It was a perfectly balmy New York summer night when the first guests started streaming out of the elevator and into The Standard's Penthouse in the East Village [1] for our 20th birthday party. They were greeted by sweeping views of Manhattan, plus some undeniably nostalgic decorations and outfits — the bash was Y2K-themed, after all. The entire night was a celebration of the enduring impact of the 2000s and our Aughts Effect cover stories and package [2].
Fittingly, Monique Coleman [3], one of our cover stars, was in attendance in a hot pink going-out dress. She chatted throughout the night with another former Popsugar cover star, Taryn Delanie Smith [4], who was clad in a cheetah print number. Other notable attendees included Kaylor Martin [5], Azzy Milan [6], and, of course, much of the Popsugar team.
In addition to the 360-degree views, guests enjoyed snapping photos in the very retro Majestic Photobooth [7] and getting tooth gems from Tooth Jem [8], an NYC-based artist. They listened to tunes by DJ Denise Rénee [9] as they sipped specialty cocktails like The Cheetahrita, as well as our N/A option, Poppi's sour apple flavor [10]. Some munched on Magnolia Bakery [11]'s iconic cupcakes, and they could not wait to dig into our gift bags, which were chock-full of 2000s-inspired products: Juicy Couture's iconic Viva La Juicy perfume [12] and elixir [13]; Maybelline's Great Lash [14] and Sky Tube Tubing [15] mascaras; Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gels [16]; Old Navy flip-flops [17]; Bubly Wine Refreshers [18]; Clinique's Moisture Surge Sheer Hydrator [19]; Power Crunch protein bars [20]; Lancome Juicy Tubes [21]; Fields Good cookies [22]; and Fruit Roll-ups [23]. Truly the gift bag of our 2006 dreams.
To step inside the party, keep scrolling through all of our photos below.
Monique Coleman poses next to her Aughts Effect cover at Popsugar's 20th birthday party at The Standard in the East Village.
Popsugar team members cheers at the start of the night.
Torin Dunn and "Love Island USA" alum Kaylor Martin pose outside.
Creator Azzy Milan takes photos in our photobooth.
Taryn Delanie Smith, a former Popsugar cover star, takes in the view.
Our gift bags were stocked with nostalgic goodies.
Popsugar Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Castañon poses as the party gets started.
Peloton's Aditi Shah poses outside.
Guests lounge on 2000s blow-up couches.
Guests take photos in the Majestic Photobooth.
Monique Coleman and Taryn Delanie Smith strike a pose.
Tooth Jem adorns our guests with tooth gems.
Guests grab some Magnolia Bakery cupckes for later.
Creator Lola Faith and a guest pose on our blow-up couch.
Guests brought the ultimate Y2K accessories.
Guests pose outside.
Kaylor Martin hangs out outside.
Alexis Jones, Jessica Harrington, Sarah Wasilak, and Adi Giesey are all part of team Popsugar.
Sarah Wasilak and Jessica Andrews hang out outside.
Guests pose outside.
Monique Coleman greets fans.
DJ Denise Isaac spins the ultimate 2000s playlist.
Guests pose outside.
Creator Lola Faith shows off her tooth gem.
Our Popsugar gift bags.
Guests line up to get specialty drinks like The Cheetahrita.
Melissa DeLuca rocks butterfly clips.
The Magnolia Bakery team hangs out outside.
Melissa DeLuca, Jill Dehnert, and Joey Dehnert are 2000s ready.
Monique Coleman and her guests pose outside.
Creator Julia Wettreich and a guest pose outside.
Creator Connie Zen strikes a pose.
Jessica Andrews and Alexander Julian Gibson pose outside.
Kelsey Castañon and Briana Sciaca snap a selfie.
Yerin Kim, Kelsey Castañon, Lena Felton, and Kelsey Garcia pose outside.
Taryn Delanie Smith and Michael Webber smize for the camera.
Summer Bockart and Sara Abdelbarry chat outside.
Guests' accessories scream Y2K.
Sarah Wasilak smiles in a group.
Guests came in their best 2000s outfits.
Kelsey Castañon blows a kiss.
Mia Marquez and Noah Sams pose outside.
Avery Riester and Kellyn McMullan cheers inside.
Emily Zirimis and Summer Bockart cheers outside.
Kaitlin Hatton admires her new tooth gem.
Guests strike a pose.
A guest dances inside.
The Popsugar team celebrates the launch of a successful Aughts Effect cover and the start of the party.
Lena Felton [24] (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.