We spent last night in the 1980's; in a casino!

As '80s music pulsed, drinks flowed, food was served and the gaming tables buzzed. Last night, the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce threw another successful Casino Night. The chips piled up for many people, like Jane Decker, above, who was a whiz at Roulette.


The best themed couple had to be Gail and Antoinette Baldwin as Blake and Alexis Carrington, from Dynasty. When they first arrived, I thought they had just come from a wedding or other function, but clever Antoinette, quickly set me straight as to their idea. It was a perfect concept from the 1980s, which was the theme of the night. At right are Alicia Pickrell and David Guzikowski. David worked tirelessly to put on the event.


At times, every space at every table was taken, you had to wait to play. I sat at one table, but I couldn't figure out what was being played -- was it Poker? Blackjack? I didn't have a clue. After losing a bunch of chips, I sheepishly left and never did find out what it was they were playing, I was too embarrassed to ask after I had played and lost so much without a clue as to what I was doing. I did win a lot later at Blackjack.


The ladies in black: Raquel Patterson-Moore, Doreen LoCicero, Haydee Wheeler, Cindy Bettner.


At left: Chamber prez Tony Noboa with wife Lupe, at right: Loree Shrager and Natalie Morales from Dharma Studio.


Ed Prelaz had his '80s afro hair all night, and never broke character, even as he danced like a madman on the dancefloor. With Ed, Tony and Lupe Noboa and Brian Guertin, from Event Visions, who will be helping Mayfair promote some new events this coming year.


Jamie and Will Furry, Miss Cuba 2010 Viglis Viguillon with Robin Parker; and Siri with Monty, bidding away at the silent auction tables. Viglis also won Miss Cuba Intercontinental 2010.


David and Trina Collins with Peter and Patti Laird.


Gaea Garrity; Gigi Leyva and Atchana Capellini. Gaea, of Rahage Jewelry on Commodore Plaza donated a beautiful necklace as part of the silent auction. Gigi ended up winning it with the hightest bid after outbidding the likes of yours truly and Monty Trainer among others.


Jeff Freiberger of Rhythm Liqueur with Lilia Garcia. Jeff was at that table where I played and kept losing. He spent most of the night there. I told him later that I had no clue what we were playing, and he never did end up telling me what it was, so I still don't know.


Lisa Shallenberger, Ralph Sanz and Cely Pereda. See the ring on Lisa's hand? That was one of the prizes in the silent auction, it was worth $1500, dontated by H&H Jewels. I never did find out who won it at the end, but I do know that Ralph and Cely outbid me on the Miama Mia poster signed by the cast of the play. They got in at the last second and wrote down the final winning bid.


The food from Atchana's East/West Kitchen was great. There was Pad Thai, curry, sushi and lots more. I did hope for Thai doughnuts for dessert, but they had chocolate fondu instead.


This sushi was delicious. I actually had the first piece because they asked me to come and take pictures of the food before it was served. So I grabbed a piece or two after I snapped the shot.


It really was a fun evening. It's nice sitting around the tables playing with people you know. The 1980s music was the best, we all kept yelling out when our favorite songs or long forgotten songs came on. The music brought back a lot of memories.


Siri, Atchana and Julissa made sure everyone was fed and happy. Julissa -- now that's a name I have not heard from the '80s. Remember "A Different World?" At right, Ed Prelaz with some '80s babes.


Gaea Garrity, yours truly and Gigi Leyva did not want to leave the '80s, but by the end of the long night, way after 11 pm, we left the casino. If it was the real 1980s, I think we would have been off to club hop, but we all just headed home, exhausted from a long night of gambling, eating, drinking and dancing.

It's a shame the Cielo night club space sits empty, as people passed on the street later in the evening, they heard the music and saw the crowd and wanted to enter the club, thinking it was open for business. The good part is that since it isn't open for business, we do get to use it for so many local events as our own little private club.