CAMP 2017: Party 1920s style on Friday night

By Kira Zalan, JAWS member

Why does the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas have an Al Capone suite? Because the legendary gangster loved staying at the charming property and often rented the entire fourth floor. Legend has it he preferred direct access to the bath house, a clear view of the club across the street (now a museum), and the hidden exits in case of a raid.

The hotel has maintained much of its 1920s character. For example, according to the hotel, the bath house elevator — lined with beveled glass and shining brass — is still manually operated. You’ll feel it the minute you check in.

On Friday, after dinner, you’ll have your opportunity to get into the spirit of the prohibition era. Friday night parties are a CAMP tradition, where we mingle, welcome our first-timers, dance, play and yes, put on costumes. This year, bring your flapper dresses, feather boas, headbands, pinstriped trousers, berets, bobbed hats and bob cuts. Flasks with bootleg foot juice or jag juice will not be confiscated.

Need some inspiration? Stop by the Gangster Museum of America across the street for, as the Arlington Hotel explains, “an historic and entertaining account of how some of the most notorious criminals in America co-existed with the quaint population of this little valley town in the mountains of central Arkansas.”

We’ll have a DJ playing retro tracks and today’s tunes; and a trivia game – so brush up on your 1920s news, knowledge and terminology.

This party is sure to be the bee’s knees, elephant’s adenoids, cat’s miaow, ant’s pants, tiger’s spots, bullfrog’s beard, duck’s quack, kipper’s knickers, leopard’s stripes, tadpole’s teddies, sardine’s whiskers, canary’s tusks, pig’s wings, cuckoo’s chin and butterfly’s book.

You get the idea. See you there.