A Day at the Derby with a View of the James River

Thursday, May 07, 2009

The rain hardly let up.  But the dance floor was packed, and the juleps were to-die-for at the Richmond Ballet’s 16th Annual Kentucky Derby Day Party.

Rocketts Landing presented the event, and Aaron Sutton, director of marketing and communications for the Richmond Ballet, called it “another huge success.”

Nearly three hundred people attended the outdoor party located underneath a massive tent on the Rocketts Landing central quad. And everyone came dressed to impress. Powell Harrison, owner of the clothing store Harrison’s of Leesburg, gave his approval.

“There are a lot of good looking outfits and cool people here,” he said.

As the early arrivers filtered in, I indulged in the crab cakes and oysters Weyanoke dished up by David Napier’s Whitehouse catering. The band 3rd Wave also took the stage at this time, providing the smooth rhythmic melodies that set the uplifting mood leading up to the Derby.

The Derby was broadcast on a big screen projector to the right of the stage, and not a person in attendance was seated as Mind That Bird pulled away from the pack for the long-shot victory. I even saw a little money change hands as a few friendly bets were paid and dinner was served.

The buffet included BBQ beef brisket with horse radish sauce, seared Rockfish with a classic beurre blanc, Chicken Saté, and a Mediterranean pasta salad.

After the dinner, the Richmond Ballet held a raffle which featured such prizes as a seven night stay at the Outer Banks, a sterling silver necklace from Peter Alexander, two round trip tickets on JetBlue Airways, and four tickets to see the Richmond Ballet’s 2009 performance of The Nut Cracker.

The sun began to set over the Richmond skyline, as the second band of the evening BUTTER took the stage. By this time it didn’t take much – a cover of the Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” – to get everybody back on their feet and doing the Hustle.

All the proceeds of the event went to the Richmond Ballet, and a lot of people had their chance to experience Rocketts for the first time.

“I haven’t been back here since the development project first began, and I can definitely see a big difference,” said event planner, Wendy Ewees. “The place is really coming along.”

Photo / JFordPhotography.com