Flapper dresses and zoot suits are optional but encouraged when Celebrate Highwood presents “The Roaring 2020’s Jazzed Up Dining & Classical Cocktails” on March 4 at 28 Mile Distilling Company in Highwood.
“Our board dresses up,” said Brad Slavin, president of Celebrate Highwood, about previous 1920s events the organization has held. Fortunately for Slavin, he owns a zoot suit.
It’s definitely a dress-up occasion.
Guests will enjoy a lavish buffet with food donated by numerous local restaurants. At press time the list included 28 Mile Distilling, La Casa De Isaac & Moishe, Bella Via, The Bent Fork Bakery, La Plancha Loca, Maria’s Italian Bakery & Caffe, Nite N’ Gale, Noon O Kabob, Ruthie’s Biscotti, Sally’s Nuts, Sandy’s Restaurant, Scotty’s on Sheridan, Dona Paty’s, Tacos El Norte, Soup Fairy, Tala Coffee Roasters, Tamales Mexican Restaurant, and Tom’s Pastry.
28 Mile Distilling Company’s trained mixologist Alex Soto will be crafting specialty cocktails for the open bar. “I can assure you that whatever he’s got planned, there will be some incredibly tasty cocktails that he’s envisioning,” Slavin said.
Guests will be entertained for listening and dancing by four musicians and two singers from Mike Zabrin’s Chicago-based Funktastic Productions.
“For this event, we’re doing everything from jazz standards from the Great American Songbook to re-imagined covers of everyone’s favorite soul, funk, and pop classics,” Zabrin said. “We’re focusing on the Roaring ’20s.”
The playlist will include songs made famous by such performers as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra, up to Amy Winehouse and Radiohead, among others.
“A dance instructor will be there to teach those wanting to Charleston,” Slavin reported. There will also be a swing dance performance by professional dancers.
Guests will have a chance to place bids at both a silent auction and a live auction.
“One of the live auction items will be a riverboat cruise with Captain Brad — because I have a boat and I offered to take people down the river for an architectural cruise,” Slavin said. “It may not be historically accurate. Some things I know; other things I make up.”
Guests can create a souvenir of the evening at a photo booth.
Eric Falberg, one of the owners of 28 Mile Distilling Company and a Celebrate Highwood board member, donates the event space. It’s a perfect venue for the event, according to Slavin. “They have a giant room with a stage and different areas throughout the building,” Slavin said. “They even have a green room upstairs.”
“The Roaring 2020’s” is designed to raise funds to support the other events that Celebrate Highwood plans to produce this year. Celebrate Highwood is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit.
‘The Roaring 2020’s Jazzed Up Dining & Classical Cocktails’
When: 7-11 p.m. March 4
Where: 28 Mile Distilling Company, 454 Sheridan Road, Highwood
Tickets: $95 in advance; $100 at the door
Information: 847-432-6000; celebratehighwood.com
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
