Friday, December 21, 2012

In the Moment: A Night Out

The stars aligned for cubes' holiday party this year. It was a relatively warm night; the anticipated rain held off. The Annual Rooftop Bar Crawl was ending right across the street from where we were staying. And best yet? The theme of the party: a 1980s prom.
 
On the 29th Floor
 
I absolutely love dressing up. I really don't even need a reason. My freshman year of college, a friend was sick so I dressed up in a floor length southern belle styled prom dress (it was the late 80s) and waltzed up and down the hall of the dorm until he was in better spirits. So, you can imagine how giddy with anticipation I was to hear we were going to a 1980s prom. (I also absolutely love LOVE John Hughes movies, and, for a date night a few months ago, even created a playlist of songs to set the mood.)
 
It's funny to think that I hate attending my own holiday parties. (I got ditched by a date one year. Got a cocktail dumped down the front of my dress five minutes after arriving to the party another year.) But, I love cubes' holiday parties. Last year's holiday party was more mellow; I was five and a half months pregnant with Gates and absolutely exhausted. I had been looking forward to dressing up, found an amazing vintage Toni Lynn black lace cocktail dress, but could barely stand after a full day at work. Whoever says women get a burst of energy in their second trimester was quoting the averages; I was definitely an outlier. Halfway through the night, I was already looking forward to the 2012 Holiday Party.
 
Dining Out: Morton's Steakhouse
 
My parents took Gates for the evening so that we could have a true date night without the worry of babysitters. We booked a room in the Marriott on Union Square where the prom was being held and had dinner down the street at Morton's The Steakhouse. cubes started his dinner with the French Onion Soup, while I chose Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with an Apricot Jam. Neither cubes nor I could determine whether the jam had wasabi or horseradish in it; we did agree that we liked the combination of sweet with spicy peppercorn and slow burn finish. For our main courses, we each had a Filet Mignon and we shared a side of Grilled Asparagus.
 
Stepping Out
 
After dinner, it was back to the hotel room to change into my prom dress. When we arrived at the prom it was evident that not everyone was familiar with John Hughes films. The women were wearing a mix of 1990s prom dresses and modern cocktail dresses and evening gowns. A few men were wearing tuxedos.
 
One couple captured the theme perfectly, he with a cummerbund and bow tie that matched her dress (and actually happened to match mine as well), complete with a wrist corsage and boutonniere. Had I seen them when we arrived, my confidence might not have immediately waned. Yes, I have to admit, I was a coward. I did not own it and rock my 1986 prom dress. No, instead I fled back to our room for my sparkly Accent West flapper dress.
 
The best part of the evening? Dancing with cubes to the one 1980s song the DJ played.
 
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, ...
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be.

 
What made the moment priceless? The then just released, The Lady In Red from Chris DeBurgh, was the last song I danced to at my junior prom. And whereas I danced then with a friend and only dreamed of romance, as I danced cheek to cheek with cubes I realized I was living my dream. (And yes, I was crying.)
 
Happy Holidays!
 
Ciao Bella!
Eden
 
Credits: All layouts designed by and images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.