Guests partied until late in the night on Friday at the Derby Eve Gala. The bash was held at the historic Seelbach Hotel. Though sadly, Jay Gatsby failed to make an appearance, many other guests kicked up their dancing shoes for a night of rollicking fun.
The Gala was sponsored by Kindred Healthcare and PharMerica. All of the proceeds from the evening went to the American Lung Association, which supports research, education and policy work in the fight against lung disease.
The theme of the party “The Rose Ball” inspired its refined décor. Rose-filled glass vases served as the centerpieces of tables with linens with roses on them. You'd think it was too much, but it was actually very pretty. Guests raved about the food, elegantly prepared by renowned Seelbach sous-chef Matt Durham.
The highlight of the evening was the band Burning Las Vegas, a dance band located out of Nashville. I've heard many good things about the band and had high expectations, and Burning Las Vegas certainly did not disappoint. They had explosive energy and talent that had nearly everyone at the Gala on the dance floor. Young and old guests alike were pounding away, enjoying the fast-paced and dynamic music. I even saw some dance moves from old people that I haven't seen since college frat parties.
The Derby Eve Gala was a much smaller affair than other celebrity-studded pre-Derby parties. It was fun, and though black-tie optional, it didn't seem stuffy or pretentious. Guests truly appeared to be having a great time. The atmosphere was light and merry. Most notable, was at this busy time of year, guests appeared extremely friendly to one another...though perhaps the booze donated by Brown-Foreman helped with that!
Photo: Courtesy Derby Eve Gala
