Written by Wicker Van Orsdel
Wait … that was summer? No worries; just do a happy dance, because we are now in the throes of a wow-worthy fall (which means that for the next many months, your aquatic sportsmanship will be confined to a hot tub). Of course, we look forward to our regular schedule of football games, cozy fireplaces, chili and close encounters of the snow-shoveling kind, but let’s take a quick peek at some of Wick’s Dish’s hottest early fall events and outings we enjoyed.
Best place to meet a blonde: Salisbury House & Gardens’ Gatsby Gala, inspired by the book “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Who doesn’t love to channel their 1920s inner blonde with a bottomless glass of champagne in hand? It was a beautiful, perfect, sultry evening of flappers, food and fun, where dandy dames and cigar-smoking big shots were there to be seen—and to make a statement. The evening was chaired by the lovely Natasha Sayles, and Tom Boesen’s glorious flowers made for an opulent and glam ambience. Julie and Doug Klein won my vote for the best-dressed flapper couple of the evening. Dance music was provided by The Sons of Gladys Kravitz, inspiring adorable Charleston dancers Tania and Brad Burt to lead everyone out onto the dance floor. Pass the Templeton Rye, please; the crowd had all the elegance of Fitzgerald’s West Egg parties.
Best place to be served mayhem: Celebrity Servers Night at Django and Centro. Partners in crime Soozie McBroom, Rosalie Gallagher, Chris Hensley and I donned our Flo-Alice-Lucy-Ethel wacky waitress costumes to join other server volunteers, such as Johnny Danos and Dawn Taylor, to serve a delicious prix fixe dinner and compete for tips, all for the benefit of the Young Women’s Resource Center. Nearly 600 guests dined, tipped and joined in the fun. I let my patrons use my pen—which has a very big tip. Ha!
Best place to crack up: The Revolver Comedy Revue. This is a great addition to the Des Moines entertainment scene. Every Monday night at the Gas Lamp, Anything Improv and the Des Moines Social Club, under the aegis of Josh Chamberlin, present a high-caliber comedy show featuring a rotation of Des Moines’ best stand-up and improv comedians. It’s a hilarious evening guaranteed to blow you away—with laughs. Plus it’s free. Let’s hope this merriment is here to stay.
And don’t forget to head down to the East Village any day for some of the best—and most fun!—shopping around. Start with French-pressed coffee and a chocolate-filled croissant at City Bakery, and then stop in to see what Marsha Steele has found lately in Found Things; you will not be able to leave this store! At Village Boutique, Mark Holub will talk you into a pair of shoes or sweater you suddenly find you need. There’s plenty more, too—go explore!
As this issue goes to press, I am looking forward to all sorts of events on the jam-packed cold-weather social calendar. I’ve scared up a Medusa costume (yes, that’s it in the above photo) for this year’s Scare-Us-Hill Halloween Party at Terrace Hill and also plan to sport it for the Des Moines Community Playhouse’s Hollywood Halloween.
I’m also looking forward to singing and emceeing with state Sen. Matt McCoy at The Benefit 2013 Nov. 3 at Embassy Suites Hotel downtown and attending Champagne and Chocolate Night to celebrate the reopening of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Who knows? I may even take tap dancing lessons at the Playhouse.
So don’t seal yourself up your Snuggie in front of “Game of Thrones.” Get your party shoes on and turn the rest of the fall and this winter into a hashtagged season of great memories. See you on campus!
