Thursday, June 7, 10:15 pm. 40 Society Street. Party for Swan Lake.
Marni Rothschild and fiancé Marcus Durlach’s singular singlehouse was already at full roar when the dancers came in.
With big coal-dark eyes and lean bodies, they headed straight for the silver cups of pomme frites, the deep-fat fryers sizzling like applause.
As the long train of them passed through the narrow side garden, Uncle Richard Durlach, a ballet BMOC from USC, was able to pick most of them out from the performance (he’d brought binoculars to the Gaillard but still that’s no mean feat).
There’s was no mistaking prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, the grand marshal of the impromptu parade, who was whisked away for an audience with Nigel Redden and a mysterious figure, rumored to be The Banker from Deal or No Deal.
Ascots, sushi, champagne, some insane cheeses, a countdown at midnight, a smackdown by the poh-lice, this party had it all going on.
Calhoun Witham, fodder for many of author Charlie Geer’s funniest stories, demonstrated how to tie his red see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-monkeys ascot. No elitist, he bragged about how easy it is (it’s just a half-knot).
“You should wear one,” he said. “Let’s bring back the ascot!”
Sure, but were they ever here?
Lisa Sexton’s kid got the autograph of a certain modernist composer at Modica Gelato. We talked public schools; she’s fighting to get a better library at Charleston Progressive. Her husband Doug Berger was the vet of the late Boomer, the eponymous bassethound of the bookstore on King St. which has since changed hands — and names.
On the upstairs balcony, overlooking the koi pond and lace-leaf maple, Lauren and Linda Sanchez talked with adorable ballerinas Alisa Bogdanova and Nino Makashvili, each 21. Chamber Music clarinetist Todd Palmer made a friend from the company as well.
Upon being praised for her “cheese spread,” Marni’s jaw dropped.
“What? There’s cheese spread?” she said. It was quickly cleared up that the compliment was for the spread of cheeses, of which chef Dave Lewis gave me an extensive tour (see below).
It’s understandable that the host might not have a total grasp of her offerings by Granville’s Catering: caviar, clams, mussels, sushi, lamb with mashed potatoes, chocolate-covered strawberries (a hit with the dancers), lots more I couldn’t remember. In a modern addition on the back of the house is a big bright kitchen, right in the middle of things, which made for a fun Good Fellas vibe.
A Man in a White Dinner Jacket led a countdown to midnight, the 8th of June being Fred and Lenor Hemmelstein’s 55th wedding anniversary.
Guitarist Chris Woodrum and the other musicians set up around 10:30, worked up a sweat and then were shut down by the police well before midnight. The hosts said it couldn’t have been complaints from the neighbors, because “they’re all here.”
A dozen or so ballerinas made their own music, softly singing a pop lovesong, walking home down the middle of Society Street.
Cheese at the Swan Lake party or Variety of Marijuana?
1. Italian Rustico
2. Hindu Kush
3. Humboldt Fog
4. Panama Red
5. Spanish Blue
6. Rosemary Manchego
7. Mary Jane of La Mancha
8. Drunken Goat
9. Morbiere
Cheeses: 1, 3, 5, 8, 9. Kinds of pot: 2, 4, 7 (okay, I made that one up)
Philip Glass mentions: 2, unbaited!
Oh my God you cut your hair comments (three years after the fact): 2, making 11 for the Festival thus far.
One Comment
Geez Sanchez. You really should rub shoulders with the hoity toity more often. The dramatic de-dreading was a whole other era.