STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Shimmy into your poodle skirt, lace up your saddle shoes and get ready to go to The Hop!
A 1950s’ Sock Hop is being held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at The Argyros in Ketchum, and it will feature a guest sure to make the ladies swoon.
The Sock Hop is a benefit for the Senior Connection and it is open to all ages.
There’ll be a DJ spinning music from Chubby Checker, Buddy Holly and other hit stars from the ‘50s and ‘60s. There’ll be diner-style food on tap, including sliders, French fries, milkshakes and root beer floats. And there’ll even be some boys from the Wood River football team, helping guests to relive their high school homecoming and Prom days.
“We’ve had a Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser for nine years and it was very successful. But we decided: Why not mix it up and try something new?” said Mary Calhoun, who is co-chairing the event with Mardi Shepard and Penny Weiss. “We’re determined to make this even more successful.”
The Argyros will be turned into a school gym, and dancers will be brought in to show attendees how to do the jitterbug and get wallflowers up and dancing. R.L. Rowsey will conduct the Paddle Up.
Guys are encouraged to wear jeans, T-shirts with cigarette packs stuffed into roll-up sleeves or even leather jackets. And ladies are invited to don bobby socks and poodle skirts. But dress-up is not required.
The bar will be turned into a soda fountain featuring milkshakes, root beer floats and even root beer floats with a kick. There will be a jukebox. And there will be candies from the era, including Milk Duds, jawbreakers and candy cigarettes.
Oh, and don’t forget that special guest!
Tickets are $125, available at https://seniorconnectionidaho.org/the-hop or at 208-595-1903.
The evening is a chance to relive the magic of the 1950’s while making a meaningful impact in the Wood River Valley, said Jovita Pina, executive director of The Senior Connection.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, every dollar raised at The Hop will go straight to work providing critical programs and services to Wood River Valley seniors,” she added.
In fact. the Senior Connection expects to provide more than 26,000 meals this year through its weekday dining program at The Senior Connection and its Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to homebound seniors.
It will provide nearly 6,000 hours of home care so seniors can stay in their homes. It will provide 3,000 rides to the Senior Connection, to non-emergency medical appointments and field trips, such as the Sun Valley Music Festival concerts. And it will provide more than 250 fitness classes to help seniors maintain their strength, balance and mobility while reducing the risk of falls.
Sponsors are Mike and Mary Calhoun, Mardi Shepard, Penny Weiss of The Event, Buddy Wilton and Shay doll, Julie Ann Wrigley Foundation, Kathy Jones, Chris and Dave Vik, D.L. Evans Bank, Edward Jones, River View Eye Specialists, Sun Valley Company, Worth Printing and Charlie’s Produce.