Carlos E. Lopez hanging w/ Daffy Duck @ The Chateau Marmont 2000

Welcome Back to all my students of NeverWood High and hello to NWH's Class of 2010!!!

When we first learn to count in life, it's usually to the number ten.  That's often followed by an over ecstatic parent saying "good job" or a proud teacher sticking a gold star on your forehead.

I've chosen ten photos from the past decade of my life.  This was one of the hardest things I've had to choose in a good while.  At least since 2002, when I had to choose whose name to chant during the Britney & Justin dance off at The Lounge in West Hollywood.

I selected photos that marked a time in my life, maybe yours (if your reading this site) and previous students who have moved onto BIGGER and better things in life.  

Giving the Class of 2010 a little inspiration to dream BIG, reach for the stars, help out your fellow classmates and the MOST important... Just have fun!!!

WhoWhatWear's - Katherine Power & NeverWood High's - Carlos E. Lopez @ the L.A. Confidential party 2001

Meet Katherine Power, one of my first go out buddies.  She helped create what was going to become a phenomenon in LA night life, known as "Young Hollywood".  

We paired up together, merged our friends (and our dance skills) and ventured out into the bright lights, big city.

Who says going out and being fabulous doesn't pay off!  Katherine is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Who What Wear a popular fashion website, that many of us get our style tips from.

Who would have thought ten years later we would still be connected.  Not only in life, but on the internet thanks to the World Wide Wed.

Masha Gordon & NeverWood High's - Carlos E. Lopez in our Boogie Nights days 2002...and to think we were scared of Y2k the year before & came together as a nation in 2001, because of 9/11.                                                                                       

To old friends, the ones that last a life time.  There is a time of innocents in everyone's life, when nothing matters - except who you are with at that exact moment.   

The friends you hope to still sit at the same table with, during your ten year reunion.   

...and in 2002 we leaned that we had the power to call in and vote on our next American Idol.

Nicky Hilton & Paris Hilton @ Beacher's Madhouse in Las Vegas 2003The year the world joined in on our lil party.  Capitalizing on what was more than just a couple of Simple Lives and giving a new meaning to the phrase "Jet Set."  Every girl dies to be the Bell of the Ball, the Prom Queen or the Princess at the end of every Fairytale.  But, it takes someone special to be more than just noticed, it takes a STAR to be remembered.

...just like in 2003 when Madonna kissed Britney and Cali elected the Terminator as the Governor.  

 Kirsten Dunst, DJ Samantha Ronson & Liat Baruch @ a private 1920's themed birthday party in Hollywood, CA 2004The year I learned what Jay-Z's hand sign meant and loved what it stood for.  

Meaning: a diamond which is a play off of the word Rock in Rockafella records which means the hardest stone on earth as well as most precious.  This hand sign was coined as the dynasty sign by Jay-Z.

...thank God for Facebook created in 2004, how else would I tag my friends throwing up diamond signs!

Bottom L-R: Carlos E. Lopez, Cisco Adler, Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Masha Gordon, Liat Baruch, Andy Lecompte, Jeff Gold & Roger Berman being gangster @ Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2005

The year we were unstoppable!  

Everyone has their own cliques they run with, whether you were a band kid, a jock, a cheerleader, a nerd... But the best thing about our group was that we were a mixture of everything.  Realizing each person brought something interesting to the table and like a puzzle, we all couldn't have fit more perfect together.  

...we were gonna need to team up as President Bush stepped into office for his second term in 2005 and Hurricane Katrina hit hard.

Skater - Chad Muska at a skate party in Venice, CA 2006

Some enjoy a nice walk in the park...

But, I was always more into something a little more fast paced and preferred to skate through life.  You work hard, then you play hard.  Which allows everything else to fall into place very easy.  Little did we know the party was about to come to an end very soon and everything was going to catch up with us.

...in 2006, we could play as long as we wanted with the release of two systems, PS3 & the Nintendo Wii and when we weren't playing we were all watching Borat.

NeverWood High's - Carlos E. Lopez & Mary-Kate Olsen at the Beverly Hills Hotel 2007

The year I felt on top of the world!

Lucky number 7... 2007 that is.  LA night life may have died and the cool kids may have migrated to NY, Paris and London or just simply settled down.  

But, this was the year the name Teen Vogue was on my business card, hired two cute lil interns named Lauren Conrad & Whitney Port, did the can-can at the Cannes Film Festival, danced on grapes in Napa Valley, French kissed in Paris and New York fashion week seemed to be every week of the year!

...like every good year, 2007 came to an end, along with the Sopranos season finally on HBO.

NeverWood High's - Carlos E. Lopez, DJ Samantha Ronson, Kanye West & Lindsay Lohan backstage @ Kanye's, Glow in the Dark Tour 2008

The year of hope.

With a new election at hand and the voting polls crowded with individuals both young and old.  This was the year for change, for the world, for the U.S. of A., for my friends and especially for myself.  When the light at the end of the tunnel seemed so distant, it took a higher power to help us light the fire within and glow in the dark.

...it was a time for change in 2008, so much changed that a man was on Oprah for having a baby and Michael Phelps wins 8 gold medals.

L-R: Andy Lecompte, Maggie Kayne, Courtney Jo Applebaum, Hedi Gores, Hilary Tisch, Hayden Slater & birthday boy Carlos E. Lopez at my Eye's Wide Shut party 2009

The year of reinvention.

It was time to take off our masks and shine again.  Whether we wore those masks to hide from the world or were just living in fear of the Swine Flu aka: H1N1.  A time when the economies crisis was not going to stop us from finding ourselves again and the only thing we could afford to pay attention to was our hearts.  Even with the loss of the King of Pop, we learned to dance again to songs that brought us back to a time of memories and dreams.

When living as a prisoner to your past became out of style and planning for the future would set us all free.

...2009 the year two journalist also became free from North Korea.

Hayden Panettiere & NeverWood High's - Carlos E. Lopez at The FountainBleau in Miami during New Years 2010The year to kiss and make up.

Talk about 10 years of a hell of a roller coaster ride! From Y2K to 2K10, we fought, we danced, we cheers'd and I thank you all for photographing so well during all of it.

To a new beginning and a fresh start.  Don't forget to dress to the 9's and bring your plus 1 for the perfect 10 years to come.

I love you all and can't wait to see what this year is going to bring.

Your Principal, 

Carlos E. Lopez