7:20 p.m.
With pink feathers littering the floor and music pumping in the downstairs ballroom, one popular stop is the bar serving up Pearl Lounge’s winning Divatini.
The cocktail, known as Mr. Big’s Revenge, is a mix of Doublecross vodka, blueberry and blackberry puree, chai-infused agave nectar, prosecco and fresh sour foam. The drink beat out three other finalists in the Portland Press Herald’s Divatini Challenge held Sept. 17.
“It’s fruity and just sweet enough,” said Liz Brown of Portland.
Her friend Mary Holmes of Freeport added that “you can’t just have one.”
Anyone else who wants to try the cocktail can hit up Pearl Lounge at 444 Fore St. in the Old Port during the Dash of Diva after party. It starts at 10 p.m. and features dance music spun by DJ Verbatim.
7:07 p.m.
The room went wild with applause as five women were awarded this year’s Divas Who Dare awards.
The first diva honored was Julie Marchese of Cumberland, who founded the Tri for a Cure. Marchese wasn’t at the event because she was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and her sister Jill Kelly accepted the award on her behalf.
Laurie Secord of Westbrook was the second diva honored for her commitment to health in loosing 146 pounds in a year and dropping from 335 pounds to 190 pounds.
The next woman honored was Joan Houghton of Yarmouth, who has been a powerful advocate for the mentally ill for the past 30 years.
The final women honored were mother and daughter Brenda and Jordan Emerson of Windham, who spend a lot of time together since Jordan suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Also honored were semifinalists Pam Giese of South Portland, Hannah Friedman of Portland, Julie Fournier of Scarborough, Anne Houle of Portland and Jo Dill of Lyman.
5:57 p.m.
Inside the tasting room, divas pay $5 to sample drinks. Pinnacle Vodka is offering mini cocktails in Choco Whipped, Whippit and Chocolate Covered Cherry varieties. Also on tap in the tasting room are bottles of Bacardi Sangria, Select 55, Bu Light Lime and Shock Top.
“The chocolate Pinnacle was amazing,” said Sarah Thompson of Jefferson, adding that she plans to pick some up for Halloween.
“I’m having a great time,” Thompson said.
Ahead of the 5:30 p.m. general admission opening, the lobby was packed with waiting divas. Inside the ballroom divas get massages, try exercise equipment and receive makeovers.
Tiaras covered in bling are the headgear of choice. The tiaras are being handed out by Nicole L. Lorenzatti, Esq.
At last year’s event, Lorenzatti handed out pink boas that were so popular the Portland Press Herald decided to give them out in the gift bags this year.
So why did Lorenzatti decide to give out tiaras?
“Because we always give our clients the royal treatment,” Lorenzatti said.
5:13 p.m.
When the doors opened at 4:30 p.m. for the Very Important Diva reception, 500 women rushed through the doors. They quickly donned pink boas given out in the gift bags and headed into the two ballrooms to check out the vendors, listen to live music and order drinks.
On the stage in the upper ballroom, emcees Eva Matteson and Jon Armond, who host the Coast 93.1 morning show, welcomed the divas and introduced soul group the Kenya Hall Band.
“I was surprised by how many women are in need of a night out,” Matteson said. “It’s fun to put on big girls clothes and make-up.”
Matteson was clutching a red bra, which she intended to donate at the Athena’s Home Novelty Party booth. The vendor hosts home parties, where women can check out and buy sex toys.
Melissa Bornmann, who is an independent consultant for Athena’s, said she is attempting to collect 169,000 bras.
“We’re going to try to break the Guinness record for the number of bras hooked together,” Bornmann said.
Bornmann will accept donated bras through October 2011.
4:19 p.m.
A hundred vendors offering everything from jewelry and clothes to handbags and gardening supplies fill two floors at the Holiday Inn by the Bay and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of thousands of divas.
“We were here last year and we had fun,” said Vicki Hopkins, who is an independent consultant for Tupperware and is staffing a colorful booth filled with plastic storage solutions with Pam Garland.
Melissa Turner, an independent consultant for The Pampered Chef, recently moved to the area and decided to rent a vendor booth “to get our name out there.”
“I’ve heard there are going to be 2,000 people here so I’m excited to see them,” Turner said.
Nearby, presenting sponsor Hannaford has a huge booth filled with fresh fruit, chocolate bars and bottled water.
“We’re expecting a wild evening with some fabulous ladies,” said Tap Fitzgerald of Hannaford. “It was a fun event last year. I think it’s a little better organized this year. Since it’s spread between two floors, I think it will make it easier for people to get around.”
4:08 p.m.
An hour before Dash of Diva: Girls Night Out opens with a Very Important Diva reception, a line of fashionable women is snaking its way outside the Holiday Inn by the Bay. The event, sponsored by the Portland Press Herald, expects a full house of more than 2,000 divas, who will enjoy live music, fashion shows, wine, beer and spirits tastings and two floors of vendors.
Diane Day of Porter, who is standing at the head of the line with eight friends, said “we heard there were long lines last year” when asked why they showed up early.
Noting that others were standing on the sidewalk in the wind while she and her friends were inside, Jen Cummings of Baldwin, said “We got here early because we didn’t want to stand outside.”
The reception begins at 4:30 p.m. and the doors open for general admission ticket holders at 5:30 p.m.
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