The doo -wop band Double Date performed as guests entered the hotel, where volunteers costumed as characters from the movie greeted them and offered raffle tickets for sale. Inside and outside the hotel, 10 50's- and 60's-era vehicles on loan from private owners added to the ambiance.
Inside the ballroom, satin linens and coral napkins from Kirby Rental Services decorated the 55 tables. Business is Blooming used carnations to create centerpieces in the shape of ice cream sundaes. On one side of the room, Spectacular Themes brought in its “Mel’s Diner” set piece, which served as the bar for the evening. Across the room, the company created what it called the Starlite Drive-In Theatre—mixing props and vintage vehicles in front of a large screen that showed American Graffiti throughout the night. Blue and silver fabric and a large “Welcome Back” sign decorated the stage, giving it the look of a 6'0s-era high school prom.
Waitstaff dressed in vintage costumes served an upscale rendition of a TV dinner, featuring roasted chicken and beef short ribs in a bento box. The theme carried through to the end of the night, when guests found fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirrors of their cars as they picked them up from the valet.
The Shepherd’s Hope gala is always a costume party, and this year many of the guests chose to dress according to the theme. Organizers are still totaling the proceeds, but estimate the fund-raiser brought in $175,000, the same as in 2010.
