Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994 TAG: 9406170146
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Kathleen Wilson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And once I did, I wasn't the only one who had a hard time finding the zoo.
But those who braved the tropical-rainforest weather located what I'd have to call the best party I've attended this year.
It was the Zoo Do, sponsored annually by the Blue Ridge Zoological Society to raise funds for Mill Mountain Zoo. This year's theme was a Rainforest Excursion on the zoo's grounds, and Mother Nature certainly did her part to add to the festivities.
This affair hit the pinnacle on each of the three successful party ingredients: food, music and guests.
My favorite part was the guests.
After three years of mingling, this job has a migratory aspect to it. Nomadically, weekend after weekend, it's like the same tribe of people gather at different locations, only wearing different clothes.
I liked Zoo Do a lot, 'cause I didn't know a soul.
Debbie Jamieson did one heck of a job on the decorations, proudly pointing out the inflatable monkeys she'd found at Kmart for $1.50.
``She didn't even have any sort of budget,'' explained Debbie's pal Martha Parrott. ``They had to beg and borrow a lot. Often from their own pockets.''
Debbie was appropriately proud yet modest of her contribution to Zoo Do. But she made sure I met Forrest Moore, a board member she described as the ``head doodah of the zoodah.''
The food was great, particularly the black-eyed pea and shrimp fritters in chipotle pepper sauce that Tracy Bradshaw of Wilhelm Creative Catering was serving up.
Steve Higgs and I did have a problem with what Tracy said was ``chicken in yogurt sauce.''
It was absolutely delicious.
``You're right,'' agreed Steve. ```Chicken in yogurt sauce' just doesn't sell it.''
Tracy immediately changed the name of the dish to pollo brazilia.
Stan Breakell made my night by unofficially voting the hat I was wearing as ``Best of Do.''
I thanked him, but explained it's really nothing more than bad-hair prevention. It covers the Little Orphan Annie look my hair adopts in such humidity.
But when it came to hair, Robynn Onyett's is a real standout. The woman has the most sensational hair I've ever seen. Yards of red hair, that hasn't been cut since she was 13. Robynn is the co-manager of the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op on Grandin Road and did admit to going a little wild at one point and doing a Farrah Fawcett sort of thing some time in the '70s.
Like many events like this, there was a silent auction. Attorney Andrew Goldstein was offering one hour of his time. The first bid was for $10; the second for $11. I thought I'd be funny, so I bid $11.36.
Apparently that wasn't amusing.
One hour of Andrew's time wound up going for $60.
Despite the food and the folks, though, the best part of this shindig was the music provided by local band Key West. They were playing something calypso-Jimmy Buffet-reggae-ish and were wearing three of the most garish shirts I'd ever seen.
(I want one!)
Musicians Steve White, Roger Hartless and Chris Gregory were only scheduled to play until 8 p.m. when the auction started, but hooked up the instruments one more time when I told them of my secret desire to play the tambourine.
This led to Key West handing out every percussion instrument they owned. Kathy Oelschlager seized the moroccos, Denise Revercomb took on something called the torpedo. Katherine Breakell handled the clave, and Lacy Varner grabbed the tambourine.
I tried my hand on something called the cabasa.
Key West called us the Caribbean Queens.
They wound up playing some two hours longer - for free - and the party really took off.
If you want to catch their act and give a calypso percussion instrument a shot, check them out on Aug.t 27 when they're the featured performers at Brown Bag Arts in downtown Roanoke.
I live for this stuff.
Clara Whitlock actually ran into the Duke of Windsor when she visited Russia last month.
``I can actually say I went to the opera with him,'' she enthused.
During intermission, everyone began to applaud, and as she left her seat, she found herself within 10 feet of Prince Charles.
Clara and the prince were both in St. Petersburg enjoying Tchaikovsky's ``Queen of Spades.''
``He was all smiles and so much better looking than I imagined. I used to think he'd be rather goofy, but he wasn't.''
by CNB