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Arts & Entertainment

Fancy That: A Valentine's Day Soiree

Fans of the children's book "Fancy Nancy" celebrated their love of all things fancy.

Tutus, feather boas and tiaras adorned the crowd of "Fancy Nancy" fans happily streaming into the Parent Resource Center on Valentine's Day. The "think pink" set was resplendent in finery modeled after children's book-heroine Nancy who lives (and dresses!) with a "more is more" motto.

The "Fancy Nancy Valentine's Soiree" was organized by Paula Gottleib Herman, chef and owner of LilChefs.com Special Events, which specializes in children's cooking parties.

With welcoming cries of "bonjour, bonjour," Chef Herman ushered in the 31 girls and their moms, along with a stray dad or two, for what was billed as a "posh" tea party.

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"I have a fascination with Fancy Nancy," Herman said. "She has such a big vocabulary. It's such a powerful image for children."

The two-hour event included a book reading, tea party buffet, and Valentine's craft session. Participants were encouraged to "dress to impress."

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And impress they did. Five-year-old Jasmine Roldan clad in a tutu, sparkly butterfly wings and pink satin ballet shoes had her long brown hair back and bedazzled with more than two-dozen sparkly hair clips. Little-sister Isabella and mom Andrea Kominski had equally ornamented hairdos.

"They accessorize every day," Kominski said with a laugh. "They're big 'Fancy Nancy' fans." Kominski and her daughters took home the prize for "fanciest" mother-daughter pair.

Dolphin Bookshop children's room manager Debbie Klein opened the event with a reading of "Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart," a mystery tale of a Valentine's secret admirer. "The series is very popular," Klein said. "They come in the store and fly out. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories are simple and sweet."

Herman used Nancy's love of lavish wordplay to teach the participants some culinary terms including croissant, brioche, crudités and petit four.

"I was an English lit major," Herman explained. "And I love children's books that teach valuable, wonderful lessons like a love of cooking, a love of food, of literature.  It's unbeatable."

Dolphin Bookshop sold Fancy Nancy books at the event, as well as puzzles, games and dress up items. Local accessories-seller Bunnabows.com was also on hand selling extravagant hair accessories, jewelry, doll clothes and Fancy Nancy pillows.

All participants received goody bags with feather boas, tiaras, sunglasses and a certificate of achievement for "having fun and completing posh workshops in fancy foods, sublime crafts and the art of accessorizing."

Throughout the event, mother-daughter duos cuddled and hugged, enjoying a few hours of bonding.

"It's fun to be girly," said mom Susan Tyler of Smithtown, who was at the event with her five-year-old daughter Julia. "It's fun to indulge in all this together. We don't get to do it often."

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