Party Pad: Bring Back that Loving '60s Feeling for a Night

Party pad; Bring back that loving '60s feeling for a night

Calgary Herald Saturday, June 16, 2007

Page: G1 / FRONT Section: Life At Home

Byline: Lisa Murphy-Lamb Source: For the Calgary Herald

No host worth her weight in canapes needs a legitimate reason to throw a blowout bash. "Because it's Monday" she might reason or "peonies make a great centrepiece."

But consider this: It's been 40 years since people, young and old, flocked to San Francisco for a new social experience, free food and some free loving. Yes, this summer marks the 40th anniversary of The Summer of Love.

There's your legitimate reason. It's time to throw a party.

Planning to celebrate the loving feeling of 1967 is easier than you think. From blow-up chairs to lava lamps, this city is full of treasures, authentic and not, to transform your home into a party pad for a night.

Enthralled with the idea of throwing a '60s-inspired cocktail party myself, I began my research. I wanted to create a scene where guests felt they were stepping into a swinging 1960s party pad. The sort of place where there might not be any food (but of course there would be), but there would be three types of vodka in the freezer and a case of Champagne in the fridge.
For inspiration, I turned to design experts, books and the movies.

"You don't have to go pure '60s to create a fun, '60s feel," says Sandra Young, owner of Willow Studio on Kensington Road.

THINK OF CONTEMPORARY elements and add a retro splash. Lava lamps, beaded curtains and shag rugs easily come to mind.

Not everything, or even anything, has to be bought new. Scour garage sales, Young suggests, and look for beanbag chairs, items with butterflies and flowers, and coloured, textured, and cylindrical glassware reminiscent of the decade.

Marcy Monford, design consultant, recommends playing with shape, like the circle or the globe, to give the party an authentic feel. Create something with Hula Hoops or vinyl records. Use records as serving trays or to create a feature wall by hanging either the records themselves or their covers.

Chrome, glass and wild colours like pink, orange and turquoise are perfect for a summer party. Use colour with reckless abandon in your candles, linens and plates.

Armed with a list of ideas, I headed to second-hand stores. Shopping in a large venue like Value Village can be overwhelming if you're not sure what you want. But if you've done your homework, then a trip to the housewares section can take just a few minutes.

Initially, I hadn't planned to buy furniture for my party. But while scouring a Salvation Army store, I spotted a low, sleek black sofa and chair with large red poppies. It was dusty but in perfect condition. The best part about this fabulous find was that the set was half price -- $50 f0r both pieces.

Several shopping trips later, I completed my party-pad vision. I was able to find martini glasses, Champagne bowls, wine glasses, vases etched with naked go-go dancers, daisy serving trays and dishes, inspired glassware and retro linens. I mixed my second-hand finds with dishes and glassware of my own. (Houseware items ranged in price from 25 cents to $15.)

Lava lamps were borrowed from neighbours' children, a circular chair was rescued from a trash pile and a movie poster from Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! replaced our usual art. I had fallen in love with an ornately framed painting of a seductively clad '60s woman. But at $50, it was too dear for my art budget. I struck a deal with the store owner to rent it for the night at a fraction of the cost.

I had a dance stage built (Wood Work 4U, $50) and hired two go-go dancers for the night ($125 a dancer). I moved all the furniture out of the front room to make way for dancing and changed the lights to red and blue bulbs.

The family room became the 'chill-out lounge.' My poppy loveseat set was the focal point and leather chairs and benches from other rooms were brought in. A shag rug and blow-up and beanbag chairs completed the look. A DVD played psychedelic images on the TV.

The kitchen housed the martini bar and bartender. Wine was set up outside the kitchen so guests could help themselves. Beer on ice was available on the back deck. The 1960s-inspired food was laid out, buffet style, in the dining room.

Still looking for those last details? Replace the bathroom lights with black lights and leave out body paints for guests to bring back the body-painting craze of the late '60s. Try scattering paperbacks on coffee tables. How about a game of Twister tucked to the side to break out after midnight?

Empty a shelf and line it with Campbell's tomato soup cans as homage to Andy Warhol and pop culture. String daisy heads along pieces of thread and hang them, cascading, over a door or on a wall.

And don't forget the outdoors. To honour the venue of the original love-ins, the back garden and deck need to be included in the overall party scheme. Large throw pillows, low tables and candles galore invite guests to come out, sit and enjoy the summer night.

My own social experience was a roaring success. Like Summer of Love activities, my party attracted friends of various ages, from 'go-go dancers' to 'hippies' to 'socialites' and even a couple in togas. There was free food, free drink and love was felt by all.

For just one night, my place was a swinging party pad filled with how professor and playwright Eric Bentley once described hippies: "the middle class in fancy dress."

Creating the party pad
Like the idea of transforming your home into a '60s party pad that's big on style and the perfect backdrop for a good time?
Creativity, clean lines and attention to details are needed to create a groovin' party atmosphere. Check out these resources:
Reference Books
- Collecting the 1960s by Madeleine Marsh (Octopus Publishing Group Ltd., 2004)
- 60s! A Catalog of Memories and Artifacts by John and Gordon Javna (St. Martin's Griffin, 1988)
- Ceramics of the '50s & '60s by Steven Jenkins (Miller's, 1991)
- Sixties Design by Phillippe Garner (Taschen, 1996)
- '60s Decorative Art: A Source Book, edited by Charlotte &
Peter Fiell (Taschen, 2000)

Creating the party pad
Charity and thrift stores
Northwest:
- Goodwill Industries of Alberta,
4625 Varsity Drive N.W.
- Women In Need Thrift Store,
6432 Bowness Road, N.W.
Northeast:
- Goodwill Industries of Alberta,
154 1440 52 St. N.E.
- Salvation Army Thrift Stores,
999 36 St. N.E.
- Calgary Inter-faith Furniture Store, (this is still open) 635 35 Ave. N.E.
- Value Village, 3405 34 St. N.E.
Southwest:
- Women In Need Thrift Store,
1403 14 St. S.W., 2907 Richmond Rd S.W.
Southeast:
- Goodwill Industries of Alberta,
10426 Macleod Tr.
- Salvation Army Thrift Stores,
916 42 Ave. S.E., 3A-3200 17 Ave. S.E.; 9919 Fairmont Dr. S.E.; 2840 Glenmore Tr. S.E.
- Women In Need Thrift Store,
1 3525 26 Ave. S.E. and 134 71 Ave. S.E.
- Value Village, 104 58 Ave. S.E.

Services
- Wood Work 4U: Thomas P. Murphy (owner), 547-0639

Summer lovin' music
In 1967, there was an insatiable hunger for the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the San Francisco Sound was made famous by the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. Jimi Hendrix was the king of hard rock.
Other hits of 1967 included:
- I'm a Believer, the Monkees
- Light my Fire, the Doors
- Somethin' Stupid, Nancy and Frank Sinatra
- I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Gladys Knight and the Pips
- Incense and Peppermints, the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
- Respect, Aretha Franklin
- Higher and Higher, Jackie Wilson

Posters and art
The ultimate pop art form in 1967 was the poster. Look for ones that reflect the '60s culture, such as photographs of fashion models and celebrities, political protests, the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, movie posters and psychedelia. Check out these stores:
- Movie Poster Shop, 112 16th Ave. N.W.
- Movie Goods, 9 3600 21 St. N.E.
- Prints Charming, 1409 11 St. S.W.
229-0220
- IKEA, 8000 11 St S.W.

Coffee table novels
The Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Sexual Revolution and the psychedelic hippy movement influenced the writers of the '60s. Paperback editions of these titles would add a subtle touch of authenticity to your party.
- The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran
- The Hobbit, J.R.R Tolkien
- James Bond thrillers by Ian Fleming
- Catch 22, Joseph Heller
- The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, John Le Carre
- Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess

Movies
Check out the exhilarating party scenes in these movies (at Casablanca Video, 2101 33rd Ave. S.W. or 2100 4th St. S.W.)
- Breakfast at Tiffany's
- The Apartment
- The Party
- The Bear and the Doll

- Last Details
Final touches
These inexpensive items are perfectly retro and available at Willow Studio, 1437 Kensington Rd. N.W.
- Ceramic garden sandal pot in orange, lime, or yellow ($15)
- Sari-inspired beaded organza table runner in red or purple ($28)
- Tea towels with daisies in pink, yellow or blue ($8.90/set of two)
- Glass pitcher with daisies ($41)
- Gypsy beaded shawl ($37.50).

Illustration:• Colour Photo: Photo courtesy stock.xchng / (Shag Rug and 45 Rpm Records)• Colour Photo: Calgary Herald archives / (60s Music poster) Colour Photo: (60s Shoes) Colour Photo: Lee Gunderson, for the Calgary Herald / Get a groovy vibe going with a '60s-inspired party.• Colour Photo: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald / . . . and a glass pitcher, . . .• Colour Photo: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald / Set a summer of love theme with daisy tea towels, . . .• Colour Photo: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald / . . . and sari-inspired beaded organza table runners, right, all from Willow Studio in Kensington.• Colour Photo: Haight/Ashbury Street Sign• Colour Photo: Flowers
Idnumber: 200706160039 Edition: Final Story Type: News Length: 1539 words Illustration Type: Colour Photo