ER

Young-at-heart Estonians and friends celebrated the advent of the New Year with great conviviality at the second annual New Year's Eve dance organized by the Montreal Estonian Society.

About 70 people danced the night away to the lively music of Craig Morrison and his band, Vintage Wine, ushering in the New Year with champagne, streamers, noisemakers and much merriment.

The evening got under way at 8 p.m. with an excellent buffet of traditional Estonian foods catered by the Kaljuste sisters. With refreshments in plentiful supply, and the Town of Mount Royal hall beautifully decorated for the occasion by the organizing committee, the ambiance persuaded even the most reluctant husbands to get out on the dance floor. Many of them were still waiting for yet another tango when the band packed up at 2 a.m.

A particular highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance of the band Expression (a.k.a. The Rolling Estonians). The four musicians, Karl J. Raudsepp, Juhan Leemet, Erik Teose and Raoul Langvee, joined for the occasion by Jeff Fisher, and Craig Morrison, had not played together since their big outdoor concert at Lättemäe in 2001. With three of the group back in town for the first time since then, they were persuaded to play an impromptu set which they did to everyone's great pleasure.

It is to be hoped that this event, which has only gotten better each year, will continue to be a major part of the MES program. Special thanks goes to Kersti Leetmaa as the head of the organizing committee for this event.

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