Prince Slicked Back. Photo: Afshin Shahidi for L.A. Times

And Tonight, the unveiling…

More prized than a trip to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory are the invitations granted for tonight’s unveiling of Prince’s latest galactic web project,  lotusflow3r.com . Press invitees include Steve Appleford of Rolling Stone; Benjamin Trott from Six Apart; Kat Corbett from KROQ; Danny Shea and Katherine Thomson, music and entertainment editors from The Huffington Post; Emily McKay from NME and Edna Gunderson of USA Today. Also invited to the secret soiree are 3 select Purple Ticket winners, whose names have been withheld to protect what’s left of their innocence.

The plan since the beginning has been to show the work to the press today, while anticipation builds for the official opening.  Following the special preview, guests will be treated to an hour-long concert in the funkiest house in the Hills. After that, we hear the band plans to crash Clive Davis’ party with an Alicia Keys joint they’ve rearranged.

With a beginning like this, no doubt this year is about to be stellar!

(This sounds really fun.  Purple ticket holders aka lucky dogs.  Can’t wait to hear about it.)-DR.FB