New year's…
Rick's celebrated New Year's eve in grand fashion. One of the differences I noticed from last year was we'd gained many regular customers who feel at home here. And many of them made a special point to be back in Casablanca for the evening. We had also a number of advance reservations from tourists, and were expecting an eclectic crowd. Issam had the idea of turning the piano so the keyboard faced the center, creating just the right touch of intimacy to make one feel like a guest at a private party. A jazz quartet played the smooth tunes of the 40's, champagne flowed, the excuisite meal was smoothly served, the tables glittered with garlands and confetti, hats and horns...just like in the movies. Just before midnight after “As Time Goes By” was played I said a few words and then...Happy New Year! 2006 was launched by an out-of-epoch “Tequila”, horns blew, corks popped...but in passing the table of the British Consul General, her 90-year-old mother gestured to me there was something wrong. She, of course, had noted without a certain tune the New Year was not official. I went to the piano and said to Issam, “Play it once, Issam, Play Auld Lang Syne.” He responded with the tune and added a lovely “Nightengale Sang In Berkeley Square” as a bonus, before resuming their Latin interlude. I walked through the kitchen and the cooks were dancing, upstairs the head waiter was even more jovial, really in the spirit of things, and at the front desk the Maitre d'hotel was doing his own version of a samba. I settled into my corner in the bar and marveled how exhilerated I felt after such a long day...the champagne helped, but seeing how our team worked so well together was the real source of my warm feeling. Backstage the worries ranged from security to opening 400 fresh oysters, both being resolved before the curtain went up. We continued our New Year's theme the next day with the first Jam Session of the year. The new piano setting enhanced the mood of this weekly impromptu gathering of jazz musicians, and the arrival of our Sunday night regular, Serge, ensured the party would be lively.
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Kathy Kriger
January 01 2006 |
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