The birthday parties continue! The Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society moves onto the celebration stage just a little over a week after The Old School House (TOSH) launched its first birthday party.
And the occasion? Well, there are several to choose from in 2012, but the QB Museum has chosen a particularly dressy venue to help celebrate the 70th birthday of the Town of Qualicum Beach.
On Thurs., March 8, the Museum will present a unique fashion show at the QB Civic Centre at 6:30 p.m. This event which will be of special interest to the ladies, just happens to coincide with International Women’s Day. And in keeping with the vital spirit of Qualicum Beach whose 2012 theme is “Forever Young”, this fashion show will include a private collection of glamourous gowns from bygone days along with fresh, current styles from six local participating merchants.
But that’s not all! The evening will also feature a no-host bar and delectable tastes of diverse cuisines from the food kiosks of six of QB’s restaurants.
And then there are numerable prizes to be won: a fine package from local artisans, a 50/50 draw, gift certificates. And … $1,000 for a one night stay, with breakfast, at the Crown Mansion Hotel, with a $50 gift certificate to their butler’s dining room; a home accessory package from Qualicum Foods’ A Step Above; a make-over gift basket from Pharmasave; and one month at Curves for Women.
The tickets for this Then and Now Fashions night are $20. The tickets may be purchased at “Fresh ‘n’ Fabulous” — 210 Second Ave. in QB, and they are going very quickly.
This evening’s vintage fashions are from the private collection of Merlyn Patten, most of them dating from the early 1900s with a few from the mists of the late 1800s.
When the intriguing designs of years past are presented in concert with modern day fashions from merchants, Then and Now Fashions can not help but be a winning event.
To help us appreciate the styles and the efforts put into their creation, there will be accompanying commentary by Merlyn Patten for the vintage fashions and by Sherri Verdec for the up-to-the-minute designs.
The funds raised by this special evening will go toward the commissioning of the carving, by one-time TOSH artist Francois Mongeau, of a replica of the Hermit statue originally carved by the late Ed McMillan. Many locals will recognize Mongeau’s work from the beach scene mural (with background by weaver Elaine Duncan) in the foyer of the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
So whether or not you have a birthday to celebrate, this March 8 evening at the QB Civic Centre will get you in the mood for celebrating with those who do, and may give you a head start on planning your spring wardrobe … or, perhaps, a vintage murder mystery weekend.
Be there to see ‘the way we were’ and what yet could be. The QB Museum is happy to be a place “Where Memories Live On” and is well on the way to creating a special memory of a very special evening.
— Nancy Whelan is a regular News columnist.