Los Angeles suffered some blustery weather last Thursday, but the overcast sky broke just in time for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ “AANtourage” party on the roof of the Bel Age Hotel. Although the newspaper display was a partial victim of the wind, the film-industry ad buyers and publishers of AAN member papers in attendance stayed dry.

In total, 60 publishers and staffers from AAN papers and 83 film representatives were present for the event, which was designed to showcase the alternative-newspaper business and demonstrate gratitude to our clients for their support.

Partygoers dined on oysters, sushi, crudité and cupcakes. The impressive lineup of door prizes donated by AAN members included a 50-inch Panasonic WidescreenPlasma HDTV, a trip to Maui, a Cabo San Lucas vacation, and South-by-Southwest All-Access Platinum Passes.

Dan Cox surveys the spread.

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After the reception wound down at 9 p.m., AAN members and clients continued the party in the hotel bar. Rumor has it one publisher splurged on a bottle of Dom Perignon.

In a post-reception survey of AAN members, all 20 respondents thus far agree that AANtourage was a success.

“I found this to be a terrific way to interact with the agencies and studio folk,” says Marty Griswold, sales and marketing director for The Stranger. “Overall I thought this was a huge success and a great way for AAN to be involved in promoting business to the papers it represents.”

Feedback from the film representatives has been equally positive.

“Nobody does these events for our industry any more,” says Dan Cox of S. Callan Advertising. “The party was great — much better than ShoWest, which is oversaturated by people trying to get our attention.”