Hoedown Throwdown

or one magic night in late May, the Club was transformed into a saloon, dude ranch, and Stampede party for a ride into the sunset that won’t soon be forgotten. The Hoedown Throwdown – a Country Club Experience took members for a wild ride into the sunset.

For most of us, the closest we get to a cowboy experience is a visit to the multiplex to see City Slickers or Brokeback Mountain. Even Arbutus Club members don’t belong to a traditional “country” club, as we're among the finest city clubs in the land, bar none. That all changed, however, for one magic night in late May, as the Club was transformed into a saloon, dude ranch and stampede party for a ride into the sunset that won’t soon be forgotten. In the afterglow of last fall’s Grapes and Hops success, the only request that came our way was the overwhelming desire of the swank and fine to have somewhere to dance. Since Dr. Bonnie

loosened the rules in the spring and dancing was permitted again, we started to plan a new spring event that we hoped would grow into a new tradition – the Grapes and Hops of the spring, if you will. From these fledgling first steps in new boots, the “Hoedown Throwdown” was born. “Every person that talked to me after our last big event in the fall expressed this huge, overwhelming desire to dance and let loose all of their pent-up energy and frustration” related Kim McBurney, the Catering Manager at the Club.

We needed an outlet for people to be together again, have some fun, and boogie. A country barn dance seemed like a great way to accomplish that goal.

The team at the Club started to plan the event using the North Gym, squash court area and the loading bay parking lot off Arbutus Street. The idea was to have a small town feel for big city folk, where everyone would feel comfortable yet different for one night. “I come from a small town in the Kootenays,” explained Don Robinson, Director of Food and Beverage, “and we would have a broomball dance in the summer at the Complex. Super high energy bands, low brow food, cheap beer, everyone would get dressed up, it was super fun. That was what we were after.” Everyone who came that night was greeted by our own Flat Stanley “Burt” Reynolds at the Club Reception, given a hi y’all at the step and repeat before entering into the dance hall portion of the experience. DJ Ryhno played during dinner as Chef Michael’s team flashed their best Nashville chops, playing on themes of the South with understated flair and class. Ribs, chicken, and even a Southern poutine brought the True North and South together without a rebel flag in sight. As we prepped for the band to hit the stage, guys and gals played the Midway games in the squash court area. Classic claw machine wins provided free six packs, t-shirts, and even a night at The Fireside.

Those who ventured further down the valley and through the dale found themselves outside where they could take IG-worthy photos with live horses and classic vehicles, including a ’58 Chevy and a ’75 Cadillac. All in a ten-gallon Stetson if you brought one, yee hah indeed. The night’s main attraction, the band Appaloosa, hit the stage at nine and did not disappoint. From the opening strains of Shania’s “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” that instantly packed the dance floor until a countrified version of “Sweet Caroline” near last call, Appaloosa captured the spirit of the event perfectly and rocked the house down. As the event drew its own sunset, the night proved that even the good, the bad, and the pretty have friends in low places. ♦