On his deathbed, Oscar Wilde supposedly said, “Either this wallpaper goes or I do.” Demetre Karountzos is perfectly healthy, but he’s no less dramatic these says.
For 35 years Karountzos’s moustache has been a familiar sight around Creston. But on Jan. 31 he will look into a mirror and see his upper lip for the first time in a half-century. The moustache is coming off to raise funds for the Creston Valley Community Housing Society.
“What can I say?” said the Jimmy’s Pub and Grill chef. “It’s for a good cause!”
There is a catch, of course. Isn’t there always? Karountzos will put himself — and his upper lip — in the hands of a volunteer barber only if $1,000 can be raised for the Raise the Roof Campaign.
The drama unfolds on Jan. 31, when Jimmy’s Pub holds a $12 spaghetti dinner (all proceeds to the campaign) as a lead-up to The Great Stache Shave, which will reveal exactly what lies beneath the broom below his nose.
Organizers have set up the day to encourage families to participate. The spaghetti dinner will be served in the Creston Hotel banquet room, where people of all ages are welcome, from 4-6 p.m. Then, from 6-8 p.m. dinner will be served in Jimmy’s Pub. At 8 p.m. the razor comes out and the stache drops off. With a thud as it hits the floor, no doubt. Live music and a DJ will keep the joint hopping before and after the big event.
A big moustache and a big heart deserve a big crowd, and tickets are now on sale at the pub. Don’t miss your chance to witness a once-in-50-year event!