The Pitot House’s annual “Féte du Jardin” was held both to raise awareness of Louisiana Landmarks Society’s decades of success in saving the city’s landmarks and to ensure the continuance of its advocacy activities and the maintenance of the Pitot House. This year, Consul General de France Gregor Trumel and Madame Ingrid Trumel served as honorary chairs. Margot Hammond served as Event Chair with Elizabeth Landis, Co-Chair.
Guests enjoyed touring the Pitot House, sitting on its gallery overlooking Bayou St. John and mingling in its lush parterre garden. Decorations featured white iris arranged as seen in nature with oak branches, moss and monarch butterflies (made from feathers) that populate the Pitot House’s garden throughout spring and summer. The iris was selected in homage to Consul General and Madame Trumel, as it’s France’s national flower.
Guests enjoyed libations by Sazerac Rye and a variety of food offerings donated by Brown Butter, Cassidy Lewis, Educated Palate, Mandina’s, Mother’s, Ralph’s on the Park, Sucré and Ye Olde College Inn. The Johnny Parker Quartet provided musical entertainment.
The highlight of the evening was the joint announcement by the Consul General and Sandra Stokes, Louisiana Landmarks Society president, of their collaboration in an effort to rehabilitate the Old Carrollton Courthouse as “La Maison Française de Louisiane.” One of Landmarks Society’s key projects, the former Benjamin Franklin School hopefully will become New Orleans’ center for French culture and education and the house of the French Consulate, the Alliance Francaise, a New Orleans branch of CODOFIL, the French-American Chamber of Commerce and possibly a French library and café.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
What: “Féte du Jardin at the Pitot House,” benefiting Louisiana Landmarks Society
When: Sunday, October 16
Where: Pitot House
