February is a fun-filled month with Valentine’s Day in the center and Carnival season running the entire month. In this issue, we’re making your shopping, planning and partying easier, with What’s Hot for Valentine’s Day, a feature on spring restaurant specials and our annual Couture Wedding Guide. To pull on your heartstrings a little further, we present photographer Jeff Strout’s “Isn’t It Golden,” in which four couples married over 50 years share some of their secrets for long and happy relationships.
As we gear up for months heavy with balls, galas and parties, I want to go back to our December 2016 issue for a moment. In our Snapshots section we highlighted the 50th anniversary celebration of Mrs. Herman deBachellé Seebold’s gift of her home to the Women’s Guild of the New Orleans Opera Association. Recently, Renaissance Publishing’s Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde received a brochure printed in 1974 outlining the history of the home, its donation, its renovation and the Guild itself.
Some facts I found interesting include: in the formal double parlor hang “two chandeliers of fire-crystal and gilt from a Royal Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia;” the crest of the Guild portrays a shield with four quadrants representing “Music, Art, Drama and Dance,” flanked by the figures of Mimi of La Boheme and Carmen; and the brochure’s final statement, “The Home stands in stately beauty and elegance amid lovely gardens. It is to be treasured and preserved by all of us through the years to come and the generations ahead.”
We hope you enjoy your February and this issue,
Morgan Packard
February Events
2
“Go Red for Women Luncheon,” benefiting the American Heart Association, 830-2300
4
“Cookies & Cocktails Gala,” benefiting Girl Scouts Louisiana East, 355-5885
4
“SweetArts” benefiting the Contemporary Arts Center, CACNo.org
11
“Get Yah Praise On,” benefiting Audubon Nature Institute, 581-4629
11
“WYES Orpheus Den Tour,” benefiting WYES, 486-5511
12
“Recycled Fashion Show,” benefiting Bridge House/Grace House, 821-7288
March Events
10
“Lark in the Park,” benefiting Friends of City Park, 483-9369
10
“Amazing Grapes,” benefiting Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, 274-0744
15-19
“Art in Bloom” presented by IberiaBank, benefiting the New Orleans Museum of Art, 658-4121
17
“When the Stars Align: Stars of American Ballet Meet Stars of New Orleans Cuisine and Philanthropy,” benefiting the Ballet Resource and Volunteer Organization of the New Orleans Ballet Association, 522-0996, extension 208
18
“Opus Ball,” benefiting the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, 523-6530
18
“UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball,” benefiting the United Negro College Fund, 523-6312
18
“Gryphon Gala XL,” benefiting Lutheran High School, 628-7819
21
“Harvest at Home,” benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank, No-Hunger.org
22
“Mad Hatter’s Luncheon,” benefiting the Women’s Guild of New Orleans Opera Association, 267-9527
22-26
“Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival,” 581-1144
23
“WYES 60 Years and Still Groovin’ Gala,” 486-5511
24
15th annual “Next Generation Golf Tournament,” 885-0980
24
“Keeping Our Promises” gala benefiting Daughters of Charity Foundation of New Orleans, 231-0659
24
“40th annual Julia Jump,” benefiting the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, 581-7032
24-26
“Saints and Sinners Literary Festival,” benefiting the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, 581-1144
25
“Un Bal Guinguette,” benefiting Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans, 568-0770
25
“Paint the Town Green,” benefiting Raintree Children and Family Services, 899-9045, extension 235
25
“Soul Revival 2017,” benefiting the Legacy Donor Foundation, 558-8900
25
“Children’s World’s Fair,” benefiting the Louisiana Children’s Museum, 266-2415
26
“ACCESS Jazz Brunch,” benefiting Catholic Charities, 888-1223
27
“10th annual Cancer Crusaders Mark Mitchell Golf Tournament,” 913-3041
29-31
“Artists in the Park,” benefiting the New Orleans Botanical Garden, 483-9386
30
“An Edible Evening,” benefiting Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, 421-1060
31-April 1
“Hogs for the Cause,” 583-5550
