Beloved Provincetown resident Ilona Royce Smithkin turned 100 on March 27. And no pandemic could deter her neighbors from celebrating her in style—serenading her, socially distanced between each other and beneath her balcony, from the harbor beach.
A true Provincetown spirit, Ilona—an artist, fashion icon, cabaret singer, author and art teacher—famously split her time between the Cape tip town and New York City, where she kept a studio above the Russian Tea Room, according to her webpage, Ilona and Friends.
Said another P’town treasure, singer Zoë Lewis, on her Facebook page: “ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET, TODAY IS AN AMAZING DAY!!! Exactly 100 years ago ILONA ROYCE-SMITHKIN was born. Happy Birthday most marvelous, beautiful, magical lady!!!! You make everything alright! Thank you for being a light in my life and for touching so many people’s hearts!”
Capturing the festivities was P’town photographer David A. Cox, among whose specialties are his stunning drone videos. Cox documented the occasion in a video featured and hosted by the fabulous Zoë, who also performs “Eyelashes,” a tune she created especially for Ilona. You can watch it here on Cox’s Droning Provincetown Facebook page.
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