Bit to Do

Hats on the Avenue celebrates its fifth year in style

Posted On: 25 Apr 2013 - 8:00am

Bit to Do

By Cameron Aubernon

Wednesday evening was the second-to-last Hats on the Avenue at

Varanese

for 2013, featuring Derby-ready

ensembles from neighboring boutique The Secret - Boutique that loves to tell paired with live jazz music and half-price bottles of wine. This writer has tried to make it a few times -- including an attempt that ended when someone stepped out in front of her bus; he lived -- so it was nice to have finally shown up to see the weekly flash fashion show at the New American restaurant.

"It's something that we started about four years ago with the local businesses in the community to showcase what they have to do during Derby,"

Varanese

owner and proprietor John

Varanese

explained to Louisville.com when asked about his restaurant's involvement with the annual impromptu fashion show. "We have a lot of great boutique shops on Frankfort Avenue, so we got involved with some of them to fashion their Derby wear and their hats on Wednesdays, and

kinda

tied it into the Half-Price Wine Night, made it a little more female-oriented or -driven that evening. That's kind of the beginning of it." Regarding the turnout in the fifth year of the show,

Varanese

noted the weather had played a role in the size of the crowd -- this night in particular was unseasonably chilly for late April -- althoug

h the main point wasn't just about the show, but also about the food such as his V-12 Burger, which this author had while waiting for the models to arrive from across the street.

Though the stated time of start is 6:30 p.m., the shows have begun around 7 this year, and Wednesday was no different. The group of models -- all of whom were

customers of The Secret -- gathered at the front door before entering the restaurant, each wearing hats and fascinators by The Secret owner and milliner

Mary "The Mac Hatter" Anderson. Some of the models also showed off "purse reduction" purses, small purses that conform to the new security guidelines at Churchill Downs for Oaks and Derby following the Boston Marathon bombing last week.

Ten minutes later, the show was over.

The final Hats on the Avenue for 2013 is next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at

Varanese

on 2106 Frankfort Ave. Reservations are not required, but are recommended, and can be made by calling 502-899-9904.

The Secret is located across the street at 2033 Frankfort Ave.

Photos: Cameron Miquelon/Louisville.com.

Slideshow:

The famous facade of Varanese.
The famous facade of Varanese.

This jazz duo covered "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele at one point.
This jazz duo covered "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele at one point.

Owner and proprietor John Varanese chats with a few of his clients.
Owner and proprietor John Varanese chats with a few of his clients.

The models have arrived.
The models have arrived.

The band played on as the emcee announced each model and their Secret ensemble.
The band played on as the emcee announced each model and their Secret ensemble.

Two of the models talking with diners inside the restaurant.
Two of the models talking with diners inside the restaurant.

Big purses may be out, but big hats are still in for Oaks and Derby.
Big purses may be out, but big hats are still in for Oaks and Derby.

Red hair + navy fascinator = bliss.
Red hair + navy fascinator = bliss.

Big purses have been banned from the Derby for 2013, so options such as this purse should be considered.
Big purses have been banned from the Derby for 2013, so options such as this purse should be considered. Le fin.