On the Town: Glendale Arts takes center stage in effort to preserve theater’s tower, starburst
The invitation read, “Join us at the Illuminate Dinner for a magical evening celebrating the Alex Theatre and its important place in the community’s history and landscape.”
For those who harbored a secret wish to be up on the Alex stage, their wish was granted on this past Saturday night.
Some 100 guests trod the boards in support of Glendale Arts, the Alex Theatre’s management company.
Instead of having to act, sing or dance, supporters merely had to enjoy a fabulous feast of duck confit and red wine-braised Angus beef short ribs, prepared by chef Sevon Abdessian.
Nary a line had to be memorized. sommelier Sean Van Straatum curated the wines for the dinner and auction. Van Straatum is the food and beverage director of the Oakmont Country Club.
Glasses of various wines filled the centers of small, circular tables on stage. Van Staatum orchestrated the wine tastings and food pairings and described them to guests.
Among Glendale residents attending were Toni and Vince Espinoza, chairman of Glendale Arts.
Other couples included Paula and Art Devine, Miryam and Lou Finkelberg, Mercy and Mike Velazquez, Debbie and Bruce Hinkley, and Karen and Mike Swan.
Others from Glendale included Liza Boubari, Denise Miller, Virginia Hatley and Susan Carr.
In 2015, Glendale Arts created the Illuminate fund for the repair, maintenance and preservation of the Alex marquee, tower and starburst. More than $100,000 has been raised to date.
To complete the project, $35,000 is needed. The goal is to complete the starburst by the Alex Theatre’s 95th birthday in September.
“Buildings are more than a simple design,” said Elissa Glickman, chief executive of Glendale Arts. “They are a snapshot of life and tell a story of significance. They are a reflection of our culture.”
The evening ended, not with bows from the cast, but with a dip into a selection of fancy desserts from Cocoa Noir Café.
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Founder’s Day at the Philanthropic Educational Organization’s Reciprocity Bureau brought out about 160 members and their guests to Glendale’s Glen Arden Club — a social club from the 1930s, newly rediscovered.
This past Saturday afternoon, organization members sipped, supped and socialized in the club’s ballroom.
Margie Jorgensen, the organization’s president, warmly welcomed her audience.
After the invocation, Peggy Smith announced organization members who passed away last year. Among those was Judith Ritchie, who had been active in the Glendale community for many years. Ritchie was a loyal member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization for 44 years.
Entertainment was provided by the Burbank-based Cleary Irish Dancers. Some enthusiastic audience members edged up to the stage to take photos of the young dancers.
Founder’s Day chair Je Tuttle gave a brief history of the organization that began 150 years ago as one chapter with seven members in one state to its present 5,800 chapters, representing more than 50,000 women in the United States and Canada.
Thirteen chapters are in the Glendale/Crescenta Valley area, with about 475 members.
The national organization has helped more than 109,000 women pursue their educational goals by providing almost $348 million in educational assistance.
Attorney Montessa Holt spoke about “[the organization’s] sisters, present and future.” Her take-home message was the importance of club participation.
“You don’t just throw money at it and never come to a meeting,” she said.
Among members attending who come to just about every meeting were Marilyn Butler, Nancy Dorhen, Pat Bauer, Leni Richardson and Robbie Carlton.
Lunch and opportunity drawings followed.
