SARATOGA SPRINGS – Let’s get to the end first: These guys hit a home run!
Any gala event planner will tell you how hard it is, even for established events, to come up with a catchy theme to keep things interesting. But harder still, they will tell you, is to create something significant out of nothing. This, in short, is what Ballsfest did in pulling off their Late Night PJ party, on the evening of Saturday, February 9, at the world-class Adelphi Hotel.
The setting itself was a masterstroke, for all the things you have come to appreciate the Adelphi for. But adding the ironic component of having attendees walk past regular guests in their sleepwear and robes (one was heard to say: “This is what eccentric billionaires do, don’t you know?”) just made the good times even better for all concerned. So let’s go to the party!
PART ONE: VIP COCKTAIL HOUR
The evening actually began at dinnertime on the second floor, as VIP donors (those who bought room and suite packages in addition to event tickets) gathered in the Adelphi’s second floor “Library Room” – a warm, elegant and relatively sedate (especially compared to the whoop-de-doop that was to come) gathering of friends and colleagues who had done so much to establish Ballsfest in this area. They had previously pulled off spectacular family-oriented summer events in Spa State Park (see this POST from last July) and now they were at the precipice of something new and special. So they toasted each other and enjoyed some tremendous Adelphi hors d’oeuvres (Pulled pork with grits, and lobster dumplings were standouts.)
Since I had arrived at the Library room, I had been looking out the glass doors at the renovated balcony. I knew it would be freezing, but how often do you get the opportunity? When I stepped out, it was a serene scene – pin drop quiet actually – a nice interlude and a beautiful streetscape to snap…
And since we had an interlude of a few hours before pajama-mania was going to break loose in the ballroom, I took a moment to refresh my memory as to why evenings like these are so important to help not-for-profits help those in need. I did that by re-reading Mandy Weinerman’s great piece on those helped by Ballsfest:
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Mandy shows where your donation goes:
Click HERE to read Mandy Weinerman’s post about the people helped by your contributions to Ballsfest
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PART TWO: AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
Different indeed. And yet, the same attention to detail was evident throughout, and there was no doubt that people were embracing the concept: participation on the dance floor (kudos to the DJ who kept the crowd gyrating till 1 am); participation in the adult versions of kids games…
… and enjoyment of munchies (sliders and fries, wings and pizza) that would be welcome at any sleepover party – but they certainly upped the gourmet level on these – this is still the Adelphi, after all. The only thing grown up about all this setup was the adult beverages that were consumed to wash down the late night treats. People were well-served, apparently enjoying a chance at a ‘Second Childhood,’ and having a blast!
At the end, two conclusions come to mind:
-The first was alluded to above. Congratulations to Ballsfest for establishing what should be a new annual tradition (lest a bunch of grown-up kids start bawling as if their rattles were taken away) and…
-Thank you Ballsfest, for reminding us all that life is better when you spend it in PJ’s!
For more information, visit ballsfest.org
Arthur Gonick
February 15, 2019
