Cirque du Couture

And so the hullabaloo begins, revolving around the one thing we all find exciting: money. Spending it, making it, or in this case fundraising it, watching other people spend it, large quantities of it – all on a good cause and a worthwhile trip. Incredible melodrama gets our blood pumping with excitement, «One thousand dollars, I got one thousand dollars. Do I have two thousand dollars? Two thousand dollars for 10 VIP concert tickets at AVA Amphitheater? FIFTY-​FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! Going once, going twice. .. SOLD! (pauses) YES!!!» — announces the most animated auctioneer (like) ever, Tucson’s very own Matt Russell from On the Menu Live. Animated is just the beginning. How about we call him a miracle money worker? His enthusiasm evokes an inspiring thrill, which manages to double bid amounts, several times. He charms, he coaxes, «Here’s a chance for you (the couple in the back) to double the money fundraised, and you’ll still get to go on the trip that was RUTHLESSLY taken from you by this person you don’t even know. Can I get a. .. (bidder yells out an offer) TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS! Alright.» Russell struts off confidently, and the children of Tu Nidito are 10k higher in fundraising than they were mere seconds ago. Later, a beautiful young woman calmly raises her hand to bid 12k on a trip to Colorado. More beautiful women in stunning cocktail dresses glance to their loved ones for approval and then feistily throw up their hands to bid 10k, 11k, 12k on trips. And just when the bidding seems to be nearing an end, Mr. An donates a limo for twenty, with sushi and red wine, along with suite tickets to a Diamondbacks game, raising 10 more k’s. Yeah, Mr. An!
Let’s back it up a bit. The night begins with a classy red carpet arrival, where Chris Richards Photography snaps some shots of me with my Rojo, then reminisces about taking photos of us before at a Unilocal event (woot, woot). We go on to the VIP-​esque check in, and then begin our feast. .. tasty street tacos with hot salsa, fresh sushi rolls, a comforting mini carton of crispy-​soft Asian noodles, and a Cotton Candy Martini created before us so we can watch the candy dissolve as the rum flows into the glass. The feast is topped off with delicious chocolate-​covered churros and some Isabella’s Ice Cream (electric solar truck parked in one of the hall corners). Meanwhile, fun items are bid on, two acrobatic yogis showcase their moves, and aerial hoop artists hang from the ceiling showing off their wild flexibility.
Best part of the night is when the children of Tu Nidito take turns to march along the catwalk with a Tucson celebrity as their escort. Escorts include Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Police Chief Roberto Villasenor, Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, and many more. The pairs strut their stuff — kids showing off their animal costumes, tutus, and all around cuteness, celebrities showing off their fame and status. Oooh, aaah, awww, exclaim the folk in white seats. The whole group of pairs comes out at the end for a grand finale goodbye wave. And then…
Enter Candy Strike: cotton-​candy-​pink-​and-​blue puff wigs dressed in slick black attire move their boots and suits and puffs — a genial opening to the fAshión (said passionately with a French accent) show. .. enter ardent dancing from a group in black tights, enter glamorous skinnies looking like they were pulled right out of a magazine, dazzling black dresses, turquoise dresses, pink dresses, feathered dresses, dresses dresses, the nerdy AND badass George men, Lovers and Friends’ cute comfies, Angel Sanchez with dresses that make everyone turn to look because wow they’re stunning, W Boutique’s professional outfits screaming «I’m, too sexy for my work, too sexy for my work». .. and we can’t forget the excellent technooooo playing for us to bounce, bounce, bounce to. .. or Robert Black’s incredible sea-​creature-​esque dresses (I’m pretty sure I saw just about every sea character from The Little Mermaid in Robert-​Black-​dress form, each waltzing happily to some sort of circus music — fascinating).
Finally, Paula Taylor comes out looking simply beautiful, and then tiny pieces of color fly into the air to introduce the after party. .. cover band 80s and Gentlemen hits it, «I love rock and roll, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby» and a man on stilts starts the dance.