12th night expat celebration beat the odds
The Social Scene with Patricia
The CanadaPLUS Club “Twelfth Night Revel” marking the last day of Christmas and the first anniversary of the expat group turned out to be one of its most successful events.
This in spite of what marketing and event organizing gurus like to call “challenges”. The word “problem” was stricken from the promotional dictionary long ago, although Murphy’s law is still mentioned. But, in the end, the audience at any show only gets to measure what appears on stage, and rarely gets a look at events leading up to the performance.
The “challenges” for the hardy folks at CanadaPLUS came from a state funeral at The Metropolitan Cathedral, in Casco Viejo, only meters from the newly launched
Magnolia Inn where the January 6 celebration was due to take place.
A few hours before the 12th Night event was due to start, access roads around Casco were closed to allow for the funeral cortege of former president Arnulfo Arias and the vehicles of attending dignitaries.
That caused delivery problems for the caterers and the wine suppliers, and at one stage, an hour before the first guests were expected it looked as if the open wine bar would be missing its key ingredient.
The band, scheduled to play Beatles music had to lump heavy equipment from far distant vehicles, and the caterers and deliverers of the birthday cake had to traverse the old city with the necessities.
There were problems too for the guests who has been directed to park in or near Plaza Catedral, and were told “the Inn is right behind the Cathedral”.
But when there’s a party organized by CanadaPLUS , which has an outstanding first year record, it 
seems nothing is going to get in the way. Over 90 guests arrived.
What they found was everything in place, even the Chardonnay had time to cool and the band was tuning up.
Guests representing 15 countries showed up, and judging by the packed email box, praising the food, the wine and the dancing, the vast majority had an evening to remember, and the club added three new couples to its membership list, already at 250 after one year.
Canadian ambassador Sylvia Cesaratto was on hand to cut the birthday cake, and Henk Van Der Kolk, co-founder of TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival) and now CEO of The Panama International Film Festival was there with his wife Yanka. Panama’s festival will take place in April-May
If there was a hitch during the evening, it came from the acoustics in the charming renovated ballroom of a home that
once belonged to the Duque family. With the high ceiling and ornate carvings, itt meant that the group had to tone down their music and it making the lyrics hard to hear. But when it came to dancing the floor was packed with dancers and those ready to sing along. For some it was as close to a “rave” as they have been for a year or so. Great fun.
For the boutique Inn’s owners, that was a useful heads up, and they are already investigating the insertion of acoustic tiles. Meanwhile party goers toured the facilities and, based on comments and emails were duly impressed with the facilities and the prices.
CanadaPLUS
The CanadaPLUS Club has members from 22 countries (the PLUS part of the name, reflecting also the successful multicultural community in Canada.In its first year the club has earned a solid reputation for staging successful events for members and friends.
Already on the menu for this year are a March exploration cruise on Lake Gatun. with a visit to a floating hotel for lunch and wine, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre in April and a Canada Day afternoon-evening soiree. There’s lots more to come.
Membership gives access to discounts and special offers in restaurants and businesses and access to group worldwide health insurance at hard to beat prices. For membership details go to clubcanadaplus@gmail.com
