Party Like It's 1919

Last weekend our college's SBR threw an amazing 20s party, accurately named, “The Beautiful and the Damned.” The night started with flutes of champagne and mingling in the SBR where our television room had been transformed in “Capone's Hideaway” and posters declaring “The End of Prohibition!” were stuck to the walls. The men actually put in an effort with bow ties and fedoras. The ladies, of course, went all out with short dresses, headbands, feathers, and long jewelry. Hall followed with squash soup, roast chicken, and more delicious wine. The after-party, however, was what everyone was waiting for. Gin and tonics and gin and elderflowers (much better, in my opinion) abounded. Benny Goodman's “Sing, Sing, Sing” blasted from the radio and trumpets wailed. I taught myself the Charleston and showed off my moves (and I only kicked my shoe off across the room once!). I then tried to teach everyone else the Charleston, but that didn't go so well. Instead we did our best Duchess from The Aristocats impressions. Later my friend and I channeled our inner Catherine Zeta-Jones when we put on “And All That Jazz” from the Chicago soundtrack. The men were bewildered at what we were listening to (“What is this?” “It's from a musical!” “A what?!”), but it made for some awesome impromptu karaoke. The night ended with one last, rather tipsy, Charleston rendition. Overall, a success. To quote my friend, “We partied like it was 1919.”