The lavish party, overflowing with the colors, fabrics, flowers, and costumes of the 1920s through present day, will take partygoers through the decades since the Grove Arcade's 1929 opening. Different areas of the building will feature different color schemes, from cobalt blue to gold and crimson red to champagne and black satin. Attendees will enter the building through the east fa�ade, decorated as a 1920s speakeasy (complete with flirty flappers to greet the guests), and enjoy an evening of entertainment, music, food, and drink. A creative and fun-filled program, "Dr. Grove's Radio Hour," will "go on the air" at 7:30PM, and will feature live performances by singers and dancers with music from the '20s, '30s, and 40s. Georgia Malki, president of Seven Star, the company that is responsible for putting together this ambitious evening, has even found recordings of original radio commercials from local businesses, and they will be part of the radio show entertainment. Longtime residents of Asheville will particularly enjoy hearing radio commercials that they listened to as "youngsters."

Attendees are all encouraged to dress in some sort of period costume, although cocktail attire is perfectly suitable if you don't happen to have a flapper dress or a slinky 1930s satin gown in your wardrobe.

The Grove Arcade, one of downtown Asheville's highly prized architectural treasures, has been undergoing a major renovation for the past several years that, oddly enough, will return it to its original purpose, an urban indoor mall. When the Grove Arcade opened its doors in 1929, it was one of the first - if not the first - indoor malls in the country.

The Grove Arcade was the dream of E. W. Grove, a self-made millionaire who moved to Asheville in 1910 as part of a plan to improve his wife's failing health. Grove and his wife fell in love with Asheville, its easy way of life, and natural beauty, and became permanent residents. In the early 1920s, Grove conceived of the Arcade as "the most elegant building in America" - and as a new kind of retail center. When the Arcade opened in 1929, it quickly became home to a fine collection of local owner-operated shops and services. For 13 years, the Arcade was the center of commercial and civic life in Western North Carolina.

The federal government took over the building in 1942, following America's entry into World War II, and remained the owner and sole tenant until the new Federal Building was completed in 1995. The City of Asheville acquired the building in 1997 under the National Monument Act, and the US General Services Administration formally gave the building to the city at no cost. The city then promptly signed a 198-year lease at $1 per year with the Grove Arcade Foundation.

The grand re-opening of the Grove Arcade is tentatively scheduled for November 2, 2002. When open, the Arcade will feature stores, restaurants, offices (on the second floor), and apartments (on the third, fourth, and fifth floors). The first floor Public Market will become home to 50+ locally owner-operated shops and restaurants, showcasing the best foods, crafts, and wares our region has to offer.

Tickets to the September 27 Preview Gala are currently on sale. Partygoers will enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and delectable hors d'oeuvres. Live entertainment will include "Dr. Grove's Radio Hour" and five period bands from the "Gilded Age of Jazz" to the age of "Rockin', Rhythm & Blues." Ticket prices are $55 per person or $100 per couple. To purchase tickets, please call the Grove Arcade Foundation at 828-252-7799/ext 123 or visit their web site at www.grovearcade.com/gala.

A limited number of corporate tables (for six guests) are still available at $650 each. They may also be purchased by calling 828-252-7799/ext 123 or by visiting the Foundation's web site, www.grovearcade.com/gala.

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