Mint juleps, bourbon pecan pie and a ladies’ hat contest will be featured at the Men’s Newcomers Club Spring Fling, May 3 at Walker’s Landing.
To be held the evening before the Kentucky Derby, the club’s annual dinner-dance will have all the trappings of “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” Upon arriving at 6 p.m., guests will be greeted with a mint julep bar -- all the fixings except the bourbon (bring your own). The tables of eight will be named after horses who have won the famed race for three-year-old thoroughbreds held in Louisville, Kentucky, the first Saturday in May.
Reflecting a 145-year race tradition, guests are invited to wear flamboyant hats with a judges’ panel selecting the wearer of the most iconic hat to receive a garland of roses symbolic of the blanket of roses draped over the winner of the race dubbed "The Run for the Roses."
The Spring Fling band, Crescendo Amelia, will play the “Call to the Post,” before guests parade to their tables. The band will play the Derby’s anthem, Stephen Foster's "My Old Kentucky Home.”
The dinner will be a catered buffet by Jimbo’s with prime rib and baked salmon as the entrees. Jimbo’s famous shrimp and grits will highlight hors d’oeurves. Soft drinks and mixers will be available; attendees should bring their own drinks of choice. There will be a variety of cakes and pies with bourbon-flavored pecan pie the star attraction (yes, there will be key lime cake).
In the club’s own tradition there will be a “fling” competition.
Reservations should be made early as the event will have a limit of 140 people. If a table is to be reserved for a group, one club member should be identified as the “host” and the names of those to be at the table provided via e-mail or at the time checks are submitted. Those wishing to sit at a specific table should write the name of the table’s “host” on their check. Tables can accommodate eight people only. The Spring Fling committee will make every effort to accommodate seating preferences within the limits of the space and Walker’s Landing capacity.
Spring Fling reservations are $60 per person. Reservations can be made by e-mail to Bob Wesche at bwesche6@gmail.com -- however, final confirmation will be made when the check is received. Mail checks to MNC PO Box 16291 Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 to arrive no later than Saturday, April 27.
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