Did I hear school bells ring at McGehee’s? Are they back in uniform at Sacred Heart? The debutante set has come, curtseyed, partied and pretty much left until Thanksgiving. Yet, here I sit looking a stack of mail and a computer full of photos and notes stretching all the way back to… Well, what seems the beginning of time!
My closets look worse; someday, I really am going to call those fabulous folks at California Closets and get them to make organizational magic. But until then, here’s my plan: You, dear reader, are getting my clean sweep with a season’s worth of photos and factoids filling this column.
The hills and Hamptons were alive with the sound of New Orleanians. There were mountain weddings of Lady Reiss, daughter and stepdaughter of Jimmy and Pixie Reiss in Aspen and Bobbi and Bill Trufant’s daughter, winemaker Courtney, to chef Brett Sutton in North Carolina – of course, folks flew in from all over… that’s what friends are for! Event planner and designer Ginja Mosely and husband Matt hit Aspen, Jackson Hole and the Adirondacks.
Decorator Jon Vaccari’s shop in Water Mill, N.Y., became “Crescent City Hampton.” Janet Tallerine, Sandra Pulitzer, Saks’ Cristina Wysocki and raftloads of New Orleanians stopped by as they floated back and forth from Southampton to Sag Harbor. Peter and Liz Perino of the nurseries, plants and shrubs fame, checked out the 12-foot hedges of Bridgehampton and Newport. Edie Bonin and landscape guru Rene Fransen headed to East Hampton after the intimate wedding of former New Orleanian Gayfryd Steinberg’s daughter Holden to Jason Griffith Crilly. It was held in a Fifth Avenue mansion, where grandmother Margaret’s wedding cake was served after luncheon.
Erin Romney, the Pilates queen of Magazine Street, is now wearing a beautiful oval non-conflict diamond from India, set in rose gold, given to her by Jonathan Hunter Cazes (Joy Bollinger’s son). Rockin’ Dopsie is gearing up for the November nuptials and the Steamboat Natchez will pull out of port on time.
The Last Straws made their way to Baton Rouge to serenade Mrs. Homer Spaht (Sue Larguier) on her 90th birthday. Some 200 guests came in from points east, west, north and south to sing all their favorites along with “Big Sue” and sister Margie Fabre at the Louisiana State University Faculty Club. Those two can still cut a rug as they proved to the younger set.
There were fests, concerts and parties galore. White Linen got Dirty, cleaned and is now stored for the season. The host of summer birthdays are done. And, my computer thanks me for freeing space from its photo files. Little does it know, we’re just beginning a new social season.
Dana Hansel, Kay Kerrigan, Janet Tallerine, Henrietta Hall at NOMA
Liz and Peter Perino checking out the hedges in Newport
Terri Troncale from The Times-Picayune, decorator Hal Williamson and Hearst VP Deb Shriver at the House Beautiful party on Dumaine Street
Tricia Strachan at one of the many parties she hosted this summer
Heard something interesting for “Along the Avenue?”
If so, please send it to:
St. Charles Avenue,
110 Veterans Blvd., Ste. 123
Metairie, La. 70005,
Attn: Diane Sustendal.
Or email Diane at:diane@renpubllc.com
