Celebrating the Red Decade With a Blue Party

The Fifties were the last decade before the progressive boom of the forever-romanticized Sixties. Think Eisenhower, Elvis, Don Draper, Betsy Draper, Marilyn Monroe. Author Richard Yates said of the decade, “there was a general lust for conformity all over this country.”

Then JFK took office, a cultural revolution occurred, and the country never looked back. (Well, almost never, there were those pesky Reagan years.) However, one ’50s token that gets revived decade after decade is the music. That and badass cars. So although Democrats and the era of McCarthy may seem at odds, Palm Beach Country dems will relive the time of the Twist tonight with a Doo Wop-themed fundraiser at the Flamingo Ball Room (2410 N Federal Hwy, Delray Beach). If remembering the Red Scare and the threat of a nuclear Soviet Union aren’t your idea of good time, but you still want to support the party, the bar will include unlimited sangria, which should then help you compete in the Twist contest. Tickets cost $65 in advance, and $70 at the door and include dinner. Doors open at 7 p.m. Call 561-381-7772 for reservations, or visit pbcdemocraticparty.org.
Sat., Sept. 12, 7 p.m., 2009