Enlighten Up!
Garden District Glow
Sold-out! Special words for a special neighborhood night. They applied to the recent Garden District Association Fall Affair, which unfolded in several iterations at Commander’s Palace. The Benefactor’s Cocktail Party ran from 6-7 p.m., followed by the supporters, who socialized for a half hour, and the culminating seated dinner. The sold-out crowd was seated in the Main Dining Room, the Garden Room, and the newly renovated Parlor. The initial togetherness was outside in the patio, where attendees sipped the welcome cocktail, Autumn Harvest, and turned an ear to the lively music of Joe Simon Jazz. “Smile” was an early number and a tone-setter.
Headliners were Fall Affair co-chairs Michele Reynoir, and Ann and Jim Geary, who rated thanks galore, along with Commander’s cohorts Dottie Brennan, Lally Brennan, Ti Martin and chef Meg Bickford. Garden District resident Pam Georges, whose floral shop, pameladennis, is a block away in The Rink, did the flowers.
Noted, too were GDA President Andrea St. Paul Bland, who chairs the Profiles in Preservation Project, and husband David Bland, as well as Jackie and Richard Yancey, Beth and Hugh Lambert, Jim Perrier and Jim Ashbee, Lauren and George Brower, Katie and Frank Darden, and Susu and Andrew Stall with their daughter and son-in-law Lindsay and Peter Falconer, who are new Garden District residents. The Gearys’ niece, Kelly Gillin and her husband, Patrick Gillin, made rounds, too. They’ve moved to the Garden District from Chicago.
Others were association vice president Andy Braun with Joy, Christina and John Fay, Robin Staudinger and Matt Williamson, Jane and Henry Casselli, Liz and Terry Creel, Janet and Thomas Favrot, Carolyn and Brian Fitzpatrick, Elaine and Douglas Grundmeyer, Janet and Scott Howard, Mathilde Leary and Bill Penick, Lynne Stern, and a hundred or so more, including Jennifer and John Rareshide, who co-chaired the 2024 event with Sarah and Marshall Hevron, and Ellie Sanders.
Some of the hearty conversation concerned the forthcoming coffee-table book, “New Orleans Garden District Profiles in Preservation,” which is scheduled for release in early December. (Christmas/holiday presents, anyone?) A long-term project of the Garden District Association, the book is a compilation of 100 homes in the district, complete with old and current photos. The program includes bronze markers (plaques) that have been placed in front of these homes. Especially involved with the project are Laura Moise (joined at the dinner by spouse Ed), photographer David Spielman, and GDA executive director Shelley Landrieu, project coordinator.
On to the tables it was at 7:30 where GDA guests admired the centerpieces of roses, hydrangeas and chamomile (also camomile) as they savored the chef Bickford dinner of blue crab and butternut squash bisque, cochon de lait osso buco, and salted brown butter corn cake, accompanied by appropriate wines. According to a Fall Affair principal, “The tables were full, the crowd was loud and a good time was had by all.”
Light Levity
To benefit Lighthouse Louisiana’s 110-year mission of empowering individuals with disabilities, Soirée de Lumière held forth festively in the Audubon Tea Room on a Thursday evening. Hooray! It was sold-out. The top sponsor category, Gold, included the Goldring Family Foundation, Huhtamaki, and the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, while the Silver Sponsors were Otto Candies, LLC and Victory Packaging. Tia and Jimmy Roddy figured as individuals in the Bronze listing.
More top names to know – and several faces to note at the gala – were Lighthouse Louisiana Board Chair Cameron Currie (attending with spouse Abby), vice chair Connie Bellone (with Michael), secretary Ed Stauss, and treasurer Keith McCulloch, as well as board members Celeste Eustis (with Curtis), Katie Lasky, Dr. Megan Majoue (with Garrett), Tamra Manfredo, Pastor Gregory Manning, Mercedes Montagnes, Hayden Presley, Glenda Spears, Dr. Seema Walia, Dr. Duronne Walker, and Peter Waring.
Guests entered the Audubon Tea Room through purple uplighting before stepping into a ballroom glowing in warm amber. Tables dressed with rich purple Bella crepe linens featured tall, gold-accented centerpieces with sparkling crystals, oversize lamplights and soft candlelight. Gold trees with hanging crystal orbs and towering Titanic vases with curly willow added height and visual drama, while the Lighthouse logo, “Be the Light,” was projected on a wall. Fancy Faces Décor and Insight Events provided the stunning look.
Special features, and there were numerous, included the auction action. Businesses from across New Orleans and Baton Rouge gave to the 45-items silent auction, while, in the live segment, a seven-day trip for eight people to France’s Burgundy region had Jane and Kerry Drake as the beaming top bidders. Elsewhere, the “I’ve Been Framed” color photo booth provided souvenirs.
Dickie Brennan & Company purveyed. During the first hour, guests enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The seated-dinner featured salad, braised short ribs and lobster mac & cheese, and Bananas Foster bread pudding. Choice wines, too.
Noted also were Maleen and George Dickinson, Earline and Eli Bradley, Evie and Keith Katz, Donna and Jack Little, Blair Monroe and David Perryman, and Julia and C.J. Tessitore. From LL came president and CEO Dee Budgewater, COO Jenice Heck with mom Joan Daigle, and CFO Paul Bernard with Angie Picou. As the evening ensued, the Lighthouse lot took to the floor for the music of Groovy 7 and their energetic mix of celebratory sounds.
Celebrating Two Centuries
The Historic New Orleans Collection extended invitations to commemorate over “two centuries of courage, progress, and the people who shaped our history at Héritage de la Liberté, the 2025 Bienville Circle & Laussat Society Gala.” The venue was the historic Garden District home of Erika and Ted Elliott.
Among the many relishing the inside-outside party flow were Ted’s mother, Pam, as well as Circle/Society chair Lisa Wilson with Peter, HNOC Board president Bonnie Boyd with John, state Rep. Michael Bayham Jr., Terry and Lynette Dufrene, Emilie Rhys and Denny Ebersole, Ann and Tony Fuselier, Tia and Jimmy Roddy, David Schulingkamp, Virginia Weinmann with daughter-in-law Beibei, Vivian and Richard Cahn, Patricia and Ralph Cox, Marshall Hevron with parents John and Mary-Margaret, Diane and Andrew Plauche, Brobson Lutz and Kenneth Combs, Michelle and Jason Leckert, and HNOC President and CEO Daniel Hammer with Klara.
Party delights included Urban Earth’s florals; Ralph Brennan Catering & Events and their passed appetizers and buffet array of salad, Creole daube, Gulf fish, and apple tart; and entertainment by pianist Paul Weber, and the band, Pardon My French.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
