 |
|
Home
What is Esprit?
Testimonials
Photos
Last Year Recap
First-Timer's Guide
Accommodations
Travel Info
Port Angeles Area
Why Port Angeles?
Schedule
The Resource Area
Biographies
Sunday Cocktails
Pool Tournament
Esprit Ascot
Theater Night
Theme Dinners
Fashion Show
Talent Show
Graduation
Keynote
Saturday Gala
Other Events
Big/Little Sisters
SO Program
Clothing Exchange
Hospitality Suite
Yearbook
Recent Updates
Contact Us
Esprit-Exchange
Press Coverage
Documents
Other Events
Esprit has developed a rich tradition of smaller events. Some are official events that vary from year to year, others are inspired by local attractions and by the attendees themselves. Check the schedule for details on exactly which events are available. The whole week is filled with fun activities!
Come enjoy some wake-up coffee, pair up with your Big or Little Sister, enjoy some great company, get your questions answered, and get the scoop on the day's events at the daily morning Koffee Klatch.
New Attendee Wine and Cheese Socials
Several times during the week, Esprit hosts wine and cheese socials to welcome first-timers. This is a wonderful opportunity for newcomers to meet and socialize in a safe setting with others who are new to Esprit. Some events are limited only to first-time attendees while others are more open. The schedule has the details, but here's a summary:
- Monday: New Girls only, 5PM, Hospitality Suite
- Tuesday: Big Sisters and Little Sisters only, 5PM Hospitality Suite
- Thursday: New Girls only, 5PM, Hospitality Suite
- Saturday: Everyone welcome, 4PM, Elks Hall 3rd Floor
Hurricane Ridge, probably named for some ferocious winds, seems to be anything but! Only a few short miles from Port Angeles, you start your drive into the beautiful Olympic National Park. The scenery changes dramatically as you enter a forest full of deer that graze along the roads and an amazing panorama of steep mountains that offers views of cliffs, valleys, and amazing vistas of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. You'll see ships traveling to distant continents, P-3 Orions practicing for duty in foreign lands and guarding against submarine attacks, and our beautiful San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands.
Bring your sunglasses and a warm wrap as the weather can range from snow flurries to bright sunshine. For the more adventurous souls there is skiing and a famous lodge at the end of the road. Bring along hiking shoes if you would like to venture off on one of the many trails. Your camera is a must for you will want to bring home all your memories of this beautiful place.
The adventure begins on Monday at 8:30AM (an ideal time to catch the wildlife during their morning feedings). We will have one van and anyone else who wishes to drive their own vehicle can join the caravan.
And like Smokey says, "only you can prevent a dull Esprit!"
Princess Valiant Coffee is a local Port Angeles coffee roaster specializing in organic and socially responsible coffees. They will host a coffee tasting in the Hospitality Suite/Registration Area. Everyone is invited and you can bring home some of the coffees, chocolate, and other delectables they will have on sale as a gift or souvenir.
Dance Nights
Dancing is available nearly every night of the week. Some dance nights are connected directly with the evening's activities and theme. Other nights are less structured and provide you a place to talk, have a drink, and listen and dance to different types of music.
Washington state is famous for its award-winning wines. Many small vintners are located in the Port Angeles area. If you are a wine connoisseur, winery tours will take you to local wineries where you can sample some of these fine wines. All attendees are welcome (Big/Little sisters, SO's, general attendees) and we will break into separate groups if the attendance is large.
Add a little art to your life!
Add a little culture to the Port Angeles art scene!
Come join us for the first ever Port Angeles
Art Walk of the Stars
We have arranged a very special afternoon adventure for everyone who would like to learn about the many talented local artists who live and work in Port Angeles.
We will begin with a one hour guided tour of the outdoor art in Port Angeles. This will be guided by a local sculptor who will give us the inside scoop on the pieces we will see.
We will then enjoy a wine and cheese reception with a special dessert at three nearby art galleries. Each gallery specializes in local NW artists of various mediums and each will have artists in residence to chat with us and discuss their creations.
And best of all, this is all free!
Meet at the Red Lion Crab House lobby Thursday afternoon (see schedule for official time). A sign-up sheet will be available in the Registration Area on Wednesday.
If shopping is your weakness, the shopping tour will take you to stores in Port Angeles and/or Port Townsend where you can indulge in a wide range of clothing, jewelry, and accessory stores with a local, vintage, and artistic flair. The Port Townsend trip is a short drive away and will include time to have lunch in town.
Victoria BC Trip/High Tea at the Empress Hotel
This year we will again travel to beautiful British Columbia for High Tea and a full day of sightseeing. You will want to wear your finest frock (The Empress has a dress code) and of course a beautiful hat. An extra bag is suggested to carry walking shoes. After tea you can sight see, go to the Royal museum, or go shopping. When we debark from the Coho ferry we will find Victoria's finest horsedrawn carriages and tour the area and if we ask just right we will be delivered to the front door of the Empress Hotel.
The Jewel of the Pacific, The Empress is one of Victoria's highlights. Cresting the city's Inner Harbour, this 460-room hotel was built in the Edwardian style and recently restored to its original grandeur, with antique furniture and luxurious decor. Considered to be the most photographed attraction on Vancouver Island, The Empress was originally designed by Francis Rattenbury, and opened in 1908.
Rising regally on the banks of Victoria's Inner Harbour, the Empress is the symbolic centrepiece of Victoria and conveniently located adjacent to the Convention Centre, Parliament Buildings, Royal British Columbia Museum, shops and local sites. The hotel has long been accustomed to entertaining Hollywood celebrities; Rita Hayworth, Jack Benny, Pat O'Brien, Douglas Fairbanks, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Tallulah Bankhead, Roger Moore, John Travolta, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford and a host of others have passed through its lobby. Shirley Temple arrived accompanied by her parents amid rumors that she had fled from California because of kidnapping threats, a story borne from the presence of two huge bodyguards who took the room opposite hers and always left their door open.
In true British tradition, the hotel is famous for its elegant Afternoon Tea - served to over 75,000 visitors annually! Savour tea in the finest tradition, accompanied by berries and Chantilly cream, scones, crumpets, preserves, sandwiches, pastries and tarts, all served with silver service in the main lobby!
Be sure to bring your BIRTH CERTIFICATE or PASSPORT along with your DRIVERS LICENSE as you will need to have 2 pieces of ID for Customs and Immigration. The Coho Ferry fare is $11.50 each way. The Carriage ride, if you choose to ride with us, should be around $15.00. The High Tea is around $47.00. We will meet at 7:45 AM for the trip on the COHO.
In 2004 when the Esprit ladies returned to The Empress after a one year absence, the group was approached at the front door by a sturdy man in a blue blazer and an earphone hanging out of his ear. He inquired "Are you from Emerald City?" and uncertain of his intent, the trip organizer Debra Darling simply answered "yes". He then proceeded to explain how The Empress lamented the ladies' absence the previous year and he escorted the ladies in for a fine afternoon of tea.
Afternoon Tea in the Red Lion Dining Room
Missed the High Tea in Victoria BC or didn't get enough if you did go? Well, don't despair because here's another chance for 2 hours of food, conversation and of course, tea. Slip into your most ladylike dress, show off your frilliest hat, put on those nice dainty gloves and join us for The Red Lion's version of the English tradition of High Tea. It's in the Red Lion Hotel dining room so we need not worry about the weather or transportation. The restaurant staff is looking forward to serving a room full of elegant ladies.
The cost per person including tax and gratuity is $20. Sign up in the Esprit registration area and do it early because we are limited to 40 guests. The deadline for sign up will be 10:00 AM on Thursday. The Afternoon Tea begins at 2:00PM and ends at 4:00PM.
|
Menu 5 assorted types of tea sandwiches |
 |
Dick and Karen Wolff, owners of KD Antiques Etc., located in Port Angeles are donating the use of antique china for this event.
Peninsula Community College Outreach Panel
This influential and successful discussion panel has been requested by the community college every year that Esprit returns to Port Angeles. Volunteers have already been assembled by the panel coordinator and chosen to represent the diversity of the TG community. The panel will participate in a number of Q&A discussion sessions with groups that may range from beginning psychology classes to the highly regarded Stadium Generale lecture and performance series open to the public. Note: the panel is completely full at this time and no more volunteers are needed.
DJ Nights
DJ music is available several nights a week for your listening and dancing pleasure at the Red Lion Hotel. Enjoy the music, dance, and chat with friends...and feel free to bounce between the ballroom and all the social activity in the lounge.
The Saturday night slumber is a raucous Esprit tradition. The Hospitality Suite begins to fill with ladies in nighties as the Saturday night graduation dinner and party draws to a close. Some snacks and pizza are usually available (as are a lot of leftover beverages that come crawling out of people's rooms). The room is usually filled to capacity and the evening is filled with lively conversation, backrubs and footrubs, eye-opening truth-or-dare games, and more. A few diehards haul blankets, pillows, and teddy bears to the room and stay there until dawn.
And who knows who else might show up? In 1999, a barbershop quartet was passing through the hotel late at night and stumbled onto the Saturday night slumber party. Doing what any gentlemen would do, they politely greeted the ladies in the hall and then proceeded to serenade the ladies with an impromptu performance.
You're welcome to wear anything in good taste and reason to the party. Some ladies simply pop in after the Saturday night party in their party outfits, chat for a few minutes, and disappear. Some choose to attend the slumber party in makeup; others choose to be comfortable and get cleaned up and dispense with the bra, wig, and other accessories they normally use when dressed. You may wish to lean somewhat to the more practical side if you plan on staying a while. Most of the seating consists of simple upright chairs, the floor, a counter, pillows/blankets, and perhaps a few seats on a sofa. You may be standing up and sitting down and shifting position frequently depending on how crowded the room gets and the activities that are going on. In addition, you may want to wear or bring something (such as a robe) that allows you to comfortably walk the length of the hotel to get back to your room for supplies or blankets.