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The Commodore’s Ball at the Old Dominion Boat Club

June 21, 2018

Question: Why is pirating so addictive?

Answer: They say once ye lose yer first hand, ye get hooked!

That was one of the dozens of pirate jokes hanging off the orange and black balloons dangling from the ceiling of the Old Dominion Boat Club (ODBC) during the Commadore’s Ball — the pirate jokes being just a small example of the creativity, attention to detail, and execution making for a memorable evening and a smashing success. Last Saturday night, at the river’s edge, flanked by Prince Street and the Strand, the new state of the art clubhouse celebrated it’s first Commodore’s Ball.

Commodore Bruce Catts and his wife Lauren — affectionately known as the Momadore — welcoming guests while sipping on their Pirate Punch.

The ODBC’s Commodore’s Ball always has a nautical theme and this year’s was “Cruise from ODBC North” — kinda’ Caribbean Formal with a Splash of Pirate.  With the new clubhouse now away from the docks the Commodore, Bruce Catts, wanted to incorporate the festivities at the new clubhouse and the docks honoring the fact that even though the boats and the clubhouse are no longer at a singular address this 138 year old Old Town institution is still one complete boat club though now separated by a city park.

Commodore Catts stated, “The reason it’s called the Commodore’s Ball at our club is because the Commodore hosts the party, along with his Mamadore. . . . In years past we had a Lawn and Dock party but since we no longer have a lawn, my wife, Lauren, and I, decided to bring back the Commodore’s Ball which we had back in the early to mid-2000’s.  At last year’s Lawn and Dock party we had the boaters participate in serving hor d’oeuvres on the docks. I thought it was one of the best parties we had ever had. We still have the docks, but it is not the same without the building, so we decided to have drinks there to start the evening before the short trek to our ‘Ship’ (a.k.a. the clubhouse) where all will be checked in at Passport Control for an evening of fun, food and dancing.”

In a fitting homage to the theme, Bruce and Lauren, solicited volunteers to serve Pirate’s Punch on the docks while guests sipped, mingled, and enjoyed the sound of steel drums transporting you to a tropical retreat.

The attire was “Caribbean Formal” — one of those things on an invitation that sounds fun but you end up thinking: what the heck is that? And that’s actually part of the fun. See how folks interpret the attire and watch the fashion show!  Plus, the award for “Best Dressed Gent” sweetens the pot for the fellas to really put in some effort.

After filling up on Pirate’s Punch everyone paraded through the park to the clubhouse that was transported into our cruise ship for the evening. Just across the threshold, on the Prince Street entrance, was a red carpet welcoming guests checking into Passport Control. At Passport Control you were given a little passport to put your souviner photo in and the raffle numbers were printed on the back — a lovely little keepsake.

From Passport Control it was to the ballroom where there was coconut shrimp, meatballs, and a fabulous salad bar waiting for you to start the evenings cruise fare off. Having the food available upon embarkment was nicely thought out considering the party was already going for an hour on the dock. With the salad bar waiting along with two substantial appetizers no one had to gaze around the crowd looking for cocktail servers making their next loop of passed hors d’oeuvres around the room.

Decorations were fun and thoughtful, yet casual.

And all the decorations, thought, and food were wrapped up in a musical bow. The “Tommy and the Bahamas” Band set a relaxed yet energetic vibe for the ball. Playing fun and danceable songs in their flip flops they beckoned guests to the dance floor all evening.

The evenings menu went on to include a buffet provided by the club’s kitchen including fried cod, chicken picante, bbq pork, and white rice with peas and ham — all this along with the Momadore’s own homemade cole slaw (recipe coming soon). “It was really important to me that we had homemade elements to the evening. I love having good homemade food at the club. It makes the evening unique. Something different than we have all the time when we order off the menu for dinner. I was excited and nervous about the salad bar but once people heard they really stepped up to volunteer and make sure things were different.” said, Momadore, Lauren Catts.

And the evening’s official program concluded with someone winning the raffle, the best dressed gent contest, and lots of music dancing and laugher . . .

Best Dressed Gent Finalists: Jim Wood, Dave McLucas, and Miles Holtzman.

As you may already know, the ODBC has been a presence in Old Town Alexandria since 1880. What you may not know is that the Boat Club is a volunteer organization — volunteering for the club as well as external charities and causes. The ODBC has raised a significant amount of money for various causes and donated their clubhouse for various organizations events over the years.

If you’re curious, here are just a few of the ODBC’s charitable works . . .

  • Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army the day of the Scottish Walk. This long time tradition of Boat Club members ringing the bell during the holiday season has been going on for nearly 50 years!
  • Annual Poker Run for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society raises significant funds yearly!
  • Hosting events for children with special needs and their teachers from local elementary schools. At the Christmas time event, the children have lunch followed by Santa boating up the river to the clubhouse to distribute presents!
  • Hosting monthly meetings of the Alexandria Sportsman’s Club which grants scholarships to student athletes attending schools in the City of Alexandria!

Follow Jennifer Holtzman -> Twitter & Instagram @OldTownHost

Old Town Post -> Keeping you in the Old Town Know!


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Boating, Entertaining, Transfer

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Bonjour! Welcome!!!

Fasten your seatbealts! We're wayshowing just how playful, magical, and lighthearted life can be on this beautiful blue planet and beyond! 🌎 We're unlocking more fun, bliss, beauty, serenity, gratitude, luxury, blessings, and magic on Mama Gaia — and that means in your life too! 🧚🏻‍♀️ We're so glad to be part of your orbit!🛸 Sending you bunches of divine bright light✨, and bippity boppity booing tons of blessings and unconditional love your way! 🪄💕 xxx😘 Gigi, Miles & Mia Chou Chou🐾

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Pip Pip Cheerio!

Did ya know “pip pip” mimics the double honk you’d here on a motorcar in the early 20th century? It's an upperclass British coloqualism for farewell.🎩 I learned that because we're Downton Abbey superfans! And Miles and I visited Highclere Castle — the real life Downton in Yorkshire.📺 It was one of the best days of my life! Full of intention, serenity, gratitude, luxury, playfulness, and beauty.🧚 Pure magic!🪄 Just like life is supposed to be.♥️

I love you! Pip pip. 😘 Gigi

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By Kate Spade’s mom, @hollygofabulously 

🌸💕

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Special Afternoon Tea’s around DC for Cherry Blo Special Afternoon Tea’s around DC for Cherry Blossom Season. Washingtonian article linked in bio. Also don’t forget we’ve got @ladycamelliatearoom in Old Town Alx now. 

Sip. Sip. Hurray. ☕️ 

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À bientôt!

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We may get lattes and do some driving around on Monday. But there’s been so much heavy rain. So we’ll see. 

Happy Saturday, beautiful belles! 😘
Hello hello! Bonjour beauties! I thought the fir Hello hello! Bonjour beauties! 

I thought the first week of Spring would be a nice time to put up a new little hello & welcome post about us . . . 

I'm Jennifer and together with my husband, Miles, and our furry princess, Miabelle, we’re collectively known as Jet Set Jiles. Jennifer + Miles = Jiles — a nickname we got when we were dating that stuck. 

We consciously create a life filled with beauty at home and on our travels. 

We enjoy practicing the art of living well, and creating daily rituals to thrive & nourish the soul. 

And while we’ve always traveled, entertained, explored, shopped and dined well, since Miles' retirement, we've incorporated “snowbirding" into our repertoire.

Also, we’re Downton Abby super fans. When Miles retired it was the first show we binged. And then we booked tickets to London to go see the place in person! Highclere Castle, where they filmed Downton, is just the perfect day trip! 

We love sharing all of our discoveries, and invite you to come along for the ride. 

😘 Jennifer, Miles, & Miabelle 

📍 Washington, DC
🏡 Old Town ALX, Virginia

📸One of the most memorable and best days of my life was when we visited Highclere Castle! I’ll post more on that soon! ♥️

📸We didn’t have Miabelle yet when we visited Highclere. We got her Christmas Eve 2020. Swipe to see her confused but pretty little face right when we brought her home.🐾 

📸 And the last pic is us out for family walk in Old Town. The beautiful spot we call home.♥️
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I went to Harris Teeter to buy some pate, brie, and the likes. 

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As I was having my thoughts. I looked up and there he was. My then boyfriend, Miles. And those red roses that I thought were so beautiful were for me! 🌹

I seem to remember too that he was bummed to get caught. But he did think it was rather convenient to send the flowers along with me in my car since I was going straight there with the other stuff. 😂 

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I just want to remind everyone. I didn’t meet Miles until I was 34ish and Miles was 52ish.

If you have someone you really love to celebrate with: fabulous. If not: celebrate you! And your fur baby, if you have one! 

Don’t give your power away to a day. Hold true to the fact that you are special, divine, and worthy of a magical miraculous love. 

Wait for the one. I promise. It’s with it. 

😘 

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One year ago. On our two week long, cross country, One year ago. On our two week long, cross country, drive to Las Vegas. We were so ready to just get there. To the bungalow in Summerlin. To settle in. Not unpack and pack up the car again. 

We were gonna push through. Almost there. One more ice tea from McDonalds. I thought. 

I made the wrong turn to get the ice tea. And we ended up in Sedona. 

It is a really beautiful spot. A picture perfect detour. 

And the next day. Before leaving for our final stretch through the desert to Las Vegas, I got my ice tea at the only place where McDonalds Golden Arches are actually turquoise. 

😘 Jennifer 

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#sedonaarizona #sedona #sedonavortex #mcdonalds #travelfam
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🖼️: Mary Cassatt 
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