Have you ever found yourself inexplicably attracted to one particular era? Maybe you feel a calling to the big bands of the 1940s. Or you can't get enough of the Middle Ages' literature.
For me—it's the 1920s. I've always been fascinated by the 20s. Of course I love the elegance and glamour of the flappers and the "bright young things." But I'm also interested in what a pivotal era is was for women. We started becoming more independent, more daring. We began being recognized as a force to be reckoned with.
So, when I found out the Gatsby Lawn Party (part of the Grand Prix of Scottsdale), attendance was a must. I went with my sister and a friend and we couldn't have had a better time.
The $40 ticket gave us entrance into the Gatsby Lawn Party, a wristband with 10 tasting tickets, and a plastic souvenir tasting cup. Considering how generous the vendors with the wine and beer tastings, 10 tickets was way too many for the average person. We got through about five tastings before we decided we needed to calm down if we expected to make it out later that night.
We spent the majority of our time in the VIP lounge. We didn't have VIP tickets, but my friend's friend did and encouraged us to join her—as there wasn't anybody checking wristbands. The lounge sported areas of vintage couches and chairs grouped around tables for people to relax and appreciate each other's costumes.
The costumes were by and far the most enjoyable part of the event. I loved seeing the various interpretations of 20s garb and especially enjoyed seeing the men get into it. They looked so dapper in their pale colors and newsboy caps.
The one thing this event could have improved on was the food situation. There was only a few vendors serving food, which we had to pay for in addition to the ticket cost. As many drink tickets as we didn't use, they could have included food in the ticket usage. We ate at a couple vendors—one that served us a generous plate of paella on the house and another who sold a variety of foods, the only of which I remember were the meatballs.
If donning 20s costumes and channeling The Great Gatsby is your cup of tea, definitely put this on your calendar next year. I would recommend making the most of it and attending the other events associated with the Grand Prix. The Gatsby Under the Stars Gala looked like a delight and you might as well check out the Grand Prix, since admission to that is free.
Until then—keep on dreaming of the world of Jay Gatsby.