Avant Garde Anniversary Ball

 Last night I attended the 7th anniversary celebration for Avant Garde Dance studio.  I have been working for the studio for over a year now, but I was also there at the beginning when they first opened.  I had been involved with the studio for several years as an independent dance instructor, before finally joining the permanent residency staff in 2018.

 The Washington area is a saturated market for dance studios,  it is a struggle for many of them to stay open. Avant Garde has been able to excel in this market, by operating as a boutique style studio, accommodating a diversity of ages and styles, and giving everything a personalized touch. Twice a year the studio hosts a formal dinner dance, with many professionals attending from the area with their students, friends and family. This year‘s theme dance was “black and white “.

Phyllis McGuire’s Las Vegas home

 I have been reading that Phyllis McGuire’s Las Vegas home was for sale.  I wonder if anyone  has bought it yet. It was listed in 2017, at 6.5 million.  I remember watching her Barbara Walters interview back in the 80s, I watched that interview with my grandmother, and she explained to me who the Mcguire Sisters were . I remember watching that interview, thinking that her house was so bizarre. Her home had a replica base of the Eiffel Tower, a soda shop, and collection of swans.  I remember reading somewhere that  the windows were bulletproof.  It’s kind of sad that her home is for sale,  it signifies the passing of her generation.  I guess she needed to downsize.

West Newton Cinema

After participating in the New England Open Dancesport competition, I got to have a fun day in Boston, exploring Quincy Market during the daytime, and sorely missing Durgan Park, which I had hoped to visit during my stay. My grandparents had their honeymoon dinner at Durgan Park and I was saddened to hear that they closed in January.

As a great way to end my trip to the New England Open this year, I visited the West Newton Cinema to see the new Downton Abbey Movie. The Cinema was built in 1937. Although it was in a sad state of adapted use as a multiplex, the theater was still had some cool Art Deco details showing, along with a silent movie vending projector in the lobby.