Technically, it rained only sporadically May 16 -- say, 12 percent of the daylight, total. Sadly for folks queued up outside a Little Rock Film Festival screening or the early guests of the 10th Caribbean Cabaret at Tiffany and Daniel Robinson's, that 12 percent was broken into three 4 percent blocks of biblical waterworks.
And then, still early in the evening, the skies let up and the night was beautiful.
The house party, a benefit for Women & Children First shelter, featured live and silent auctions, just like a fundraiser at a for-rent venue. There was a signature mixed drink and heavy hors d'oeuvres.
Caribbean Cabaret has seen a lot of set redesigns. It began at the Woman's City Club building downtown; moved to Embassy Suites out west; then to the Edgehill neighborhood, first at the home of Tiffany Robinson's parents, Cindy and Chip Murphy. The months before 2014's event saw the completion of a substantial renovation at the Murphys that included adding a garage -- and not a moment too soon! It rained that year, too.
"We were talking it over on Sunday as we did some final cleanup," Daniel Robinson said. "If the weather would cooperate, we think we have the layout to really have an impressive event."
Will they do it next year? Yes, of course, because at about $80,000, this event accounts for more than 10 percent of the shelter's entire annual budget. This makes the cabaret's sponsor, The Peacekeepers, the shelter's young adult supporters, perhaps the most important Y.A. auxiliary in the area.
Also, Tiffany Robinson says, it's "cozy" -- it's at a home and people can come in cabana wear and sip drinks poolside. And it's youthful. Tickets were just $75. The band that played, The People's Republic of Casio Tones, is fresh off a Kickstarter campaign to fund its first recording. A dance party broke out at the end of the night.
"Everyone likes to feel 'young' no matter what your actual age is," she says.
-- Photos and story by Bobby Ampezzan
High Profile on 05/31/2015