While the temperature was in the high 90s yesterday, 4,000 people still managed to arrive at the American Ambassador's Residence to help celebrate the 4th of July.  See the residence in the background? See the four guys with cameras on the Widow's Walk?  See one of four drinks tent?  These tents were positioned around the grounds along with a Sweets Tent, two Meat Tents and Two Seafood/Vegetarian tents.  

It was a great party and I was so lucky to be invited.  We found a table under the huge central tent and never let our table be abandoned.  As you can imagine, seating for 4,000 people is not possible so chairs, especially in the shade, were a precious commodity.  

The menu?  Glad you asked.  What do you feed all those people who are there between 4 - 7 PM (peak hunger time)?  Seafood & Vegetarian:  Cod sliders, BBQ shrimp on sticks, salads (potato, cucumber, leafy greens, bean, etc etc), bags of Lays chips.  Meat:  Beef burger sliders, pulled pork, chicken fingers and dipping sauces, three salads and, of course, bags of Lays chips and munchies.  Sweets:  Lemon slices, watermelon sorbet, grapes/strawberries and cherries on the fruit table along with cheese, and a huge table with enough cupcakes to make the American flag.  

What did people wear?  Men were in everything from business casual to full suits (where the jackets were removed once the heat of the day became overwhelming).  Of course there were uniforms galore - Marines, pipers in full Scottish regalia, RCMP officers in the red serge and in the daily uniform, city policy, security guards and a number of G Men in dark suits with the ear pieces and that little coil dropping down from their ears.    

Women wore dresses and skirts, for the most part.  My friend from Florida asked me why Canadian women all seem to wear dresses and skirts (more than Americans).  Ponder, ponder.  I said it was because we wear nothing but pants for the whole winter and that come summer the dresses come out.  It may also be because we see so many British garden party events and emulate that attire.  There were a lot of hats but because it was so hot, not as many as you would expect.  I got severe neck pain from turning my head and gawking for three hours.  Of course there were women in uniforms as well. 

Special mentions:  To the sponsors of the event and  to the Nepean Jazz band (plus the other band and the pipers).  A huge kudos to the RCMP officer who sang both National Anthems.  He had a fabulous voice and had most of us joining in to celebrate the two nations.  

So - Thank you Ambassador David and Mrs. Jacobson.  It was a good party.