Vibe Check: Red, White & Blue Party
The American Cancer Society of the Capital Region raises a record-breaking $300,000—and one SLAH writer goes on a date.
One thing about me is that if there’s a party I’m not at, I will get FOMO. (Hence why I try to be at every Saratoga social gathering known to man.) But no party has caused me as much distress, historically, as the American Cancer Society’s Red, White & Blue Party, photos of which flood my Instagram feed every June. I’m not sure why I haven’t gone in the past, but I made it a point not to miss out again this year.
Last Friday, I quickly realized why this specific party has had such a hold over me: Some of my favorite people go every single year. After grabbing a signature red wine sangria (”I’ll say a prayer for your white shirts,” the server said) and a plate filled with grilled veggies (there was also mac and cheese, barbecue and a clam bake), my date and I sat down, only to be joined moments later by Dan Graham, who, later in the night would appoint himself my dating consultant. “Well done,” he texted after a few drinks. “Keep him.” (Not to turn this Substack into a dating app, but also with the explicit goal of turning this Substack into a dating app, Dan is also single…Just sayin’.)
A few bites in, the life—or should I say lives—of the party arrived. “I’m surprised you recognize us out of our koala costumes!” Jillian Cutrone said when I walked over. Indeed, it was the group of Wordlers who, this spring, dressed up in inflatable koala suits and took to the streets of Saratoga. “This is definitely hair of the dog,” Sara McCarthy said, gesturing to her drink; she and Andrea Zappone were fresh off an evening at the Yaddo Summer Benefit. “Natalie!” said Andrea, who was dressed in an edgy Little Red Riding Hood number. “Did you bring a man?”
I dodged the question and fled the food tent, in search of Angelo Mazzone, whom I’d never met before. One woman who used to work for Mazzone Hospitality, which was responsible for the impressive (and vegan-friendly) food spread, told us, “He’s kind of short and very Italian.”
“That’s every person I’ve seen,” said my plus-one, who shall remain nameless—for now.
While we didn’t find Angelo, we did run into Death Wish Coffee’s Molly Bush, former Saratoga Living intern Payton Huntington, Saratoga Living super-fan Jacky Ross, emcee Libby Adams, and Chris and Sue Lepkowski, who’d left the little ones at home for a night out with friends at their favorite event of the year. “I’ll do a shot with you if you want,” Sue said immediately. “I’m always available.”
Not one to pass up that kind of invitation, I followed Sue and her friends to the bar, which was sadly closed while the evening’s program was underway. “Apparently, you can’t make your own drinks,” Mike Ryan said. Luckily for Mike, the Deep Eddy Vodka booth was still open, and we opted for Ruby Red mixed drinks instead of shots. When he-who-shall-not-be-named went inside to get a coffee (I know—a coffee) Sue turned to me. “Is that your intern?”
Meanwhile, up on stage, the American Cancer Society of the Capital Region was honoring 2023 Hero of Hope Mike Painter, a husband, father, state trooper and cancer survivor who lost his leg to Myxofibrosarcoma and has since trained to be able to rejoin the state troopers; and 2023 Champion of Hope Mark Duffy, who has been a steadfast supporter of ACS’ Real Kids Wear Pink campaign as well as a top ACS DetermiNation marathon fundraiser in both New York City and Dublin. “The Red White & Blue Party had a record-breaking year this year with 600 community members coming together to raise $300,000,” ACS Director of Development Lizzie Hunter told me after the party. “The Capital Region never ceases to amaze us with their support of the American Cancer Society, and their generosity on June 23 certainly moved the mark in the fight against cancer.”
When night fell, all eyes were on the sky for a drone show. Yes, lit-up drones flew around in formation, creating the words “Hope,” “Fight” and “Courage”; a waving American flag; and the logos of ACS and the evening’s sponsors. “This is way better than a fireworks show,” I heard someone say. “I’m getting a burger because I’m f***ing hungry,” someone else (*cough* Carina Rodriguez) said, making a beeline for the BurgerFi tent before her crew whisked her away to the dance floor.
Between his hilarious one-liners, Mike Ryan did have something insightful to say about the importance of the evening both to the fight against cancer and Saratoga as a whole. After picking out a shirt for the party at Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel earlier in the day, owner Kerry Fagan told him he’d see him later that night. When Mike acted surprised that Kerry was going to the party, Kerry said, “Mike, you don’t miss this event.” Now I know.
—Natalie
To see the rest of our party pics—including a visual of yours truly with my date taken by Matt Whalen—read on.
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