"A Night in Old Havana"
Gala Chairs: Judy Scott, Angela Redmon, & Lauren Beardsley stand on the third floor of The Ballroom Gallery in Lightner Museum where the gala’s cocktail reception begins.
It’s nighttime in old Havana on a dark October evening. Word has spread around town that a grand party will be held in the plaza of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
By seven-thirty that evening guests begin to arrive rolling in their pristine Cadillacs, Plymouths, Chryslers, and Fords. Beautiful ladies step out and gather in a clutch near the edge of the courtyard, laughing and telling stories to one another. They wear flowers in their hair, and dresses more gay and colorful than butterflies. Some have adorned their hair with fireflies to draw attention to the latest coif.
The men gather just beyond them to smoke cigars and drink rum. Everyone in Havana smokes cigars, young and old alike. Even women enjoy this leafy nectar. Seeds from this plant were a ritual drug among the Taino who once inhabited the island. Spanish colonists cultivated it into a pastime. Its clean blue smoke proved intoxicating.
The hotel spires rise bold and angular above the courtyard, and higher still, clouds shimmer like ghosts as they drift across the moon, urged on by a sweet Caribbean breeze. Palm fronds dance slowly in the wind, with only the slightest rattle. Food is in the air—the smell of ajiaco, empanadas, empanadillas, omelets, fritters, fried and roast pork, fried plantains, fresh-caught seafood, and fruit of all types. The awaiting feast teases everyone’s nostrils and drifts across the courtyard into nearby windows.
After cigars are smoked, the guests gather around tables to eat and drink. Some men eat quickly and wander off for a bit of gaming with cards. Others share a flagon of wine and tell jokes. Music serenades them. The sound of three-stringed guitars is rooted in the old bolero and canción of Spain.
Then the dancing begins.
Into the courtyard come dancers, young men and women dressed in white. Some are barefoot. They are lithe and talented and their eyes blaze with the love of dance. Bata and conga drums come alive in the shadows. Trained hands slap against the leather cover of drums and stir mysteries most truly felt at night. The dancers pick up the beat. Their bodies sway and curl and weave in an earthy fusion of Spanish and African rhythms. Daylight to the people of old Havana is a time of work and commerce. But nighttime symbolizes a time to set aside the tropical sun to enjoy themselves and breathe fresh air. The dancers writhe in ecstatic pulses. Their movements are followed by a hundred eyes. The pat-a-pat of drums stirs the night.
To those women who dance best, an appreciative gentleman afterward offers his hat in recognition of her dancing skill, or else sets it squarely on her head. The best dancer receives an armload of hats. At evening’s end, she returns each hat to its rightful owner and is given a half real or more in exchange. In old Havana, this exchange of hats for tips is called gala.
After the gala, the gentlemen and ladies dance and revel into the late hours, happy to breathe the sweet air of their tropical paradise and swoon beneath the moonlight.
In this spirit, and to this same end, the Lightner Museum of St. Augustine has graciously donated its facilities for the Junior Service League’s annual fundraiser “Night in Old Havana.”
Count on an extravagant journey into the past. And expect to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of a good old time from yesteryear.
On the third floor of the historic museum, every marquis and marquise is invited to mingle and sip familiar cocktails or sample authentic Cuban drinks, courtesy of Karma, an exciting new Ponte Vedra restaurant. There you’ll find old friends and meet new ones.
Seating for the feast will be on the mezzanine level. The display of food is provided by Café Alcazar will include a wide pan of Spanish paella, plus chicken, pork, rice, and plantains, along with a fresh seafood raw bar courtesy of The Seafood Shoppe.
During dinner and afterward, The Copa Kings from Orlando will serenade you with authentic Cuban music, then entice you onto the pool level’s dance floor with more familiar tunes. For your entertainment, the Jacksonville Sharks’ dancers will perform to the beat of conga drums, some in calypso pants and bare feet, others in native Cuban dress, all infused with the spirit of free air.
On the outer terrace, any interested marquis or marquise can purchase a cigar and lounge in rattan chairs while the cigar is hand-rolled for your enjoyment. Passionate gamers will combine competition with camaraderie as they enjoy Cuban dominoes and gambling.
Auction items include gifts and services from Hammock Beach Resort, Hue & Co., Smiles by Glenos, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, Serenata Beach Club, and Tré Sebastian.
Those attending the gala will bathe in a rainbow of tropical colors. From face and body-painted models (Heather’s Living Art), fruit arrangements to flowers to tablecloths to lighting, a visual paradise awaits.
Doors to the courtyard open
at 7:00 p.m. on October 23rd.
“A Night in Old Havana” lies just inside.
Gala ticket price is $150 until August 31st (postmarked or PayPal via website). Thereafter, the cost is $175 per guest.
add: Black Tie / White Dinner Jacket highly encouraged
