A key lesson from my decade as an international party girl is that a successful party takes 4 elements coming together in perfect harmony: the first and most obvious is the music, then the drinks, the setting (which includes the lighting, comfort, cues, and all that), and last but certainly not least, the crowd. With house legend Seth Troxler behind the decks, grinning waiters freely pouring Turbo Tonys, graffitied half-pipes as the backdrop, and skaters rubbing shoulders with cuties in sexy crop-tops, it’s safe to say that El Tony Mate’s Selected Sessions at Skatecafé had all four elements in perfect balance.

I arrived solo, equipped with my film camera and an open mind. I knew there would be Mate, Seth, and skaters, but otherwise had no clue what to expect at my first-ever El Tony Mate gathering. What unfolded was an energetic night, guided by infectious beats, fuelled by caffeine, and amplified by a crowd that felt genuinely excited to dance, talk, and mingle. Find my field report below.