/c everyone was so darn good-looking, and we couldn't have done it without you.

Secondly, thanks to all of our hotties and Melissa and Chip for showing up, smiling pretty, working hard, being nice, and just generally making all the magic I plan to take credit for around the office.

And last, thanks to Mollie Fontaine's for letting us soak in their atmosphere and to the wonderful staff who were pleasant and helpful and made pretty drinks. We had a great time and, by the way, the mac&cheese is really quite excellent.

The issue will hit stands tomorrow morning — look for it!

We're also having our now annual Hotties Party at the Red Rooster Thursday night from 5 to 8 p.m. I hear the drink special is the Rooster Booster and that we'll have free appetizers. I'd love to see you there!