Surprises in store for FD bash 
Planning committee pulls out all the stops for 100th ball

By CARA BURTON

Students, staff and alumni from Washington and Lee University will attend the school's 100th Annual Fancy Dress Ball this Saturday.

"The Party of the Century," a black and white masquerade ball, will take place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in W&L's Doremus Gymnasium.

The black and white masquerade theme was largely influenced by Truman Capote's 1963 Party of the Century, said Fancy Dress Committee co-chairman Niki Tsiknakis.

"It was held in New York City for upper class socialites and celebrities....it's remembered as one of the biggest parties ever."

The theme is also a nod to the first Fancy Dress in 1907, which was a masquerade ball as well, she said. The ball used to be the "premier social event of the South," said co-chairman Lilly deGrazia.

All University alumni have been invited to this year's event, and Tsiknakis said she expects upwards of 200 to 300 alumni to return. That number is more than any year in the past, a result of the committee's working closely with the alumni association to explicitly invite all alumni to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the popular tradition.

The event has a $90,000 budget, an increase over past years. The extra funds are being used toward the music of the Pat Patrick Band, an alumni favorite, as well as a cash bar and improved decorations, Tsiknakis said. She also said there will be two surprises on Saturday night: one outside at 10:30 and another at midnight in the gym.