Monday, March 21, 2011

Spring "Break On The Lake" 2011 / Big Band Dance Extravaganza!!

 
First, a word from our sponsors...


("It's a Swingin' Spring Break, here at Mick's")
Well dear readers, this year was without a doubt the BEST Spring Break season opener that the Casablanca has ever had!  I left for the Casablanca on Wednesday evening and got things ready all day Thursday, that evening Patricia and friend Jenny came to help get things read for the big dance and spend the night.

 (The draping streamers and lantern in the middle was my doing, it took forever but ended up looking great!)
The theme for the dance was "A 1940's Big Band Dance" so we gathered all my records and the player and hauled them down to the grand pavilion!
 (Jenny has issues with saran wrap...)
We made a bevy of hors d'oeuvres and readied the punch before heading into town to pick up flowers and meet with the guests. Now before we continue, let me tell you how the dance sorta got out of hand... when we saw the Glenn Miller Big Band last month, we decided to make our party big band themed too we told everyone "to dress nice" well then people started asking about "simi -formal" and we theater people in a valiant effort to out do one another ended up turning this "simple gathering" into a full blown formal!  When we met up everyone was looking pretty darn snazzy...
(Friends, Andrew, Ryan, Dillon, Joe & Patricia)
(Friends, Joe, Jenny, Pat, Caitlin, Kelcie, Lydia & Margaret)
Because it was a freakishly warm 90 degrees a few of us waited until later to change into formal attire, just before pictures and the dance, after everyone was assembled we headed out to the Casablanca. Upon arrival all the girls wanted to take pictures in their period clothes, in my period house, and that just makes me happy period!
(Kelcie, Lydia, Patricia, Caitlin, Jenny)
 (The lovely Miss Mary)
(Sheldon & Terrace)
(Lydia, Kelcie, Patricia)
(Kelcie & Myself or rather Ilsa & Rick)
You might be wondering what the Guys were doing right about now, well...
(That's Confidential.)

*  *  *
A few more guests made their way to the Casablanca, and then it was time for the group picture and the dance to begin! Everyone had brough some kind of dessert or dish, so first order of business was refreshments.
Before we could start dancing, we got the "Guy & Gal" group pictures out of the way, here we have the girls with the flower basket...
(Olivia, Emily, Terrace, Margaret, (Peter?), Patricia, Mary, Holly, Kelice,Lydia,Jenny,Caitlin)
(Peter, Lynn, Joe, Andrew, Me, Dillon, Sheldon, Ryan, Jarrod, Chris)
The we let the needle drop and "swingin' spring break was underway!


 (The Lake Diversion Rat Pack)
The just at the shank of the evening friend Savannah arrived in a glittering gown, just in time to catch the Limbo!
Limbo!
It was so hot in the "dance hall" that we overflowed onto the 'terrace' of the 'Grand Pavilion', some sat out on the dock and sang to the full moon.
 After cooling off we all headed back up to the house to watch the first Drive-In Movie of the season, our feature presentation "Flipped". 
  A really sweet movie about middle school love set from 1958-1963 everyone seemed to enjoy it!
("It's Drive-In Time here at Mick's!")
Once the credits had flickered off the screen, we all moved back into the house for a card game of apples to apples...
 Some singing in the louge, the "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka: as well as other favorites!
 And of course general evening conversation & gossip.
We laughed and talked, and ate until someone looked up at the cat clock and exclaimed "Oh Crap its 2:45A.M.!" I think its safe to say a good time was had by all, and we are considering making the dance an annual event. After everyone said their goodbyes and headed off back to town, well almost everyone friends Caitlin and Savannah stayed the night. 
 *  *  *
The next morning we  had a hearty breakfast of French toast and eggs.
Its amazing how much faster decorations come down than being laboriously put up...
After the clean up was complete Patricia, Caitlin & I went for a walk to kill time before dinner.
We were joined for dinner by friends Sheldon and Terrace this time in much more comfortable clothes. Sharing a feast of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, garlic bread, green beans with a peach and cherry cobbler for dessert, a perfect closing dinner, to a wonderful opening weekend!

As I said in my opening statment, this year is hands down the best spring break we've ever had, (personally it beat the heck out of my equally as formal senior prom three years ago.) I hope it is an indicator to the excitment and attendance of all the other parties and events this year! A big thank you to everyone who came out to have a dance with us, and to all those who brought food and drink! A special thanks to Mary McKinnon, Oliva Sterling, Patricia Biera, (for party planning) & Holly McKinnon for the group photo and this wonderful piece below.

-Mick-

5 comments:

1950s Atomic Ranch House said...

Such fun, Mick!!

I can't wait until you make it big and move out to Hollywood in my area so I can attend all your fun Big Band dances!

Better hurry tho, I'm not getting any younger!!

Signed,

1950's Atomic Ranch House lady who grew up listening to this old music. =)

Missouri Michael said...

Looks like it was a blast! The only way it could have been better is if all your blogging pals were there as well! LOL!

I'm too lazy to go to so much work for a one evening party like that. :) When people come to my place, they get it like it is!

So, what are your plans for the next big shindig?

Jim said...

So much fun! So well organized! So much food! Plenty of good music too! Back to the future comes to mind!!! Thanks for sharing this with us Mick.
Jim

Vintage Christine said...

I know I've told you this a million and a half times, but you are one of my very favorite bloggy friends, due in no small part to the fact that you are funny, creative AND look smashing in a white jacket! Awesome pix, awesome friends, Mick--you really do know how to have a great time. PS--I usually immediately turn off music players on blogs, but I listened to your period-appropriate music as I went through all the pix and videos and it was perfect.

Kitty said...

Aw that last photo is so sweet! Sounds like you all had a fab time.