Did you know that New Orleans Opera is the “First City of Opera” in the United States? The Old Opera House in the French Quarter burned down long ago, but the Women’s Guild of New Orleans Opera Association has long supported the cost of putting on opera performances in New Orleans as well as their beautiful Garden District Home. This year co-chairs Carol Hall and Anne Duffy are creating “The Opera Ball” with the theme “Flights of Fancy!” Thanks to them and to Opera Guild Juniors Chair Annie Machado, President Betsy Dowling and Past President of the Opera Guild Erin Fleming for gracing our cover. This year “The Opera Ball” will be held January 17 at the newly renovated Lakefront Airport – very apropos because the ball will be replicating the era of Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes. The Benefactor Party will be held at the penthouse of James and Betty Brooks Doss. Preceding the ball, the Patron Party will begin at 6 p.m. in the Walnut Room with a performance by The New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra. At 7 p.m. the ball will commence in the terminal and guests will be treated to music by The Rat Pack, a silent auction, seated dinner and dancing while “tripping the light fantastic.” Hall and Duffy are hoping you’ll come in 1930s attire and black-tie, but both are optional! Get your tickets now by calling http://MentorMagicGala.org 267-9527.
Mardi Gras is already here, so you’ll want to check out What’s Hot featuring everything from white gloves to charms and everything in between.
This month’s features include a piece on health, beauty and wellness for the new year, which we all need desperately after all of the holidays. We have all seen the building that’s going on, and we’ll show you what’s new in assisted living – everything from new facilities to new techniques.
I am hoping all of you will visit Art & Eyes on Magazine Street! I have a new pair of French glasses from them and I’ve been a huge collector of Starr Hagenbring’s clothing designs – they’re truly works of art. Paul Pearman and Hagenbring have collaborated on a concept that makes such sense. If you care about fashion, you definitely want to be fashionably chic with your glasses. Whether you want vintage or contemporary, you’ll find it at Art & Eyes.
Our Registry of Charitable Events for January through April 2015 is here! If you don’t see your event listed, please fill out the form online, or if you prefer, fill out the form on the next page and mail it in. Every nonprofit organization in New Orleans looks at our calendar to see what’s coming up, and you don’t want to schedule your event on the night of another huge gala. We are the clearinghouse for all of the most important fundraisers in town, so sign up now if you haven’t already done so!
Have a safe and happy season – with Mardi Gras, debutante parties and balls approaching, be sure to take a cab or get a driver – don’t take a chance after you’ve had a few cocktails!
Co-Founders Cathy Harris and Sally-Ann Roberts, pictured as Roberts received her honor as an Avenue Activist of 2014, for Each One Save One. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to empowering children in our community by providing an “army of volunteer mentors throughout the metropolitan area.” They work with school districts and local governmental agencies to establish workable mentorship programs, so that mentors can serve one hour each school day for the entire year.
Harris and Roberts are excited to invite you to the “Mentor Magic 20th Anniversary Gala” on Friday, January 16 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel with “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, Eric Paulsen, Angela Hill, Leo Nocentelli and “Young and the Restless” star Christian LeBlanc.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the gala, visit EachOneSaveOne.org and MentorMagicGala.org.
