07 March, 2006 (Tuesday)
Recollections of a Cat Shop Shuffle
Cat Shop Shuffle: Annual ball held at the Big White Cat Shop, a maintenance facility for the heavy machinery that keeps the ski slopes running.
The shuffle is an exclusive event held by management. Tickets are limited to 300, with predominantly mountain businesses invited to attend. Valdy, an aging hippy performer (whose had a few hits), provides the centre stage entertainment. Drinks are relatively cheap, tickets can be hard to come by, the night is generally acknowledged to be one of the bigger nights on-mountain. Some claim it came about as an excuse to clear up the Cat Shop once a year.
Port-a-loos are out back
The night started quietly enough. At 6pm it was mainly old timers with a smattering of over-dressed lifties. Foxie had his 'fro up in all it's frizzy glory and the lift gals had scrounged up ball gowns and wedding dresses for the occasion, their plumage (and breasts) on display. Dave and I stood at the edge for a while, scoping the place out. Port-a-loos at the back. Big work benches converted to buffet tables to the side. Tables sitting centre to the end, surrounding a rectangular stage. The drink taps began to flow.
Dress ranged from the obscene to the ridiculous to the 'turned up but didn't even bother to wear a tie'. Guys were decked out in all manner of attire, from formal suits, to summer suits, to bad shirt and shorts combos, to duct-tape ties. Gals were in everything from strict formal gowns to trashy 80s getup and sequins. Garnishes of all varieties were on display, a grocer's nightmare. Chris (from Sk8ters) started to go out and sample the garnishes - he tasted mushrooms and radishes, capsicums (sorry, bell peppers) and cucumber, celery and garlic. Apparently his foray into tasting a chilli was painful, but he dulled the fire with one of Skye's mini-limes. Ugh!
Shaking VIP beers
By 7pm a fair crowd had gathered and the earlier chill had began to recede. The shop was looking well lit for all of it's cavernous length. White table cloths marked the VIP area. A crowd started develop around the bar area. The buffet opened: cheese squares, fried onions and sauted mushrooms, caesar and potato salad, a range of condiments, roasted beef in huge hunks ready to be sliced and served. Not really a vegetarians kind of do. For dessert it was carrot or black forest cake. The carrot cake with thick white icing and orange icing carrots on top. The black forest cake thick with creme. I ate well with the 306 crowd.
By 8:30pm it felt more like 11. People were starting to look rosy cheeked and well liquored.
Tables were cleared and a dance floor appeared. Zia's cherry moonshine made an appearance. Lauren and Precious ate their chocolate coated biscuit. Rachel from Happy Valley introduced herself and promptly forgot my name... which didn't stop her from flirting, very directly. Skye was wearing a gardener's green hat and baggy pants. Lauren was wearing way too much sugar - rasberry liquorish in her hair and sweet necklaces off her belt. Aenne was in a flashy 70s sequined one-piece and Per was in classic golfers garb; long-shorts and high socks. I shook myself awake and decided that I should take a rest from the big cups of beer. Gabbi made me dance, so I twirled her around on the dance floor for a bit.
Cheers to Cherry Moonshine
11pm stamina started to flag. Gabbi disappeared home after an encounter with Zia's cherry moonshine. The area near the bar was packed in close with circles of drinkers. The band played on, alternating between old time hits and then resting while recorded contemporary favourites blasted through the speakers.
Precious spotted Matt and Jess - the love triangle resumed. Face of thunder she dragged me to the dance floor. I pulled manic faces. On the way to the loo Hayley bundled by and hit me in the chest. So much for friendly neighbours!
12pm the place started to empty out. The tables on the outskirts held a few solitary souls just watching. The port-a-loos started to fill and Neal was feeding people cake. The dance floor was still going though, with the band banging out tunes. Deb bumped and ground, Steve her pole. Scary. Zia twirled and twisted. Tammy and Kristi just danced.
Night's post-mortem
The Cat Shop Shuffle was fun, but it was just another big messy night out at Big White. Well, except that it was at a different venue. The dress up was great. The price - well when it costs $30 entry and $20 for drinks you're looking down the barrel of a day's pay. Expensive, especially at this time of year. That said, it was one of those events that you have to attend if you're here for the season. Merely the fact that it was limited edition tickets made it exclusive. It was good to see the gang out, just a pity it was so fragmented. The season rolls on.
Cat Shop Shuffle: Annual ball held at the Big White Cat Shop, a maintenance facility for the heavy machinery that keeps the ski slopes running.
The shuffle is an exclusive event held by management. Tickets are limited to 300, with predominantly mountain businesses invited to attend. Valdy, an aging hippy performer (whose had a few hits), provides the centre stage entertainment. Drinks are relatively cheap, tickets can be hard to come by, the night is generally acknowledged to be one of the bigger nights on-mountain. Some claim it came about as an excuse to clear up the Cat Shop once a year.Port-a-loos are out back
The night started quietly enough. At 6pm it was mainly old timers with a smattering of over-dressed lifties. Foxie had his 'fro up in all it's frizzy glory and the lift gals had scrounged up ball gowns and wedding dresses for the occasion, their plumage (and breasts) on display. Dave and I stood at the edge for a while, scoping the place out. Port-a-loos at the back. Big work benches converted to buffet tables to the side. Tables sitting centre to the end, surrounding a rectangular stage. The drink taps began to flow.
Dress ranged from the obscene to the ridiculous to the 'turned up but didn't even bother to wear a tie'. Guys were decked out in all manner of attire, from formal suits, to summer suits, to bad shirt and shorts combos, to duct-tape ties. Gals were in everything from strict formal gowns to trashy 80s getup and sequins. Garnishes of all varieties were on display, a grocer's nightmare. Chris (from Sk8ters) started to go out and sample the garnishes - he tasted mushrooms and radishes, capsicums (sorry, bell peppers) and cucumber, celery and garlic. Apparently his foray into tasting a chilli was painful, but he dulled the fire with one of Skye's mini-limes. Ugh!
Shaking VIP beers
By 7pm a fair crowd had gathered and the earlier chill had began to recede. The shop was looking well lit for all of it's cavernous length. White table cloths marked the VIP area. A crowd started develop around the bar area. The buffet opened: cheese squares, fried onions and sauted mushrooms, caesar and potato salad, a range of condiments, roasted beef in huge hunks ready to be sliced and served. Not really a vegetarians kind of do. For dessert it was carrot or black forest cake. The carrot cake with thick white icing and orange icing carrots on top. The black forest cake thick with creme. I ate well with the 306 crowd.
By 8:30pm it felt more like 11. People were starting to look rosy cheeked and well liquored.
Tables were cleared and a dance floor appeared. Zia's cherry moonshine made an appearance. Lauren and Precious ate their chocolate coated biscuit. Rachel from Happy Valley introduced herself and promptly forgot my name... which didn't stop her from flirting, very directly. Skye was wearing a gardener's green hat and baggy pants. Lauren was wearing way too much sugar - rasberry liquorish in her hair and sweet necklaces off her belt. Aenne was in a flashy 70s sequined one-piece and Per was in classic golfers garb; long-shorts and high socks. I shook myself awake and decided that I should take a rest from the big cups of beer. Gabbi made me dance, so I twirled her around on the dance floor for a bit.Cheers to Cherry Moonshine
11pm stamina started to flag. Gabbi disappeared home after an encounter with Zia's cherry moonshine. The area near the bar was packed in close with circles of drinkers. The band played on, alternating between old time hits and then resting while recorded contemporary favourites blasted through the speakers.
Precious spotted Matt and Jess - the love triangle resumed. Face of thunder she dragged me to the dance floor. I pulled manic faces. On the way to the loo Hayley bundled by and hit me in the chest. So much for friendly neighbours!12pm the place started to empty out. The tables on the outskirts held a few solitary souls just watching. The port-a-loos started to fill and Neal was feeding people cake. The dance floor was still going though, with the band banging out tunes. Deb bumped and ground, Steve her pole. Scary. Zia twirled and twisted. Tammy and Kristi just danced.
12:30am I made my way out, jumping on a shuttle which took me straight to Sam's. The party was still going, so I lasted until close chatting to various people and drinking water. 
Asleep in bed by 1:30am after a dessert of apple strudel and ice cream. Sweet dreams.
Asleep in bed by 1:30am after a dessert of apple strudel and ice cream. Sweet dreams.Night's post-mortem
The Cat Shop Shuffle was fun, but it was just another big messy night out at Big White. Well, except that it was at a different venue. The dress up was great. The price - well when it costs $30 entry and $20 for drinks you're looking down the barrel of a day's pay. Expensive, especially at this time of year. That said, it was one of those events that you have to attend if you're here for the season. Merely the fact that it was limited edition tickets made it exclusive. It was good to see the gang out, just a pity it was so fragmented. The season rolls on.
posted by the wastrel @ 11:00 PM
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