Recreation Recap: Annual Valentine’s Day Dance deemed success

by Kathy Thayer

Recreation Manager

If you didn’t spend Valentine’s Day with 220 of your closest friends and neighbors, you missed a spectacular evening of food and fun in Clubhouse 2. GRF’s annual Valentine Dinner Dance was the Recreation Department’s first big event of the year. Revelers danced to the Motown sounds of the Stone Soul 5, who will be back at the Amphitheater in September. Country Garden Caterers received rave reviews and Polly’s Pies gifted us with individual heart shaped, generously sized tarts for dessert. Photographer Ziggy Romano captured the partygoers in complimentary portraits. The evening was co-hosted by sponsors Gasper-Monteer Realty Group, whose donation helped offset expenses for the bash, but they didn’t stop there. Carol Gasper and Nick Monteer gave away a $100 gift card, treated everyone to one of Nicks’ famous homemade cookies, and assisted in giving away 28 fresh floral centerpieces.

That was just the kickoff of a year of entertainment for the Recreation Department. Watch for details on the St. Patrick’s Day Dance, which will be a free event open to residents and their guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your own noshes and Irish beverages.

We’ll be treating the moms again this year on Mother’s Day Eve with an elegant brunch. This family-focused event grows every year so be sure to get your tickets as soon as you see them go on sale.

Besides our entertainment calendar that covers special events, bus excursions to fascinating locales, arts and craft fairs, amphitheater shows and weekend dances, we are putting together a promotion with the Boathouse on the Bay Restaurant for a special happy hour gathering just for Leisure World. The restaurant is offering one free beverage and one free hors d’oeuvre, valued at $20, and Recreation will provide bus transportation at $22 per person. Guests may then choose to purchase more appetizers at $10 each or dinner off their extensive menu. A minimum gratuity of $5 per person is required. The first 30 people to sign up will get a free Duffy boat ride on Alamitos Bay. We are offering this first to groups of 56 who can fill the bus and if it is a hit, may extend it to all residents as a GRF excursion. Bookings will be for a 4-6 p.m. event either on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening. Clubs or groups who are interested may contact Recreation for details.

The Recreation Department welcomes residents’ respectful input and inquiries on all things Recreation.

For more information, contact kathyt@lwsb.com.

Enthused attendees posed for free portraits courtesy resident photographer Ziggy Romano.

Siegfried “Ziggy” Romano

Leisure World favorite Stone Soul 5 performed at the dance and will return later in the year for the Amphitheater season.

Siegfried “Ziggy” Romano