The cat’s pajamas!

‘Flappers & Fellas’ promises to be a hotsy-totsy time

Dress up your gams, bring some clams and plan to have a hotsy-totsy time at this year’s Arts Center of the Ozarks Ball & Auction.

Clearly, this is not a beach ball.

“With all the changes going on at ACO, it seemed like something different was right on course for us,” said Erin West, director of events and operations for the Arts Center.

And the “Flappers & Fellas” theme isn’t the only thing different: The date has changed to Feb. 23. The location has changed to the Fayetteville Town Center.

And there’s something new and exciting about the always popular silent auction.

Judy Hammond, this year’s ball chairwoman, calls it the “buy it now” option.

Instead of just being able to bid on an item - and having to hover over it if you really want it - ballgoers can choose to simply pay the “buy it now” price and, as Hammond put it, “guarantee they’re going to get the prize.”

As always, West promised, there will be a wide array of “prizes” to choose from.

“This early, the best thing we have is a one-week stay at a condo in Santa Fe, N.M.,” she said. “But our artists are always extremely generous, and we already have a piece promised from Matt Miller, who is very popular. And we’ll have things like a $50 gift card to Vetro 1925 Ristorante, a Fayetteville hot spot.”

One of Springdale’s favorite restaurants, the Spring Street Grill, will provide the dining fun for the ball - “so we know it will be fantastic,”West said - and a DJ will play 1920s-style music early in the evening and more contemporary dance music later.

Attire for the evening will also come with those choices - doll up in flapper style or just come “dressed for fun,” as Hammond put it.

The serious part of the evening is the money raised to fund the Arts Center of the Ozarks, now in its 46th year in Springdale.

“The ball is our major fundraiser for the year,” said Kathi Blundell, ACO administrative director, “and always has been. We started the whole idea of a party as an annual event, and the idea has become popular all over the region! We’re the longest-running ball and auction in this quarter of the state - 46 years.

“The ACO spends money very carefully, and every penny is very necessary,” Blundell added. “The ball raises nearly 20 percent of the ACO’s annual programming budget, which pays for lumber, fabrics, music, royalties, crayons, paints, clay, mowing the lawn - everything we need to provide great, hands-on creative experiences for the children and adults of Northwest Arkansas.”GO & DO Flappers & Fellas: ACO Ball & Auction

When: 7-11 p.m. Feb. 23

Where: Fayetteville Town Center

Cost: $100 per ticket

Reservations: (479) 751-5441 WHAT’S NEW At The Ball The theme: Flappers & Fellas The date: Feb. 23 The location: Fayetteville Town Center The music: Roaring ’20s to contemporary dance music The menu: Provided by Spring Street Grill The attire: Flapper or just for fun The auction: Will have a “buy it now” option

Style, Pages 32 on 01/24/2013

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