Other Events

Esprit has a rich tradition of smaller events. Some are official events that vary from year to year, others are inspired by local attractions and by the attendees themselves. Check the schedule for details on exactly which events are available. The whole week is filled with fun activities!

Here is a tentative list of activities planned for 2010:

Koffee Klatsch

The Koffee Klatsch orientation and chat is open only to New Girls at Esprit from 9AM to 10 AM in the Hospitality Suite. It is an opportunity particularly for those "newly out" (and others) to gain confidence in their presentation, talk to one another about their fears, concerns and aspirations about being TG and to make friends with kindred spirits. Past Koffee Klatsches have been very successful and the girls who attended truly experienced significant personal growth while making new friends. And even if only a little of that happens, you still get a free "wake up" cup of coffee as well as some snacks to carry you through the morning! Hope to see you there. Your hosts, Carma & Suzanne.

New Attendee Wine and Cheese Socials

All new girls are treated to a hosted Wine and Cheese party in the Hospitality Room. That's right! You are provided with free drinks from a selection of red and white wines along with an offering of various kinds of cheeses. Be sure to check the schedule for the First Timer Wine and Cheese event and plan on attending.

Silk Scarf Painting

Karen Sistek, a local Port Angeles artist, first opened her studio's doors to attendees in 2007 to create their own hand painted silk scarves. She'll give you lessons on how to paint your scarf, you choose the style of scarf you want, and have fun. Her studio gives you everything you need...tools, vibrant dyes, salt crystals and liquids to create special effects. It only takes about an hour and the experience is fun and so easy you can't help but create something beautiful. Her friends from town will be there to coach and help you out.

Please contact her at info@karensistekstudio.com or call at 360-457-3559 to make reservations for workshop slots at 10:00-11:30, 1:30-3:00, and 3:30-5:00 on Wednesday and Thursday (the same as standard Esprit classroom slots). Note that the Wednesday 3:30 slot will be busy because the Significant Others will come as a group. Call in advance because reservations are required.

Bring a friend and have even more fun! The cost is $25 and covers all time and materials. The important thing is to arrive on time at the beginning of a class slot so that you benefit from the how-to discussion. After a day or two of steaming and setting, your scarf will be ready!

Port Angeles Wine Bar and Art Tour

At Esprit, attendees can indulge their finer tastes in the worlds of wine and art during Esprit's Port Angeles Wine Bar and Art Tour. One of your guides will be Richard Stephens who works for the Peninsula Daily News and is an actor, director and costume designer for local stage productions.

Coffee Tastings

Princess Valiant Coffee is a local Port Angeles coffee roaster specializing in organic and socially responsible coffees. They will host a coffee tasting in the Hospitality Suite/Registration Area. Everyone is invited and you can bring home some of the coffees, chocolate, and other delectables they will have on sale as a gift or souvenir.

Dance Nights

In-hotel dancing and music is available during the week. This year we feature on-site live pop bands during the Friday Talent Show and Saturday Gala. If you're more adventuresome, the all-TG Seattle band The Nasty Habits is booked at three clubs in town on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday where you can mingle with record-breaking crowds of friendly locals and heart-pounding 80's dance music. Music may be available earlier in the week in one of the ballrooms or in the lounge.

Winery Tours

Washington state is famous for its award-winning wines. Many small vintners are located in the Port Angeles area. If you are a wine connoisseur, winery tours will take you to local wineries where you can sample some of these fine wines. All attendees are welcome (Big/Little sisters, SO's, general attendees) and we will break into separate groups if the attendance is large. Contact Joyce Colson for additional details.

Shopping Trips

If shopping is your weakness, the shopping tour will take you to stores in Port Angeles and/or Port Townsend where you can indulge in a wide range of clothing, jewelry, and accessory stores with a local, vintage, and artistic flair. The Port Townsend trip is a short drive away and usually includes time to have lunch in town (check the Registration Area for scheduling details and carpool/sign up sheets).

Victoria BC Trip/High Tea at the Empress Hotel

This year we will again travel to beautiful British Columbia for High Tea and a full day of sightseeing. You will want to wear your finest frock (The Empress has a dress code) and of course a beautiful hat. An extra bag is suggested to carry walking shoes. After tea you can sight see, go to the Royal museum, or go shopping. When we debark from the Coho ferry we will find Victoria's finest horsedrawn carriages and tour the area and if we ask just right we will be delivered to the front door of the Empress Hotel.

The Jewel of the Pacific, The Empress is one of Victoria's highlights. Cresting the city's Inner Harbour, this 460-room hotel was built in the Edwardian style and recently restored to its original grandeur, with antique furniture and luxurious decor. Considered to be the most photographed attraction on Vancouver Island, The Empress was originally designed by Francis Rattenbury, and opened in 1908.

Rising regally on the banks of Victoria's Inner Harbour, the Empress is the symbolic centrepiece of Victoria and conveniently located adjacent to the Convention Centre, Parliament Buildings, Royal British Columbia Museum, shops and local sites. The hotel has long been accustomed to entertaining Hollywood celebrities; Rita Hayworth, Jack Benny, Pat O'Brien, Douglas Fairbanks, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Tallulah Bankhead, Roger Moore, John Travolta, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford and a host of others have passed through its lobby. Shirley Temple arrived accompanied by her parents amid rumors that she had fled from California because of kidnapping threats, a story borne from the presence of two huge bodyguards who took the room opposite hers and always left their door open.

In true British tradition, the hotel is famous for its elegant Afternoon Tea - served to over 75,000 visitors annually! Savour tea in the finest tradition, accompanied by berries and Chantilly cream, scones, crumpets, preserves, sandwiches, pastries and tarts, all served with silver service in the main lobby!

Due to increased border security requirements, you WILL REQUIRE at least a PASSPORT or an ENHANCED DRIVERS LICENSE for Customs and Immigration. The Coho Ferry fare is about $14.50 each way. The Carriage ride, if you choose to ride with us, should be around $15.00. The High Tea is around $54.00. We will meet in the Registration Area around 7:30 AM.

In 2004 when the Esprit ladies returned to The Empress after a one year absence, the group was approached at the front door by a sturdy man in a blue blazer and an earphone hanging out of his ear. He inquired "Are you from Emerald City?" and uncertain of his intent, the trip organizer Debra Darling simply answered "yes". He then proceeded to explain how The Empress lamented the ladies' absence the previous year and he escorted the ladies in for a fine afternoon of tea.

Afternoon Tea in the Red Lion Dining Room

Didn't get to go to the High Tea in Victoria BC or didn't get enough if you did go? Well, don't despair because here's another chance for fine food, conversation and of course, tea. Slip into your most ladylike dress and join us for The Red Lion's version of the English tradition of High Tea on Thursday afternoon. If you have them, you can also show off your frilliest hat and those nice dainty gloves. It's in the newly remodeled Red Lion Hotel lounge so we need not worry about the weather or transportation. The restaurant staff is looking forward to serving a room full of elegant ladies and everyone is welcome to attend. The china for the event is on loan from a Port Angeles supporter of Esprit.

The cost per person including tax and gratuity is about $22 payable to the servers at the tea. Sign up in the Esprit registration area and do it early because we are limited to 20 guests.

Red Lion Afternoon Tea Menu

(sign up required, limited to 20, about $22)

Several assorted types of tea sandwiches
Large fresh hand-fanned strawberries with Chantilly cream
Small cakes, tarts, truffles, candies, shortbread cookies
Scones with Devonshire cream and jam
Assorted premium Tazo brand teas
Lemon, milk, honey, and sugar
Fine wines, liqueurs and sherry available for purchase

Peninsula Community College Outreach Panel

This influential and successful discussion panel has been requested by the community college every year that Esprit returns to Port Angeles. Volunteers have already been assembled by the panel coordinator and chosen to represent the diversity of the TG community. The panel will participate in a number of Q&A discussion sessions with groups that may range from beginning psychology classes to the highly regarded Stadium Generale lecture and performance series open to the public. Esprit's involvement now extends to the students and we have crossover activities where some of the students and Esprit attendees will participate in each other's activities during the week of Esprit.

Ladies Shopping Night

A new offering in 2008 dreamt up by the businesses of Port Angeles, the Thursday Ladies Night Out consists of several stores who open their doors late for everyone and include special goodies just for Esprit attendees. This is already a popular tradition in other cities on the Peninsula.

The Slumber Party

The Saturday night slumber is a raucous Esprit tradition. The Hospitality Suite begins to fill with ladies in nighties as the Saturday night graduation dinner and party draws to a close. Some snacks and pizza are usually available (as are a lot of leftover beverages that come crawling out of people's rooms). The room is usually filled to capacity and the evening is filled with lively moderated conversation, backrubs and footrubs, and more. A few diehards haul blankets and pillows to the room and stay there until dawn.

And who knows who else might show up? In 1999, a barbershop quartet was passing through the hotel late at night and stumbled onto the Saturday night slumber party. Doing what any gentlemen would do, they politely greeted the ladies in the hall and then proceeded to serenade the ladies with an impromptu performance.

You're welcome to wear anything in good taste and reason to the party. Some ladies simply pop in after the Saturday night party in their party outfits, chat for a few minutes, and disappear. Some choose to attend the slumber party in makeup; others choose to be comfortable and get cleaned up and dispense with the bra, wig, and other accessories they normally use when dressed. You may wish to lean somewhat to the more practical side if you plan on staying a while. Most of the seating consists of simple upright chairs, the floor, a counter, pillows/blankets, and perhaps a few seats on a sofa. You may be standing up and sitting down and shifting position frequently depending on how crowded the room gets and the activities that are going on. In addition, you may want to wear or bring something (such as a robe) that allows you to comfortably walk the length of the hotel to get back to your room for supplies or blankets.

ESPRIT, ESPRIT GALA and ESPRIT 2010 relate only to the yearly transgender conference
held in Port Angeles, WA. The conference and organization is not associated or connected
with the global apparel company Esprit or its marks.

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