The YaYa Sisterhood Luncheon has become a much-anticipated rite of spring.
The event is organized by members of the Durango Friends of the Arts and is named after the best selling book Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, which celebrates the strengths, joys and bonds between mothers and daughters as well as among female friends. Now in its fifth year, the Ya-Yas started as a lovely luncheon with a bit of ceremony, but it has expanded on to a series of themes that have dictated not only the decorations at the luncheon but a suggestion of what a properly dressed guest might want to consider wearing.
First, it was a Mexican theme (olé), moved to Africa (hakuna matata) and then a road trip across America at the Route 66-themed do last year (Get Your Kicks). This year it was a trip to yesteryear, the time of flappers, the Roaring ’20s, and, of course, the speakeasy. Called All That Jazz, hostesses Carol Treat, Carol Bruno, Susie Ammann, Joanie Thomas, Kristi Nelson Cohen, Sue Weirather and Susan Welty showed the kind of creativity we have come to expect from this kind of event.
All of the hostesses and many of the guests got into the spirit sartorially speaking, with many recycling Edwardian-style gowns Diane Welle had created for them for the Titanic-themed events at the Durango Heritage Celebration in 2012. They were worth recycling.
Held at Treat’s beautiful Glacier Club home, the only thing that wasn’t in sync with the theme was all the light – because it would be a sin to block that gorgeous view. The front door was covered with fringe, which turns out to cling to crutches like velcro. After a knock on the door, and after a quick look around to make sure no Elliott Ness wannabees were around to take us in for breaking liquor laws, a whispered “Joe sent me,” served as the “open, sesame” to get into the party.
The decorations are always great fun. This year, they included table runners that looked like piano keyboards, tablecloths sprinkled with cut-out notes, centerpieces of partially consumed liquor bottles and plates and bowls in bright turquoise, red, black, lime green and pink – a continuity factor, because they have been used at all five Ya-Ya Sisterhood Luncheons.
The Ya-Ya luncheon always includes a signature cocktail, and this year, in honor of the forbidden pleasure of alcohol during the Prohibition years, the women created a version of Long Island iced tea served in teacups, and even though it was a diluted version, the concoction of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, orange juice, sweet-and-sour mix and Coke or Pepsi definitely had a kick.
Lunch was a Caesar salad with jambalaya, spicy or not, followed by mini-cheesecakes in plain, raspberry and .
Another signature of the event is a party favor of elaborate head gear – the first year, it was decorated Burger King crowns, but it has included floral wreaths, braided coronets, fascinators and, this year, headbands. They’re always glamourous and a fun memento to remember the day by.
The Ya-Ya event also takes a formal – well, tongue-in-cheek formal – and ceremonial moment to honor girlfriends. After pronouncing “We are honoring women who broke the rules and celebrated jazz,” Bruno led the group, in a candlelit room, in proclaiming, “The Ya-Yas promise to always listen to the music and dance whenever possible,” and “Ya-Yas honor all women who are brave enough to follow their own rhythm.”
But there always has to be a fun kicker to the proclamation, and this one ended with a bang: “Ya-Yas promise to never wear horizontal-striped pants,” with Welty modeling a pair that were, in a word, atrocious.
Guests went home happy from an afternoon of laughter and catching up, with the added bonus of having raised $1,850 for the Durango Friends of the Arts Grant Fund. DFA supports local artists and arts organizations, having raised and given away more than $420,000 since its founding in 1991.
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Talk about beautiful weather for the birthdays of Bill Hoffman, Sarah Leavitt, Shep Shepherd, Harold Young, Ashley Hening, Lucas Hoffman, Pat James, Richard Byrd, Shelley Hatfield, Evelyn Black, Brianna Sandhaus, Donald Yale, Joyce Fontana, Sage Remington, Janet May, Margery Runyon, Kristi Ramsey, Joan Spicer, Rose Bartol, Patti Buck, Susie Siegele, Cindy Smart, Margy Dudley, Steve Redding, Diane Estes, Lesley Tabor Ponce, Heidi Ochsner Mugler, Luke Barker, Judy Olson, Della Patton, Anna Kidd, Avery Clair, Jean Furr, Lilly Lacey, Elise Christiansen, Paul Root, Rebekah Eggleston, Lucy Flores, John Krispin, Eric Strength, Gary Trotter, Risa Ontiveros, Marisa Smith, Garrett Cobb, Chase Shelton, Carrie Betts, Autumn Fisher, Alyssa Fisher, Olivia Keitz, Virginia Martin, Sharon McGrath, Laura McKelvey, Izzy Riley, Adam Roessler, Dan Tucker, Molly Black, Beth Barnhardt and Dan Bulen.
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Farewell to Marvin and Patti Dworkin, who are headed to Denver to be closer to family after 16 years in Durango. The couple was involved in a plethora of organizations and activities, and their energy will be missed.
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’Tis the time of year for awards and recognitions. So congratulations go to the music students and teachers at Bayfield Elementary and Middle schools for an outstanding competition at Elitch Gardens Band and Choir Music Festival in Denver earlier this month.
The elementary school choir, conducted by Rusty Charpentier, brought home a silver medal, and the elementary beginning orchestra and percussion groups, as well as the middle school percussion group, all brought home gold medals. Their teacher, Lech Usinowicz, also known as “Mr. U” also won the gold medal for Best Director/Conductor.
I had the chance to hear the groups at the Musical Extravaganza at Fort Lewis College a couple of weeks ago, and they were impressive. I know that between Mr. U, Charpentier, the Bayfield School District and a very involved parents group in Bayfield, there has been a lot of energy invested in building a strong music program in the district. It’s clearly paying off now, and will pay off for the students as they continue in their academics and lives.
Bravo!
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Spring flowers were in bloom when these folks got married, and they’re in bloom again for the anniversaries of Brad and Monique Monson, Earle and Betty Beasley, Don and Tracy Cornutt, Paul and Pat Wainwright, Roy and Gwen Cook, Phil and Ellen Patterson, Mike and Sandy Dalenberg, Art Meyer and Judy Roy-Meyer, George and Susan Rambo and Jim and Ruth Micikas.
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