Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/404125
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 27 ASK AROUND THE CLUB and you're sure to hear the same thing over and over: The WAC's biggest party of the year is also Seattle's best, a must-do event where members new and old raise their glasses to the Club while dancing, gambling, and laughing the night away. Come for the Crystal Casino, the endless offerings of food and drink, the roving entertainment, or just because you're finally tired of hearing everyone else talk about how much fun they have. No matter your reason, Jubilee 85 will wrap you in a spirit of celebration from the moment you step inside. "Jubilee is the essence of the WAC," Vice President Club Programs Melissa Borders says. This time around that spirit will come forth even more. Every five years, the party puts a tighter focus on the Club's history. To mark the start of the WAC's 85th year, this December's Jubilee will center on a theme of celebration. Its official title—Jubilee 85: Cheers! Bring a date, come with friends, or meet new ones. It doesn't matter. This night has something for everyone. "The party begins right at the front door," Melissa says. "It's all about making people feel special, giving them whimsical surprises, and delivering the unexpected all night long." One of the most anticipated aspects of every Jubilee occurs early in the night when hundreds of attendees challenge the capacity limit of the Johnson Lobby Lounge to listen to the announcement of the annual Grand Prize winner. The luxury car raffle is a famed Jubilee tradition. Last year's winner, Ryan Niles, stood stunned when his name was called. "Everyone started high-fiving and hugging me," he recalls. Like many WAC members, Ryan first attended Jubilee in hopes of meeting other members. That was shortly after he joined the Club six years ago. "I thought it would be a good networking event," he recalls. When he realized how much fun the party was, he knew he had to keep coming back. The WAC's biggest party of the year is a black-tie affair where formal attire rules the night. Bring a date, come with friends, or meet new ones. It doesn ' t matter. This night has something for everyone.