The Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. (CGCAI) held its big fundraiser of the summer at Belvedere, on July 9, billed as the “’50s Retro Party,” and it was a colorful event indeed. All food, diner and picnic-style, was cooked by Belvedere’s Julian Darcelien and all décor, diners, jukebox, black-and-white checkerboard dance floor, 45 rpm records, and hula hoops, was devised by Belvedere’s Craig Eberhardt, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Belvedere's founding. CGCAI’s Frank Borsas announced that the goal, following the $1.4 million already raised from the community for work on the Community House, was to raise part of the additional $100,000 needed to complete the upstairs observation deck, and the amount raised at this party was $32.500.
Demi-Tasse, as Connie Francis, kicked off the entertainment with “Lipstick on Your Collar,” which Homecoming Queen Ginger Snap followed with “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” from “Grease.” Lavinia Draper sang “(I Go out) Walkin’ after Midnight,” “Burning Love,” and “Fever” and, almost simultaneously, conducted a hula hoop contest, in which Jen, Doreen, Roland, Frank, and Petra competed. Jen won the prize—a can of Spam and a hula hoop.
Lavinia and the Imperial Court of New York’s Doris Dear presided over a costume contest, for which they, along with Frank and Craig, were judges. Lorraine Michels, with turquoise-and-rainbow rubber unicorn beach toy, got honorable mention and a can of Spam. Matthew George and Michael “Whore D’Oeuvre” Moran, as Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, placed third, winning a “number three” statue and a can of Spam. Taking second prize were Prom King Mike (Diane Romano) and Queen Pat (Pat Goff), given a “number two” statue and a can of Spam. And winners, in housedresses and curlers as “everybody’s mother,” were Toni Cesta and Jane Haber, winning a “number one” statue and two cans of Spam. After some vigorous fundraising, alongside Frank, Doris Dear sang the final song, “Where the Boys Are.”