Saturday, January 31, 2009

Bill Brooks Gala is the cat's meow

A new and fabulous trend is emerging in the society circuit – themes.

Everyone loves a theme park, right? And some people even opt for theme weddings, performing their nuptials in everything from Elvis costumes to Robin Hood leggings. Over the holidays, Alykhan Velji, a highly sought-after residential and commercial interior decorator based in Calgary, hosted “A Very Bollywood Christmas”, complete with turbans and synchronized dancing. So it was no surprise that he and his partner Jason Krell, (Tara Parker Tait PR) were not the only ones fully on board for the Bill Brooks Annual Prostate Cancer Benefit.

Its theme was The Great Gatsby, or the 1920’s era. Guests were urged to put on their “glad rags” and grab their “favorite hoofer” for a night of dancing, fine food, and “giggle water.” One was even invited to “drop some jack on silent auction items that are the cat’s meow.” And so they did.

The vast silent auction included a one-week stay in the private Mexican villa owned by CEO of EnCana Randy Eresman, and a return trip for four to Hawaii with a accommodations provided in the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon tower, among other hot getaways. Other highly desirable items on the table were: a men’s Seiko Premier Kenetic Direct Drive watch (valued at $1095), dinner for six at Catch restaurant (value $1200), and an original ink drawing by Audrey Mabee (valued at $250).

Lorne Marr preferred to be called Elliott Ness. Kim Stern, owner of Boutik clothing store, was among the many guests wearing a flapper-style dress, long pearls and a feather in her cap. President of the Art Gallery of Calgary, Valerie Cooper, lined up for some prohibition cocktails at one of the many bars around the ballroom. The drink of choice was bourbon, or a lemon drop martini for the more dainty. Food stations offered everything from sushi and dim sum to antipasti, fine cheeses, and bite sized mini burgers of lamb, tuna, or beef short rib.

This is the 11th year for the benefit. 578 people attended, and revenues exceeded past records. Guests attribute its success to the charismatic man behind it all, Bill Brooks, who flew between the guests with a wide smile late into the night.

In the beginning it was a much smaller crowd, who met for a formal dinner and talked about prostate cancer with rare openness. Since that time, Brooks has raised over $3.3 million toward research and treatment costs, and allowed men and medical professionals to talk about the disease publicly in Calgary.

City Alderman Ric McIver, Käthe Lemon, editor-in-chief of Avenue Magazine, Christine Wandzura, CEO of Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, Jeff Kovitz, chair of the board of governors for The Banff Centre, and Emmy-award winning producer Chad Oakes of Nomadic Pictures were among the guests.

The ultimate cocktail party it may be, but some of the more corporate-minded guests still had their minds on what followed that glamorous era ... the great depression.

Published in National Post, January 31, 2009

No comments: