The Louisiana Children’s Museum opened new doors for CHAIRish the Children, showcasing its new home in City Park, which was meticulously designed to be a social, cultural and learning resource for children and families. Indoors and out, guests were introduced to the many hands-on ways to learn literacy, health and wellness, arts and culture, environmental education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
LCM’s new color palette of shades of blue and green decorated the event. The “firefly” lights in the museum’s Play and Lagoon buildings were dimmed so guests could enjoy the beauty of both the indoor and outdoor lighted spaces.
Guests were greeted on the LCM Welcome Porch with the lively sounds of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. Electric Violinist Shaun Ward filled the glass-enclosed atrium with beautiful music as partygoers entered the LCM “Play Building.”
The Bucktown All-Stars rocked the outdoor event lawn as guests cooled down with Woodpecker Imperial snowballs, stopped to make s’mores and strolled through the gardens and outdoor playscapes that were lit with soft white globes of light, reminiscent of a full moon.
Guests enjoyed creating a lasting memory of the event with fun photographs. The backdrop was the beautiful “Tree of Life” mural by artist Alex Beard who created the piece specifically for the new “Play With Me” exhibit gallery (for children under the age of 4). Guests posed with playful props of animals and plants found around City Park and in the magnificent mural.
Dickie Brennan & Company, the LCM’s partner in the onsite café, Acorn, catered with a menu of passed hors d’oeuvres and stations throughout the museum.
Coveted silent auction items included artwork by Terrance Osborne and Alex Beard; game day packages for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Saints vs. Chicago Bears game in Chicago; beach stays; a trip to Vegas; Walt Disney World tickets; and chairs from Dr. Bob, Shannon Kelley and Marian DeMeyers Designs. Guests could also enter the raffle for chances to win a $4,500 Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Shopping Spree.
Event Chairs were Linda and Gordon Kolb and Holt and Gordon Kolb Jr., who also served as Presenting Sponsors along with Hancock Whitney and Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. The Presenting Sponsors were presented with Waterford cut crystal bowls engraved with the LCM logo from Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.
Event at a Glance
What: “CHAIRish the Children Grand Opening Gala,” benefiting Louisiana Children’s Museum
When: Saturday, September 21
Where: Louisiana Children’s Museum
