Resale Clothing A Highlight at 2012 Mid-Winter Square Dance Festival in Albany

From the length of the line winding around the clothing resale area Friday night at the Mid-Winter festival, I deduce that shopping is a favorite activity for square dancers. A national caller and cuer were on stage in other buildings of the Expo center, but still dancers waited in line for the single cashier to ring up their purchases. I saw people walk out of the resale room carrying bulging 32-gallon leaf bags of clothes. 

I visited the resale area not to shop but to inspect. For the first time ever, I had tried out Mid-Winter’s nifty computerized resale form, and offered four blouses and two skirts for consignment. Now I wanted to see if I could find my garments on the racks…or if they had sold. The too-small blue blouse was nowhere to be seen. Sold? I hope so.

The beautiful maroon blouse with the double ruffled sleeves was absent from the rack holding red blouses. Sold? Probably. It was lovely. I’ve had second thoughts on selling that one, but I already had a maroon blouse when my Mom gave me this one. Maybe I should have sold my original maroon blouse. It was plainer. But Mom had made it. That blouse has sentimental value even if it lacks the resale blouse’s style. No, stop thinking like that! After all, I’ll get $5– minus the consignment charge– for the maroon blouse. That thought makes me feel even worse. 

The white blouse with the capped sleeves was still hanging with the other white blouses. I found the too-big-for-me polka-dotted mauve blouse hanging between other colors. It apparently defied categorizing. The matching mauve skirt (too small for me) was gone. I found the white skirt with lace insets and straightened it on the hanger.

I ran into a friend buying an armload of clothes. “This blouse looks just like yours,” she said, holding up a red lacy blouse like the one my mom gave me for Christmas when I first started square dancing. The blouse looked new (no, it wasn’t mine). “And these sandals. I just ordered a pair like them for $120. These are $18,” she said. I asked if she planned to return the new ones.

Resale is a great way to purge a too-tightly packed closet. And it’s a great way to expand one’s wardrobe affordably. A big thanks to the Mid-Winter staff, which works long hours to provide the resale room.

Cake Walk Awarding Free Cakes to Be Highlight at Next Checkerboard Dance

A cake walk will be part of the entertainment at the Checkeboard Squares’ dance Jan. 14. Cakes will be given away to winners, not sold. This is not a fundraiser. So come prepared to take home a delicious cake. The dance will begin with rounds at 7:30 p.m.; squares will begin at 8 p.m. The usual potluck will begin at 10 p.m. 

Cakes at the cake walk will be lovelier than this flat, messy cake made by the Checkerboards' Web master.

‘Follow the Star’ Pageant in Gladstone, Ore., Worth Attending

This square dancer has lived in Portland, Ore., more than 20 years but had never heard of “Follow the Star” until this Christmas season. I attended tonight and highly recommend this free family event in Gladstone, Ore., to all square dancers and non-square dancers alike.

Unlike drive-through nativity scenes, this 45-minute pilgrimage to Jesus’ manger winds along outdoor torch-lit pathways filled with surly Roman soldiers, musical surprises and high-quality pageantry. The genius of the event is that it is interactive. Participants not only view the Christmas story, as told in the Bible, but also take part in the unfolding of the events. And you learn a bit about the history of the era–think “The Nativity Story” movie from a few years ago. 

I don’t want to give away the surprises–throughout the evening the emcee urged returning guests to avoid telling newcomers about the upcoming scenes. But if you go, be prepared for a memorable experience, not a cheesy bathrobe Sunday school play or Hollywood glitz. Participants begin building the elaborate sets in August. Actors memorize extensive dialogue. Their hard work is evident. 

Three more showings remain: Dec. 9, 10, 11. Saturday is usually packed, so try the Friday or Sunday showings. Gates open on Friday at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday gates open at 4:30 p.m. Arrive early, stand in line for a free ticket (no reserved seating is available), and then relax in the auditorium where local musicians entertain with Christmas music. Tonight’s performers included an ensemble (singer, pianist, bass player and glockenspiel player), a pianist, and a vocalist. (Hint: Some people go home or out to eat rather than waiting in the auditorium.) Audience carol-singing and announcements fall between performers…about every half hour.

When your group’s number is projected on the big screen, you gather at the side of the auditorium, don your hats and gloves, and follow a guide to the first stop. Six more follow. Free refreshments come at the end. Dress warmly. I was happy to have thick socks and boots, gloves and a hooded coat.

Address: 19800 Oatfield Rd., Gladstone, Oregon. Take the Gladstone/DMV exit off Interstate 205. Turn right onto 82nd Ave; turn right onto Oatfield Road. (The Gladstone Park Conference Center is on the west side of the freeway. The entrance is well-marked.)

The Seventh-day Adventists sponsor the event. I’m not an Adventist, but hats off to the Adventist Church for reminding us of what Christmas is all about…and for doing it with style.

Ken Pratt to Become Checkerboard Squares’ Club Cuer

Ken Pratt will become the Checkerboards’ official club cuer starting in January 2012. Everyone in the square and round dance community knows who Ken Pratt is. He and his lovely wife, Diane, do an exhibition round dance every year at Mid-Winter’s showcase of rounds. 

 

 

Checkerboard Square Dance Club Turns 51

The Checkerboard Squares celebrated another happy anniversary on Nov. 12, 2011. Balloons and red, black and white crepe paper decorated the hall. Red cut-out letters proclaimed “51.” Club members wore their club outfits (red, black and white). The club served white cake with custard filling and a whipped cream frosting. Yes, the event was a party.

And like a typical party, the event also included guests…about six squares of dancers showed up. Twenty-one guests were from the Oaky Doaks (a big thank you to this club!). 

Former members came from as far away as Sisters, Ore., to dance and mingle. Roger Putzler called, and Ken Pratt cued.