Who: Local celebs, music lovers, and friends of Open Arms of Minnesota
What:The Butterball Party 2011
Where: Graves 601 Hotel
When: Nov. 19, 2011
Why: To support Open Arms of Minnesota, an organization that provides meals to people with life-threatening diseases
Butterball, one of the best parties in the Twin Cities, only happens every other year. I was thrilled to score a ticket to this event. As I made my way into the Graves, I saw Twin Citians dressed to impress, from men in flashy jackets to women in sleek dresses and fur. The snow and ice outside didn't stop ladies from wearing sky-high heels, either. Partygoers sipped Opulent Vodka cocktails while go-go dancers and stilt walkers paraded around the room.
I ran into foodie star Andrew Zimmern and his lovely wife, Rishia. I also chatted with Kevin Winge, executive director of Open Arms. Since 1986, the organization has provided free meals to people with life-threatening diseases. In fact, Open Arms’ 1,400+ volunteers deliver more than 700 meals per week. Talking to Kevin reminded me what this fabulous party was all about.But my favorite run-in had to be actor and local heartthrob Josh Hartnett, who is a supporter of Open Arms. While my inner 16-year-old had a meltdown, my outer 27-year-old managed to stay calm. Sadly, Josh did not immediately fall in love with me the way he does in my "Pearl Harbor" fantasies. Sigh . . .
After some opening remarks from event co-chairs Dan Buettner and Varda Nauen, Minneapolis trio Semisonic took the stage. The band rocked the Graves with their '90s hits, including "F.N.T." and "Closing Time."
The night ended with a performance by Har Mar Superstar (a.k.a. Sean Tillmann of Owatonna). The crowd cheered as he stripped off his clothes and performed songs from his latest album “Dark Touches.” I admired how much confidence and charisma this balding, overweight performer had. Looking back, I can say that Butterball definitely lived up to the hype. I’ve already marked my calendar for the next party in 2013.
