On the Town: Guild hosts a tea and takes applications; Glendale Arts holds “Pop Up!” concert

It was like a mecca to Lourdes. Eighty members and guests of the Cabrini Literary Guild made the trip up the mountain in North Glendale to gather at the Deermont Road home of Pira Sadeghi. Last Thursday marked the group’s Annual Membership Tea. Since its founding in 1943, the guild is known for assisting Catholic and charitable organizations.

But fundraising wasn’t on the agenda this afternoon. The tea focused on introducing 19 potential new recruits to members and the activities of the guild. Leading the charge was guild President Miryam Finkelberg. Following Finkelberg’s welcome, Sister Regina Palamara offered the invocation. (Sister Palamara’s guest was her sister, Mikie DiMatteo, from Studio City.)

Members of the Book Club, one of four guild departments, organized the tea. Party favors and table decorations were colorful bookmarks. Club curator Mary Natalizio was in charge of the literary theme. Natalizio was also hostess to her guest, News-Press columnist Katherine Yamada. Membership Director Helen Misik was quick to give Yamada a guild application.

Tea gave way to lemonade on the hot afternoon. But a myriad of tea sandwiches and sweets filled tummies. All was lovingly prepared by member Marie Urrutia. Urrutia honed her food preparation skills through the Culinary Arts Department of Glendale Community College.

The afternoon’s program introduced current guild officers present. Supporting Finkelberg are 1st Vice President Laurie Leask, Recording Secretary Brenda Lantiera, Treasurer Maureen Walsh and Literary Awards Director Monica Sierra. (The guild gives financial awards to student essay winners from 50 Catholic high schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.)

At the end of the program, member curators introduced the guild’s four departments — the Book Club, Bridge Club, Philosophy and “Better Living, Busy Fingers.” Members may join as many departments as they want.

During the last fiscal year, the guild donated $15,335 to a number of Glendale organizations including the Glendale YWCA’s Shelter for Women, Ascencia’s Homeless Shelter and the Glendale Public Library’s Adult Literary Program.

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On what was arguably the hottest day of the year, last Wednesday, a little more than a dozen hardy music lovers gathered in the courtyard between the 400 and 450 N. Brand Blvd. high-rise office buildings. Glendale Arts provided the musicians, nearby employees provided their lunches. Munching and chatting was a soft counterpoint to the Brazilian Latin jazz wafting over tables with their welcome umbrellas. Guitarist Joao Mourao was joined by singer Caro Pierotto whose Portuguese was flawless.

A friendly group of Cigna employees from a neighboring building shared a table. The concert was the second in Glendale Arts’ “Pop Up!” Summer Concert series. Each concert begins at 11:00 am and ends at 1:00 p.m. The Cigna crowd attended the first concert and this second one.

The Cigna seven were Nicolle Collins, Nancy Martinez, Maria Mancilla, Laura Rodriguez, Roxanne Munoz, Norma Perez and cousin Esteban Perez. All plan to attend the remaining three concerts.

Glendale Arts Chief Executive Elissa Glickman dropped by to see if the scant breeze was comfortable enough to hold a staff meeting in the courtyard. Staffers decided it was the perfect venue.

The remaining midday concerts are today, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30.

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RUTH SOWBY RANDS may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.