Nell Nolan: Zoo To Do; National Council of Jewish Woman | Parties/Society
Wings!
Bash with Pollinators
Throngs fluttered for the festivity when the 44th yearly Hancock Whitney Zoo-To-Do focused on conservation initiatives. With the gala’s title “Party with Pollinators: Aid Audubon Zoo Blossom!” the role of the winged ones, bugs and birds — as perfectly as particular mammals — was appreciated and celebrated.
Additional than 3,000 attendees savored a memorable night of fine dining and dancing on the grounds of Audubon Zoo at a single of the city’s leading fundraisers. Hancock Whitney was the Title Sponsor Chevron, the Conservation Winner and LEXUS of New Orleans, sponsor of the Luxurious Car Raffle. Headliners bundled gala chair Holt E. Kolb with spouse Gordon “Gordo” Kolb Jr., Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman with partner Sally, and, as honorary chairmen Gayle Benson, Jonathan Brouk (symbolizing Children’s Healthcare facility New Orleans) and wife Allison, Dr. and Mrs. Willard L. Dumas Jr., and Liz Hefler (symbolizing Hancock Whitney) and partner Dr. Henry J. Hefler Jr. Quite a few have been also sponsors. Dr. Dumas chairs the institute’s board of directors, and Children’s Hospital was the Presenting Sponsor for Zoo-To-Do for Young ones 2022, which took position the past week and starred Carol S. Starr as gala chairman.
More notables in just the bigger kaleidoscope were being Clifton LeBlanc of LEXUS of New Orleans — the luxury car or truck raffle was offered out prior to the event — and Elizabeth Linda and Gordon Kolb, who, like their son and daughter-in-law, function chairman Holt, were being Leader of the Pack Sponsors and Audubon Commission President J. Kelly Duncan and Carmen, who chaired the bash in 2019. The subsequent just one was Leslie (Mrs. Bradley G.) Gottsegen, 2020-2021.
All all around, the social gathering eye delighted in the décor of vernal blossoming. Purveying the pollinator theme have been 14 highlighted decorators, which provided florists, design and style productions and rental corporations. The dining establishments numbered 42 (ranging from dips to ceviche to barbecue to ice cream) and the quaff quarters tallied lots of, with thanks to the Sazerac Enterprise and Republic Countrywide Distributing Firm. “Butterfly Garden” was the signature cocktail served in the (Audubon) Tea Space Industry.
A unique map indicated the party format, starting up with characteristics near the Zoo Entrance as guests arrived from the Lupin Arrival Plaza. Once inside of, they began mingling in the Goldring Plaza as they headed to the Cooper Plaza. For the patron party, there was a lounge and a patio tent, and for the sponsors, who experienced reserved seating, Audubon Catering presented the cuisine in both equally the tent and Audubon Tea Room. Bars and find food items stations content these donors’ palates. On the bigger grounds, the Cash One Field, 3 boards beckoned for the silent auction.
Many thanks were pervasive with hundreds of folks teamed to make the bash blossom. Amid individuals chairing committees ended up Meredith Claiborne and Elizabeth S. Wooten, auction Katie Zelenka, auction volunteer Mary Johnson, invitation (and it was a wonderful one particular with vibrant butterflies, insects, birds and flowers) Lauren Flower, publicity Olivia Manning, raffle and Cara Ogg and Katy Roubion, cafe. Distinguished illustration also arrived from the institute’s board, the Audubon Fee, and past ZTD gala chairmen.
Pollinating the partying with leisure were a swarm of talented teams or folks. The place Y’Acht to start with commanded the Funds One Stage, revving up the revelry. Other individuals had been the Alexey Marti Quartet, Tin Men, Uncle Wayne and his caricatures, the dispensers of Pixie Dust biodegradable glitter, the Hancock Whitney Picture Booth, the roaming Krewe des Fleurs, and “Find the Diamonds in the Beehive” — Diamonds Direct. There was even a Late Evening Lounge, found close to the Sea Lion Pool, for grilled cheese, desserts, bundtinis, potato chips, and espresso, scorching and cold.
The headlining entertainers were being the Phunky Monkeys, who whipped up the appears and spirit from 8:30 p.m. right up until 11 p.m. Their defeat was socially contagious, luring the party pack to the dance ground. “Proud Mary” would have rated a thumbs up from Tina Turner. Guests gyrated to the “rolling, rolling” lyrics as they filled the night air with gleeful pollination.
Angels Aloft
To celebrate 125 decades of company to the local community, the Countrywide Council of Jewish Women Better New Orleans Sector held a gala attended by 175 users and supporters. The Higgins Lodge-located function, which was titled “Looking Again and Top Forward with a Salute to Angel Ball,” highlighted not only Angel Balls, but products and services and plans. Managing constantly from 1961 through 1995, and then yet again in 2002 and 2002, the bashes had been a significant supply of financial help for the NCJW Area “where donations to the then Thrift Shop and Bargains Attractive furnished eligibility to go to.” Phyllis (Mrs. Moise) Dennery, then NCJW president, chaired the very first Angel Ball for which Edith (Mrs. Edgar B.) Stern served as honorary chairperson.
For the 125th salute, Loel Weil Samuel and Jody Portnoff Braunig (with husbands Larry and Gilbert) ended up celebration co-chairs Gail Fenton Pesse (with daughter Nancy), the segment president Barbara Greenberg, vice president of progress and dozens composed the gala committee, starting off alphabetically with Bonnie Aronson and ending with Miriam Waltzer. Meryl Zimmerman was the patron party’s musical identify.
During the formalities, the famous names were president Pesses mistress of ceremonies Shelley Brown, WVUE-Tv set anchor, for “Spotlight on Our Longest Ongoing Expert services: Scholarship Method and Fox 8 Defenders” co-chairs Loel and Jody Rabbi Alexis Erdheim and Joan Bronk for memories. During, a multi-media presentation showcased Angel Balls by means of the years with many thanks for the presentation to Jody Braunig and Gale Decide. The generous sponsors rated gratitude galore.
Dinner dishes have been a salad of combined field greens, grilled redfish or filet of beef, challah bread created by Nancy Pesses, a pudding dessert, and, of study course, an anniversary cake built by Sue Singer and confected by Maple Street Patisserie. William Goldring from Sazerac donated the liquor and The Sensible Guys designed the joyful new music for dancing.
Some others appreciating the Angel-ic ado were being Mikel Schaefer and wife Jay, Susan and Sal Tramontano, Susan Hess, Carole Jacobson, Beverly Katz, Frank and Paulette Stewart, Billy Henry, Karen and Leopold Sher, Carole Neff, Jessica Bach, Barri Bronston, Tricia and Rick Kirschman, Joyce and Sidney Pulitzer, Dana and Louis Shepard, Kathy and Hal Shepard, Barbara and Mark Kaplinsky, Helaine and Invoice Braunig and scores more. To honor the occasion, Barbara Greenberg identified as up all past Moonlighter and Portion presidents, as very well as Angel Ball chairwomen, for a rousing singing of “Joyful Birthday” all over the flaming anniversary cake.
