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Hats Homage
Higgins enjoyed double play — and headwear galore — when the Women’s Guild of the New Orleans Opera Association held its 40th annual Mad Hatter’s Luncheon. The site was the Higgins Hotel, part of the National WWII Museum complex. But a cherished character of literary and musical lore added his underlining presence: phonetics professor Henry Higgins. The theme for the recent luncheon was “Welcome to My Fair Hatter 40,” as a tribute to the musical and movie of “My Fair Lady.” We all remember how Professor Higgins made a swan out of the scalawag Eliza Doolittle.
Subtitled “Where Wonderland meets Covent Garden,” the midday fun fused the Alice in Wonderland story with that of the Pygmalion tale as the Mad Hatter hobnobbing stepped into a world of whimsy and elegance. The top sponsors were Angel Wings Foundation, Chico’s FAS, and Krewe Eyewear. Torry Jacob Dean, attending with husband Derrick, chaired the event that included as mastheaders Women’s Guild President Kathleen Robert and Emmet Geary Jr., president of the New Orleans Opera Association. Chairing various committees were Mary Anderson, Michelle Chase, Rebeccka Coe (hat co-chair), Constance Cowart Young, Centrell Alfred Ewell, Joanne Mantis (hat co-chair), Susan Garic Mitchell (auction) and Kim Navarre. The committee members were Cherry Bordelon, Amy Carbonette Cioll, Sonya David, Marlene Duronslet, Deborah Fagan, Erin O’Sullivan Fleming, Michele Goldfarb, Melissa Gordon, Karen Milanese, Natasha Muller and Nancy Watts.
Special thanks tapped the above committee and chairs, along with the Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Bryan Batt, Terrance Osborne, Dianne Honoré, Gina Swanson (WDSU News anchor, mistress of ceremonies), Bruce Bailey, and The Pioneers. Always a costumed delight, the Opera supporters portraying Alice in Wonderland characters were Dr. Ranney Mize, the Mad Hatter; Norma Jean McClain, Alice; Amy Cioll and Erin Fleming as, in turn, the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit; and Margarita Bergen, Caterpillar.
Bryan, Terrance and Dianne teamed to judge the Hat Contest, which dubbed as winners Laurie Oliphant, Most Beautiful; Brian Monk, Most Unique; Sarah Ruth Bernard, Most Whimsical; Gerri Valene, Best Ensemble; Cherry Bordelon, Best Original Theme; and Graziella de Ayerdi, Claudia Ginty, Francesca Velasco and Jackie Heitman, Best Group. Hatted huzzahs!
More features were the silent auction; the fashion show presented by White House| Black Market, Chico’s, Soma and Krewe; the for-purchase centerpieces that were beribboned in the black and white stripes of Eliza’s memorable Royal Ascot hat; chic hats and fascinators for sale; the guests’ attire and chapeaux; and such palate pleasers as mixed greens salad, blackened Gulf fish, and a mini bourbon bread pudding.
Also noted at the “40” festivity were Lisa Leone and Peter Brigandi, Sonya Moore, Elizabeth Landis, Emel Mize and scores more who made “My Fair Hatter” a heady affair.
Tried and Blue
“Saturday Knight Lights” bannered the Stuart Hall School for Boys fundraiser that was presented by Manning Family Children’s LCMC Health and featured the school’s colors of blue and gray. “Knights” is the school’s mascot name. Mother Nature obliged most fittingly for the outdoors partying on the DeBlieux Yard and Benson Leadership Field that included head of school Peter Kernion and auction co-chairs Ashby Navarro and Sarah Powell. Joining and supporting them were a number of kin and kith.
A patron party kicked off the “Lights” levity. It featured Ochsner Health as the presenting force, Touchdown Sponsor; cuisine by Robért Fresh Market; music provided by members of NWB and friends; and Marcelle Connick, Jen Gilly and Logan Senior as the Tailgate Party and patron party co-chairs. The planning forces winked at a specific dress code, scripting “Tailgate attire, anything goes!” on the invitation.
Sponsors were numerous and included as individual ones, families or couples, The Morstead Family, Rae and Joe Dempsey, the Geary and Navarro Families (Ann and Jim & Ashby and Al), Sarah and Kevin Gennusa, Felicia Blanchard and Robert Boggio, Skye and Matthew Fantaci, Margaret and Cliffe Laborde, Lauren and Jordan Eagan & Sarah and Zak Fanberg, and Ren Goodwin ’28.
The auction portion of the bash got underway at 7:30 p.m. with an open bar provided by Crescent Crown Distributing & Diageo, and entertainment by DJ Brett. Lending helping hands were the sub-committee chairs: Anne Angelico, Nikki Broussard, Meredith Claiborne, Claire Coons, Paige Culotta Grob, Skye Fantaci, Christina Fritchie, Sarah Gennusa, Kelli Leithead, D’Ann Perez, Amy Rougelot and Rachel Turnage. Gratitude to the many was extensive.
Blue was the dominant color, appearing in lots of the outfits and the décor, such as the Adirondack chairs, tenting, the cute Sweet Treats stand (with a blue-and-white striped awning), the markers that credited and thanked donors, and the bullhorn centerpieces that contained sparkly pompoms. A special feature was the Lombardi (Trophy) Ice Sculpture by J. Lewis Ice Carvings.
During the course of the evening, the social drift was indoors, where bidding on the extensive auction became big business. Earlier in the socializing, a song symbolic for its title set the stage for all that was to follow. It was “Such a Night.”
Three Score
The UNO Performing Arts Building’s Recital Hall and second-floor party room housed harmonious hobnobbing, when the Metairie Music Club celebrated its 60th anniversary, theming it “Music…Journey through Emotion.” The decorative colors were blue and gold with yellow roses for past presidents. Centering the buffet table was a multicolored floral arrangement. Gem Printing Co. printed the anniversary cups and club president Debbie Federer designed the program.
During the formalities, president Debbie thanked the anniversary committee that included herself, as well as Margarita Harvey, Kristin White, Mary Monsted, Helena Midkiff and Diana Cangemi, and then joined Kristin White, MMC poetry chairman, to recognize Jeri Landry for her poetry presentations at meetings for 25 years. Among the additional program principals (including those on the committee) were Diana Cangemi, who played Irving Berlin hits for the members to sing; treasurer Mark Vile with spouse Irene; Dr. Mary Anderson, who displayed the Melodears Yard Flag; website designer Evan Arceneaux; and choral director Megan Dearie and Czech accompanist Mirka Jichova for a program showcasing the UNO Chorus that included several folk songs composed by Jichova.
Enjoying sandwich and fruit platters from Canseco’s and the personalized blue and gold cake from Rouse’s were the aforementioned; National Federation of Music Clubs Secretary and MMC Festival Chairman Melanie Perez; Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs President Margarita Harvey and husband Kim, LFMC treasurer; Joan Kittock; and past MMC presidents Irene Vile, Diana Cangemi, Sheila Schwartzmann, Iris Villarrubia, Lo Ann Menzel, Bonnie Knowles and Mary Monsted. Note-worthy, all.
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