A night of gaming, crooning and dame wooing!
Gamble our money, win great prizes and celebrate the memory of ol’ blue eyes and his Rat Pack.

Who’d say no to an invite like that! With hooch boots, halter tops and jagerbombs making up what would typically be someone’s ‘night on the town’ these days, an event like the Sinatra-inspired soirée I attended tonight is an exhilarating break from the monotony of everyday life. Thanks to our gracious host, Warner Bros., I got to spend a totally boss night with my main squeeze and we took a trip back to the fifties, when an evening out meant fancy dress, martinis, a little gambling, and all in good company.

Gone are the days when elbow-length gloves and tuxedos were the norm, but while I’d consider it a chore to have to primp like that just for a regular night out with friends, dolling myself up for this one time was an absolute treat (so concurs the Mister). Gotta admit though, that as we made our way down to Ginger 62 on Granville, I felt a bit ridiculous in my little black cocktail dress and my Bardot-esque updo. But that all changed when I stepped inside.

Were I not trying to hide my geekyness, I would have said it was like walking into a holodeck programmed for ‘1953 Casino.’ Ever wonder what it’s like to flaunt money? I think I got a little taste. It was refreshing to feel so classy for once rather than making a beeline for the bar, and with WB money in hand, we couldn’t wait to try out the blackjack and roulette tables. With the distinct croon of Sinatra setting the tone for the evening, a good time was had by all and I quickly felt at ease in my uncharacteristically formal attire. Ah, the high life…I think everyone should experience it every now and again. But since those mortgage payments and hydro bills have a tendency of putting a damper on things, there is a more vicarious way of peeking into this old lifestyle:

Tonight’s shindig was a reminder of the many times Frank Sinatra graced the big screen with classics like Ocean’s Eleven (the original) and On The Town. To celebrate its 85th anniversary, Warner Bros. Studios restored more than 50 of the industry’s most celebrated films and is releasing them in chunks every four months (or ‘quarters’). Tonight was all about the second quarter or Q2 – Sinatra and Dirty Harry, with a tribute to a man who has made a mark in entertainment history like no other.

I had a blast living the life that once was, and I don’t think I’m alone in that sentiment. There lies a certain fascination with this particular era and I think it’s because we associate it with such classiness and extravagance. Looking at the images that filled the lounge just made me want to jump in and be a part of it. For one night I did though, so there are no complaints here!

While a few people ended up pretty sauced, I don’t think Frankie would have had it any other way. “Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy,” he once said.

Rentin’ a few gaming tables and offering an open bar may be a tad outside your entertainment budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have just as much fun. Pick up a Frank Sinatra Collection, round up the gang, make it a black tie and after your own at-home screening, shake up some drinks and chill to some of ol’ blue eyes’ tunes. You won’t regret it.

The Warner Bros. Q2 Release:

2 New-To-DVD Frank Sinatra Box Sets: The Golden Years & The Early Years (in stores May 13)
* The Man with Golden Arm
* None But the Brave
* Some Came Running
* The Tender Trap
* Marriage on the Rocks
* Double Dynamite, Step Lively
* It Happened In Brooklyn
* The Kissing Bandit

New WHV 3-Film Box Set: Sinatra & Kelly Collection (in stores May 13)
* Take Me Out to the Ball Game
* On the Town
* Anchor’s Aweigh

New Rat Pack Ultimate Collector’s Edition (in stores May 13) with exclusive “first-run” stamps, a music CD, and rare collectibles
* Ocean’s Eleven
* 4 for Texas
* Robin and the 7 Hoods
* Sergeants 3

All five Dirty Harry films in an Ultimate Collector’s Edition (in stores June 3)
* Dirty Harry 2-Disc Special Edition (1971)
* Magnum Force Deluxe Edition (1973)
* The Enforcer Deluxe Edition (1976)
* Sudden Impact Deluxe Edition (1983)
* Dead Pool Deluxe Edition (1988)
* Bonus Disc Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows