Around the Town by Patty Hill covers gardens, libraries, music

| June 27, 2013 | 0 Comments

The Garden Conservancy came to town on May 10. The national organization that works with visionary gardeners and community leaders to preserve some of the country’s most beloved flora began the day early at the Ebell of Los Angeles with a seminar on “The Splendor and Purpose of Persian Design.” An impressive array of lecturers included archaeologist and historian Patrick  Hunt; Islamic art and textile expert Walter Denny, landscape architect, Christy Edstrom O’Hara and California tile expert Cristi Walden. At tea time Suzanne Rheinstein hosted speakers and friends in the garden of her Windsor Blvd. home. Among those enjoying wine, teas and sandwiches were Joseph Merrick, Jennifer Fain, Suz Landay, Patty Lombard and the Garden Conservancy’s director of education, Jenny Andrews.

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AT ALEXANDRIA HOUSE. Michele McMullin, Maria Botham and Jackie Kruse.

AT ALEXANDRIA HOUSE. Michele McMullin, Maria Botham and Jackie Kruse.

Alexandria House’s fifth annual luncheon continued its series “WomenSpeak,” highlighting stories of significant women of our time. Attorney and religious leader Simone Campbell, organizer of “Nuns On The Bus” who delivered the unforgettable salvo on behalf of the Affordable Care Act at the 2012 Democratic Convention, wowed the sold-out event. Among the crowd who also dined on chicken breast and chocolate moose tortes were Catheryn Brockett, Barbara Marcus, Cynthia Comsky, Nicole Perkins, Cassie Nelson, Marion Plato, Pavlina Moskalykova, Michele McMullin, Jackie Kruse, Maria Botham, Cindy Chupack, Nancy Berlin, Alexandria House board chair Caroline Fitzgerald, and founder and director of Alexandria House, Judy Vaughan. Proceeds will provide funds for the organization’s successful transitional housing program for women and their children.

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City librarian of Los Angeles, John F. Szabo invited the Council of the Library Foundation to a special event at the Main Library in May.

LIBRARY event drew Janna Harris, City librarian John F. Szabo and  Jean Grant.

LIBRARY event drew Janna Harris, City librarian John F. Szabo and Jean Grant.

Members and their guests viewed rare treasures from a special collection of maps, botanical art and rare historic posters. Attendees moved next door for lunch to the California Club where Jil Baldauf, chairman of this year’s literary dinners, revealed plans for the up-coming series  to be hosted in private homes across Los Angeles, each featuring  an acclaimed author.

Attendees included  Council president Mary Beth Thomas, chairman Sharon Rising, Janna Harris and Central Library’s assistant vice president of advancement Jean Grant.

Music lovers gathered at the Lucerne Blvd. home of Robin and John Jameson for a concert featuring noted American violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn.

AT MUSICALE. John and Robin Jameson, Elizabeth Pitcairn and Devin Jameson.

AT MUSICALE. John and Robin Jameson, Elizabeth Pitcairn and Devin Jameson.

She was accompanied by virtuoso Louise Thomas on the hosts’ Steinway grand. Ms. Pitcairn is noted for having performed on the 1720 Red Mendelssohn Antonio Stradivari violin that inspired the film, “The Red Violin.”

Guests included  Christine Meyer, Amy Semmel and Paul Kelly and Amy’s mother Francine, Susanna and Peter Geddes and Pavlina Solo. Proceeds  will enable deserving and talented children to attend the Luzerne  Music Camp in upstate New York.

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BIRTHDAY BASH. Peggy Bartenetti, Tom LaBonge, Sister Alice Marie Quinn and Patricia Casado.

BIRTHDAY BASH. Peggy Bartenetti, Tom LaBonge, Sister Alice Marie Quinn and Patricia Casado.

There are birthday parties, and then there are Birthday Parties. No one can preside over one so uniquely as St. Vincent Meals on Wheel’s Sister Alice Marie at Duff’s Cakes.  Each guest received a cake to decorate.

Daryl Twerdahl served champagne and Councilman Tom LaBonge presented Sister with her real   three-tiered birthday cake, embellished with the Meals on Wheels signatory angel’s wings.

Intent on their butter cream creations were  Gina Riberi, Cathie White and daughter Olivia, Gretchen Kasai and son Wylie, Marisa Wolf and daughter Julia, Kristin Tostado and daughter Chloe, Gwen Thanos, Patricia Casado, Carolyn Ramsey, Nelly Llanos and Brenda Cooke.

And that’s the chat! 

 

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Category: People

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