Grit n Glitz 2008

It’s coming again, the Grit n Glitz, a fashion show unlike any other and completely unheard of in Fargo-Moorhead.

So what’s different about it? It’s held in a most unlikely place. The last gritty and glitzy show was in the back room at Ralph’s Corner, just before it closed in 2005, and the second one will take place at the Aquarium on Valentine’s Day.

The back room at Ralph’s was dark and grungy. That was the founding idea, the contrast between glamour and grunge.

I personally have been involved with many shows in the Fargo-Moorhead area over the years, and I know firsthand on how hard it is to put something together with so many different people. You have to deal with peoples careers, children, egos, and just finding the time to deal with a extra event in many people very different lives. This Valentines Day many young people from the area have taken their time and are going to pull off a second Grit n Glitz.

It started as the idea of two young adults, Raul Gomez and Kristi Young. Raul, a newspaper owner, is consistently coming up with ideas for the HPR’s readership. This was one that stuck, a fashion show with people from the area, mixing elements of what has made our young culture great, but first he needed a little help from someone in the biz. If you haven’t meet Kristi I am sure you have seen her, she’s the gal running around the downtown with a pair of hairs shears in one hand, phone in the other covered in hair dye trying to figure out where she parked her car. This is definitely a match made in hell but isn’t that what makes life fun?

There are, of course, more than two people involved; it’s about young people in the area, showcasing their talent. First we have the designers, a group of people making fashion in our own city. It is not often enough that we get to see what these people are doing, and this is the perfect stage for them, talented young designers like James Bergman of NDSU and Lisa Donahue of MSUM.

Then, the hairstylists, and we sometimes don’t thank them enough for making us look good. Now, don’t expect a haircut that you would see on yourself—I think they are going to go for something a little more progressive. I’m talking about Lea Pea, Kristi Young, Ben Holtz, Kristen Berg, Gabe Rheault, Lisa Weaver and others. I am also assuming that they will be providing make-up which brings me to the next group.

The models, well, last time they were too young for me, and now I am older so I am sure I still don’t have a chance, but that is not what this about, it’s about the fashions and beautiful people; and don’t forget the drag queens Janessa, Jaye Champagne, and Kelly.

Last but not forgotten is the thing that makes this special, the musicians. This is the thing that sets this apart from the rest, live music, live entertainment. Most of these groups are regulars on the Fargo’s music circuit. I’m talking about DJs Guy Jean, Joyride and TNT; bands like Empire Builders and Blue Fairy Godmothers.

Now if you are one of people who has never been to a event like this before why don’t you give it a try? Valentines Day was created by the card companys, so this year scrap the box of chocolates and grab the better half and take her or him out for a unique evening, and hey, you might even get lucky and not have to go to work the next day.