Houston Girls House Party Creates a Four-Day Scene at Sundance

What: 14th Annual Ski Diva Weekend

Where: Schatzman home in Deer Valley, Utah

The scoop: Houstonian Rosemary Schatzman hosted 15 pals at her Utah vacation home for her annual “girls’ four-day house party.” Schatzman started the tradition in 2005 as a way to gather friends together during the first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival when the slopes are uncrowded as skiers flock to the movies.

Over the years the roster of invitees, who include Schatzman’s friends from all walks of her life, has remained largely the same, with a waitlist in case of cancellations. This year’s group included friends from Houston, Austin, Dallas and Philadelphia.

While most of the group are avid skiers, other activities include sunrise walks, hot tubbing, Sundance movies, shopping and people watching on Main Street, Opening Night dinner at Riverhorse on Main (Park City’s No, 1 restaurant) and Friday evening dinner in Café Terigo’s intimate private room overlooking Main Street (no small feat given the size of this exuberant group of femmes), and theme nights. The gathering kicked off with a Mardi Gras – Laissez les bons temps rouler–inspired dinner of chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp and sausage gumbo, tossed salad, home baked parmesan bread and a spectacular King Cake.

Guests dressed in appropriate New Orleanian/Mardi Gras purple, green and gold colors. In the past, themes have included  “Friendsgiving,” “Rosé All Day – Nikki Beach,” “Party like a Rock Star,” “Tailgating – Football,” “Downton Abbey,” “Rock the Casbah,” and “Caribbean.”  It is an informal house party with women sharing rooms, cooking and housekeeping duties. As Schatzman says, “Each year, we have more and more fun — it’s a fabulous experience spending quality time with each other.”

PC Seen: Houston members of the Ski Divas at this year’s weekend included Laura Davenport, Shelley Corman, Cyndi Baily, Pamela Walker, Mary Whalley, Cindy Dick, Marlene Jessurun, Vanessa Sendukas, Kari Walker, Amy Beasley and Betty Costantini, while Kelly Ehlmann, Christi Nicolay and Marge Patches jetted in from Dallas, Austin, and Philadelphia respectively.

Other guests at the Mardi Gras celebration included  Jane Howze, Carole Bilger, Heidi Heller, Lynda Irvine, Peggy Burck, and Jennie Beckham from Houston, local Park City resident Marny Schlopy, Deborah and Ashton Hill (Tampa) and Harriet Berg (NYC).