Post the Forty-Third: A Day At The Races
Gentle Reader, I recently found myself in a bit of a quandary: my thrice-damned list obligated me to throw a funeral for my youth on my birthday – but I was also obliged to attend or host a Kentucky Derby party. I hadn’t known it when I made the list – but the Derby fell on the day before my birthday – what was a poor middle-aged fräulein to do?
Luckily, Reader, my beloved Ms. Capere stepped up to the plate. She had conceived of a compromise; we’d have a Derby Party on Saturday, and the guests who overnighted – and some who would come specifically for the funeral – would attend a Funeral Brunch. For a third event, as I demand karaoke, there would be a separate Wake later the next evening. We had a game plan, and it was time to take care of multiple list items at once, while at the same time celebrating my Thirtieth Birthday. Today, we’re focusing on the Derby.
The Task: Attend or Host a Kentucky Derby Party
The Execution: You know those horse masks that are all over the Internet? That was Capere’s main thought in connection with the Derby – we couldn’t be there, and the start time of the fête was after the actual race was won – but what if we made people who didn’t dress to the theme wear a terrifying horse mask? AND THEN MADE THEM RACE AROUND THE YARD? Well. That would certainly be on point with the theme.
Mr. Darling and his beau were kind enough to make the horse masks a reality. Here are the boys without the masks, looking much less terrifying.
Well, the other thing besides the actual race – the only other thing people care about regarding the derby is GIANT FANCY HATS – *ahem* – and how one dresses. As you may have noticed, I am all about hats – and was once privileged to have a conversation with Holly Gaiman about the future of Radical Queer Milliners. So. Fancy Hats – I make them for all sorts of events, and this event focused on fancy hats; I would have to be spectacular. Naturally, I started my hat the night before the event. It wasn’t my best hat by any means, but I knocked it out. Ms. Capere then absolved me of cleaning if I could assemble her hat for her – she’d gotten some pretty great elements to put on it, but wasn’t sure of how all that worked – so I knocked out a second hat that afternoon. Here we are, pre-party, posing:
Hats and Horse-Masks assembled, we were ready for that night’s festivities. Guests were instructed to bring Gin and Roses. Along with barbecue, five gallons of corn, and three derby pies, we made a Mint Julep Punch, to slake our guest’s thirst. It went quickly.
Most guests dressed to theme, though; the threat evidently worked. Everyone was perfectly lovely, and I like to think that everyone had a splendid time that evening. It certainly looks that way.
I was hoping to avoid the whole cake and candles scenario, but Ms. Capere was not going to let me get away without making a wish. Here she is seen gliding through the darkness eerily with a pie.
Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible. I felt very loved, and I love you folks just so much. Cheers, kittens.
The Verdict: It was a marvelous occasion, and a great theme. The horse masks really made everything come together. Plus the theme was super easy to work with. All in all, I highly recommend Derby Parties for all!
Tagged: A Day At The Races, Adventures, Birthday Parties, Nightmare Fuel, Terrifying Horse masks, The Internet, The Kentucky Derby, The List
