A bang of a millennium!
Parties galore punctuate an endless night
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
New
Millennium. Turn of the Century. Fin-de-siecle. Y2K. There are so many expressions that
were being bantered around all year that when it was really and truly the eve of 2000,
trite expressions were at once redundant and apt.
The world did not end (yet, for all those negative paranoid types), and
despite sore feet, empty wallets, pounds to lose and much catching up to do, life
apparently does just go on.
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New Year’s 1999 in Sun Valley began with a proverbial BANG.
Provided by Sun Valley Co. at great cost, spectacular fireworks over
Dollar Mountain at 8 p.m. were witnessed by thousands in cars, on decks and from
hillsides. It was apparently one of the biggest displays in the country that night.
Musically simulcast on local radio station KECH, the extravaganza kept the town abuzz and
feeling vital.
From one fireworks viewing party from a deck in Elkhorn,
Pam Colesworthy, owner of Video West, responded to the excitement,
"For the first time we can see how similar we are [all over the world]. I had no idea
that the world would be celebrating this night the way that we egocentric Americans are.
So I’m thrilled."
After bushwhacking through sage and snow with several small children
for an even better view of the "bombs bursting in air," while wearing a designer
fringed skirt, Sissy Biggers, star of the Food Network Channel, said, "New York.
Paris. Rome. Sun Valley. I think that sums it up."
Her husband, Kelsey Biggers, of online business site measurerisk.com,
concurred: "There’s not a better place in the world to do it. We looked at
Paris. We looked at Rome. We thought of staying home in Connecticut. Then decided Sun
Valley was the perfect combination of fun, family, sports. What an authentic town."
#
Meanwhile, over at the Sawtooth Club, a wild gathering of visitors was
raging to music supplied by Duke the DJ. The crowd moved as one giant partying amoeba.
Across the street at the Roosevelt Tavern, it was much the same, only
the doorman was harder to get past. Jerry Pemberton handled DJ duties with panache, while
a raucous, lubricated crowd of merrymakers danced in hats of many colors. Other private
parties were being held at many homes and restaurants including the Ore House, Globus and
the Pioneer, where for the first time in a gazillion years, the bar was virtually empty
while dinner was being served in the dining
rooms. Mark Wheaton, the longtime bartender, wandered around wiping
down the bar at 11 p.m. Quite Alone!
At China Pepper, the Gourlays, Dieses and Millers threw a first-class
affair for their friends near and far (post hockey game). The band Hoi Polloi from Boise
played to an elegantly attired crowd.
Host Jack Dies, "The King of Leisure Sports," said the party
was "a collection of very good friends who are here to make sure tonight moves
forward into the next millennium." John Miller joined Dies in chiming, "Our
motto is always forward." Lucy Chubb was the wild woman (surprise, surprise) in a
retro Neanderthal Pebbles Flintstone look with "2000" glasses.
"We’re celebrating a new day," Nicky Biddle said.
"Personally I think I’ll feel exactly the same next week...well, maybe not
exactly... considering my outfit. We’ve been to this party, that party and the other
party, and I’ve lost my gloves."
City Councilman Randy Hall
looked tres chic in shawl-collared tux, but was extremely reluctant to
speak on record, "I got nothing to say. I get shy."
Hmmm.
Also seen dancing among the hoi polloi: Andy and Kate Berman, Katherine
Hughes and
Buffalo, and Susie and Rick Rutkowski.
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THE party in town, however, was the Davies-Reid bash at the
gallery’s new digs on First Street in Ketchum.
This not-quite-completed construction site boasts four floors, a
spectacular open feel with Christmas lights everywhere and hand-woven rugs covering floors
and walls.
The band, The Toast Points, fronted by best-selling author Ridley
Pearson, with Amos Galpin and Fletcher Brock, played to a nonstop dancing, gyrating crowd
on the second floor until 1:30 a.m. when DJ Todd took over. The top floor was for
observing balcony leaners, some edibles, random foot rubbing and chit chat.
Hostess Sharon Davies-Reid had local couturier Michele Jefferson, who
was an independent costume designer in Hollywood, design a gold taupe silk satin ball
gown, underneath which were wine-colored crinolines and a lining of wine-colored satin,
along with antique pearls running down the back of her dress.
The other hostess, Heidi Davies-Miller, was resplendent in a
full-length iridescent taffeta millennium fabric with mirrors sewn all over, from the
Ketchum store Paula’s.
Paula herself was spied, as were hosts Terry Reid, Mike Miller, Zoey
and Caramia Davies-Reid; artist Alison Van Pelt, darling in a Deja Vu pink ball gown; and
Phillip Isles and entourage from New York.
Deja Vu proprietress Suzy Hart was there in chic red-and-black dress
topped off by her identifiable short purple hair; and in a tight black Chinese sheath,
there was the bewitching Kari McCall.
Idaho Mountain Express arts editor Hans Ibold and Amy Spindler
were there, as were many computer wonks from Silicon Valley, including Joe Davis of
Remedy.com, and two alleged Brit porn stars.
Also present were locals Donna Gould, Mary Poppen, Cathy Reinheimer and
Blindy Godfrey, who exclaimed, "If the next year is half as good as this year then
I’m in like Flint." Also to be seen were Frannie Cheston, Alison Stone, actress
Claudia McCain, Cara and Ari Drougas, Laura Wiethorn, Bruce Allen, Dan Venzon, Mary
Kennedy, Page Klune, Aaron and Salome Taylor and Tony Evans.
Pete (Mr. Ketchum) Prekeges declared that the night was "the
biggest amateur night
known to man: New Year’s Eve, the Millennium."
David Blampied, artistic director of the New Theatre Company, declared,
"It is the most exciting time of my life. I love this party and this building. I
can’t wait to see it when it’s finished."
Molly Goodyear! (sic) of the Environmental Resource Center stated,
"It’s awesome. It’s better than New York."
Maria Prekeges, hostess of the Sun Valley Show on Channel 13, effused,
"I walked in and I was simply overwhelmed! New starts! Fresh starts!" What does
this evening mean to you? "This New Year’s... I forgot my earrings."
By the time most of the revelers had made their way home, the after
party was afoot and Alison Boyce was flitting around, hand feeding blueberries to the
hardy lingerers who refused to give up the dance floor until 5:30 a.m.
It was a party worthy of the smooching it inspired.
