Josh and the “happy trays” at Middle West Spirits.

The story of this year’s fashion-show cocktail has two parts. Act I occurred on a cloudy day in March when my colleagues and I quietly snuck out… ahem, I mean purposefully went out to meet the lovely gentlemen from Middle West Spirits (MWS).

I got to do this last year. Sometimes my job simply rocks (there’s an on-the-rocks joke in here somewhere, but I can’t find it).

This year we were invited to do the cocktail tasting at MWS, which I personally prefer. If you haven’t been, go to one of their tours. It’s hard to come by a group of people more passionate about what they do, and seeing where the magic happens is not only cool, but it smells really good in there when they are making the mash—like a bakery.

At a rustic wooden table under a fantastic chandelier, Josh set up two trays with the ingredients for two distinctly different drinks—I call them the happy trays.

If I had reviewed the ingredients ahead of time I would have told you before the tasting which cocktail I liked best.

I would have been wrong.

One option used the OYO stone fruit vodka (which I have a mad passion for) and champagne (um, HELLO, champagne). The second option used the OYO classic vodka and grapefruit. I hate grapefruit.  I mean I REALLY hate grapefruit.

A Vodka Runway

I’m not being subtle here, so you can probably guess which drink I ASSUMED I would like better. As I mentioned above: I was wrong. Apparently I LOVE grapefruit if you mix it with vodka and St. Germain Elderflower liqueur.

Side question: does it count as a fruit serving if you mix it with vodka?

So we chose a drink that is a fun little twist on a greyhound, but it really needed a special event-night name (just like I need special event-night shoes).

Last year we didn’t bother to come up with a name for our Middle West Spirits cocktail, and that was sad. This year, we looked to a team of dedicated experts to help us Christen our new baby: our host committee.

And thus we arrive at Act II, which took place quite recently on a warm, sunny April evening.

Let me set the scene: It’s 5 o’clock in the hour of happy, and gathered at CCAD (in an undisclosed location) is a selection of dignitaries from our host committee. I’m not going to lie, they are a rowdy bunch.

Their mission: to liberally sample our event-night cocktail, and then name it.

They took their task seriously. Well, maybe “seriously” isn’t the best word… they were dedicated in their work. Yeah, that’s better.

There was some lively debate (and googling to ensure that we weren’t stealing an existing name), but in the end a name suggested by our committee chair Peg Mativi was the clear choice.  On May 10 at THE fashion event in Cbus, you can enjoy a Vodka Runway.

That is, if you get your tickets before they sell out.

Back stage chaos.

7 p.m.

It is the calm before the storm.

Well, if you don’t include the backstage area where the storm has already struck in the form of whirling dervish hair dressers, make-up artists, models, and frantic senior designers who are about to see their garments shoot down the runway.

The registration tables are armed and ready for the 800 + guests who will soon come to join us to celebrate another year of amazing art and design—and of course a spectacular runway show.

Thanks to Limitedbrands Foundation, who once again stepped up to be the event’s title sponsor, we truly can celebrate knowing we have raised significant dollars to support the scholarships that help make the dream of a college education a reality.

The VIP pre-show party, sponsored by Nationwide, is set up and ready. The caterers are standing by to share delightful tidbits of nosh that look almost too good to eat. (Almost. There really should be a special bloggers snack plate, don’t ya think?) The bartenders are stocked and ready to pour.

The bartenders are well stocked.

Of course, those bartenders will be extra busy later when all of our guests head back towards our mixologist after the runway show to enjoy a drink and some dancing thanks to our Après Runway Sponsors Capital Style Magazine and Justice. But before the post-show party, there will be one hella-good show as one-of-a-kind fashion struts down the runway, which comes to us thanks to EXPRESS; and, at some point in the proceedings, Easton Town Center will honor one of the fashion students with the inaugural Easton Fashion Award.

But, for now, things are calm. Surrounding the runway are neat rows of seats, each topped with a lookbook, sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch, and gift provided by Mukha Custom Cosmetics. Soon those seats will be filled by VIP ticket holders.

Sponsors, of course, are crucial to a fundraising event and I really do need to take a moment and be sure we thank every generous business and individual who has helped us build this experience.

Our Couture sponsors are Diamond Cellar, Huntington Bank, Lane Bryant, THE LIMITED, Macy’s, NORDSTROM, Polaris Fashion Place, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, and R.G. Barry/Dearfoams.

Our printing sponsor is Baesman and the General Admission Pre-Party sponsor is Union Café.

This year’s host committee co-chairs are Karen & Michael Fiorile and Ellen & Ed Yen

And our 2012 host committee is: Dana & Mitch Acock, Jakki & Jerry Allen, Jamie & Steve Allen, Trudy & Earl Bartley, Pam & Jack Beeler, Teresa & Brian Biernat, Kimberly A. Blackwell, W. Daniel Cordray, Mary & Colby Crall, Loann W. Crane, Bev Darwin, Phaedra & Michael Edwards, DeeDee & Herb Glimcher, Alexis Jacobs, Patty & Jerry Jurgensen, Charlotte & Jack Kessler, Monica & Doug Kridler, Stephanie & Adam Lewin, Peg Mativi & Donald Dick, Tim Maurer & Sanito Mendoza, Veda Nami, Jamie & Bill Reinbolt, Jody & Jeff Scheiman, Thekla Shackelford, Danielle & George Skestos, Jacqueline & Chris Snell, Arlene & Michael Weiss, and Lyn Williams.

Thank you!

Every aspect of our event is touched by community generosity via in-kind donations for everything from the catering via Cameron Mitchell Catering and the adult beverages from Heidelberg Distributing Company, Mumm Napa, and Middle West Spirits, who designed the event’s signature cocktail ARTini.

Backstage where the pre-show chaos reigns, Mukha Custom Cosmetics is once again making sure our models look fierce on the runway—and they are getting hair support from Studio Fovero.

There are behind the scenes elements (lights, video, sound) that usually go unnoticed other than the feeling the crowd gets when they witness a wonderfully staged event—much of the credit for that goes to Live! Technologies—although the thumping beats that get us from party to runway to party again come via our illustrious DJ Rainer. Oh, and speaking of the post-show party, VJ props go to Rainer and  S77.

And the exquisite lookbook that I mentioned before, well Ologie was a key player in mentoring its production along with the invite and branding for the show.

Flowers, chairs, tables and other event accessories come to us thanks to Lasting Impressions and FLOURISH bespoke floral & event styling.

Yum.

An event isn’t an EVENT, unless we sell tickets. That’s where our our media sponsors Capital Style Magazine and CD101 come in. They have spent the better part of the year helping us get the word out and sell tickets. Did you see our students in the May issue of Capital Style? If not, pick up a copy.

Oh, and despite rumors to the contrary, models need to eat—at least our student models do. Thanks to Donatos and Pepsi Cola Bottling of Columbus for keeping our students fed and hydrated during some long rehearsal hours. Also, walking in those heels…not as easy as it looks. Thanks to Foot Petals, inc for providing shoe inserts.

Big thanks and hearty applause to everyone who helped make this night happen.

Guests are arriving and I hear champagne popping, I wonder if I can sneak a canapé?