On the Town: Tea party is elegant backdrop for show of thrifty fashions
Members of Assistance League of Glendale created a quaint afternoon with their recent “A Garden Party Tea” inside their historic clubhouse.
A reception started on the sunny garden patio and then everyone gathered in the main meeting room, where there were tables with exquisite tablecloths, napkins and teapots, along with dainty cups and saucers.
On the menu were lovely tea sandwiches brimming with every filling one could imagine — watercress, egg salad, cucumber, chicken and ham salads and this reporter’s favorite, cream cheese and pineapple on sweet raisin bread. Divine!
Dessert trays offered a heavenly selection of cranberry bars, lemon squares and scones with accompanying Devonshire cream, lemon curd or jam. But the chewy chocolate brownies and fudge rallied the most raves.
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President Mary Lo Follett welcomed those attending. Tea chair Sue McGrew guided the committee with help from co-treasurers Kathy Prosser and Anne Wilson, reservations and art director Sylvia Kowal and garden hosts Michael Martin and Roger Thisdel.
Following the scrumptious repast, several members modeled clothing from the group’s Thrift Alley. They had scoured the thrift store for clothes they wanted to model and completed their looks with accessories. Outfits totaled between $20 and $60.
Karen Millman was moderator, assisted by Rita Turkmany. Models were Art Director Kowal, Judy Cabrera, Wendy Constantine, Tamara Hughes, Jean Meza-Sosa, Judy Rogers and Maureen Whitaker.
Bea Wojtyla added her usual comic relief. She had layered two bathrobes over a nightgown and slowly revealed each after a spin around the room, evoking peals of laughter.
Also on the tea committee were Lana Andrews, Donna Franklin, Rayma Halloran, Margaret Hammond, Rouby Hardy, Clay Kempson, Barbara Mastro, Rosario Martin, Mary McVay, Leni Richardson, Pat Spencer, Sunny Wheeler, Linelle Vincenti and Lesha Zakari.
Member Mary Margaret Smith was the envy of all showing off an ebony fascinator her mother had purchased at Webb’s, Glendale’s first department store.
Guild takes virtual trip to London
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Guild provided guests the next best thing to going abroad during its recent luncheon fashion show at the Sheraton Universal Grand Ballroom.
In her welcome to “Passport to London” Julie McArdle, guild president, pointed out that the benefits of taking a virtual trip are no security lines, no packing and no jet lag.
The more than 350 guests also enjoyed perusing several boutique vendors offering colorful cruise wear, jewelry and handbags, bidding on the silent auction and posing for souvenir photos.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Cusumano Family Neuroscience Outpatient Center at the medical center. The main tour guide was director Kathleen Marsden, who was assisted by co-director Maureen Walsh of Glendale and adviser Donna Mahoney.
Master of ceremonies was George Pennacchio, entertainment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Celebrity models were medical center executives, including interim chief executive Kerry Carmody, who had the honor of strolling with Romeo, an 8-year-old, fluffy white Great Pyrenees owned by Providence nurse Ann Valladares.
Lucinda Miedema, fashion director of Couture Productions, combined a show of fashions from Lourdes Chavez Couture Collection.
Attending from Glendale were Wanda Bistagne, Gael Davitt, Marcy Kalish and Louise Peebles.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.