On the Town: High tea, low fashion prices, big hats

The Queen of England has nothing on Glendale’s Assistance League. The League created high tea in its Chapter House on April 17. Members and guests, all looking like very queenly, were encouraged to wear hats to tea. All that was missing were the white gloves and fascinators. Event Chairman Mary McVay royally conducted her Tea Committee to put on one of the League’s most popular events of the year, the Queen’s Jubilee Tea.

Other event chairmen were Mary Lo Follett, in charge of reservations; Anne Wilson, who as treasurer, handled the $20 admission fees; Sylvia Kowal crafted the place card calligraphy; Sally Benson made the 22 centerpieces of spring flowers and Margaret Hammond (chapeau and all) played traffic cop in the parking lot.

Tea sandwiches, fruit tarts and tea in delicate teapots with porcelain cups and saucers to match was served. Mary Margaret Smith brought her own tea set for her table. After tea, a fashion show of clothes from the League’s Thrift Alley were modeled. And the price tags were strictly low class.

League member models dolled up to show that, yes, you could dress like a queen for a few pounds, shillings or pence. A soft ivory shell from Chico’s, for instance, could be purchased at Thrift Alley for $3.

In fact, as soon as it was shed in the models’ dressing room, the shell was snapped up by an enthusiastic customer. Also available were Kate Spade shoes going for a mere $25.

Each of the 10 member models walked the runway twice. Always the jokester, Bea Wojtyla showed off her very fashionable red tennis shoes on one of her turns.

But it was Smith who brought down the house. Just as her audience of 106 supporters thought that only her granny-like robe was on display, Smith stripped down to flowered, baby doll pajamas.

The pj’s well-covered all the necessities but showed off Smith’s glamorous gams.

Other models were League President Alma Tycer, Immediate Past President and Thrift Alley Chairman Jean Peacock and members Rita Burns, Carol Eldred, Lina Harper, Kowal, Betty Musacco and Pat Spencer.

Fashion show coordinator was Karen Millman. She worked with fashion commentator Marcie Haug and assistant Rita Turkmany.

Family groups present included Glendale resident and League member Ann Chadney with her aunt Ruth Scholla from La Crescenta. Longtime Glendale resident Dorothy Powell was there with daughter Shelly Powell-Detweiler from Laguna. Another pairing of mother and daughter were Glendale residents Ruth Moore and Karin Jonke.

The League’s Queen’s Jubilee Tea has been presented by the League for almost a decade. Don’t miss the next one.

Men walked from Glendale’s YWCA to City Hall and back. The idea was that men should “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to raise awareness of sexual violence against women. Thursday’s national event was given a local twist. It was sponsored by the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with the YWCA. Commission Chairman Paula Devine said that the walk was created by men for men. According to Devine, “Until men take the lead, we will never stop violence against women.” Joining Devine was “Sparky,” the mascot of the Los Angeles Sparks, the woman’s professional basketball team. Some of the players were also in present to raise awareness of violence against women.

In front of an audience of more than 150 supporters in the YWCA’s Regency Room, Lisa Raggio, YWCA Senior Director of Community Services, began her presentation by saying, “Every two minutes a woman is raped in the world. In the U.S., one out of six women are victims of domestic violence.”

On a far lighter note, Raggio introduced the VIPs present, including new Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero, Glendale Police Department Chief Ron De Pompa, Glendale Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins and Glendale Community College Chief of Police Gary Montecuollo. The VIPs led the walk — without high heels, but with a pink bow or two gracing athletic shoes. The first men to complete the walk were Scoggins, City Manager Scott Ochoa and Richard Dell.

Presentations at the YWCA followed the walk. Montecuollo, a father of two daughters, said “I wanted to join all of the attendees to support the YWCA’s efforts to educate and communicate that sexual abuse and domestic violence is never acceptable.”

The YWCA’s Domestic Violence Program sponsors a 24-hour Hotline for women and men who are victims of domestic violence.

They can be referred to shelters within the greater L.A. area by calling the hotline at (888) 999-7511.