Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 30, 1993 TAG: 9311300030
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Kathleen Wilson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Just when you thought it was safe to emerge into a leftover-free world - yikes - it's leftover Mingling!
On a 20-foot screen that doubled as a photographer's seamless white background ran the big chase scene from "The French Connection."
When they'd cut from the bad guy on the El train - backed by big-chase movie soundtrack music - back to Gene Hackman tearing up the streets below, our host had edited in the Beach Boys singing "Little Deuce Coupe."
When the chase came to its inevitable end, the crowd was yelling, "Shoot him, Gene!"
The bad guy's demise was accompanied by Jim Morrison and the Doors doing "The End."
Guests were mesmerized.
Local photographer Richard Boyd's annual Halloween party is one that separates what's drip from what's hip.
The food was sensational, catered by Pattie Foster Stratton of Seasons and Occasions.
But Richard's video presentation was staggeringly entertaining.
During Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" video - complete with his bevy of expressionless, black-clad models - Richard spliced in close-up shots of Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in "Mommy Dearest."
It was hypnotic. If someone charged money to watch this stuff, I'd pay big bucks.
Joining Robert Palmer in video appearances were the Beatles, Lenny Kravitz, Sting and Screaming Pumpkins.
He even had the "Hey, Jealousy" video from my current favorites Gin Blossoms.
The Blind Melon video ignited conversation about how repulsive this group looked naked on a recent Rolling Stone cover.
Graphic artist Ken Greek stood some 7 feet tall on stilts or platform shoes of some sort.
It was a concept costume.
"I'm death," he explained.
I swear, I thought he was dressed up as radio shock jock Howard Stern.
The bluegrass was by Homebrew. The beer, by Anheuser-Busch. Dress was casual.
Our hostess? Katie Wallace - described to me as one if this area's top graphic designers.
Was I invited? No.
But Katie nervously said it was OK when I invited myself. Even though she did admit she almost called me a couple hours before the party to rescind the invitation I'd wrangled out of her.
But I'm glad she didn't.
The party was a housewarming, of sorts. Her invitation was impressive.
It was dye-cut. Put together by hand and self-mailable.
It was sort of like a pop-up book.
It read: "3,456 square feet, newly acquired. After 2,467 pieces of advice, 1,458 minutes worth of doubt, 152 days in loan limbo, 84 hours of bank interviews, 57 papers to sign, 31 questions for Don the building inspector, 27 more days waiting to hear from Clarice at the Housing Authority, and 7 serious considerations of just moving in with Mom . . .
"This is 1 time to celebrate!"
Her fix-it-up home on Mountain Avenue will also serve as her design studio.
It is massive.
Just how many rooms are there in this place? I wanted to know.
"I can't count that high," was the consensus.
This was a great party.
Thanks for letting me crash.
Remember the column about the folks over at the Peters Creek Church of the Brethren making apple butter?
Well, darn it. I screwed up two things. And these people are so nice they didn't even call to point this out.
First, I was so surrounded by charming men I felt a little like Scarlett at the Wilkes' barbecue over at Twelve Oaks.
And in true Scarlett fiddle-dee-dee fashion, I just sort of melded Trimmy Carter and Galen Saul into one chivalrous Ashley Wilkes of a man.
It was Trimmy Carter who so gallantly insisted I wear his jacket. But, yes, Galen is the charmer on roller skates.
I also quoted Peter Ammerman somewhat inaccurately.
Get this: I quoted Peter as saying, "I been doing this since I was 6."
Peter's working on a Ph.D at Tech. No way Peter said, "I been..."
Peter's mother pointed out to him how flagrantly ungrammatical that was.
The truth is, Peter said, "I've been . . . " It was a typo. Not an attempt to be colloquial.
So to Mrs. Ammerman and Peter, I can only offer this logical explanation:
I be stupid.
by CNB