Lush garden-inspired tablescapes and votive lanterns flickered around The Pavilion of the Two Sisters for “Magic in the Moonlight,” the first event held in this new venue. Proceeds from the Botanical Garden Foundation benefit will be used to restore the WPA-era brickwork in the Parterre Rose Garden and support programming in the Botanical Garden’s recently opened Kitchen in the Garden.
A three-course menu was prepared by James Beard Award Winning Chefs John Currence and Vishwesh Bhatt of City Grocery Restaurant Group in Oxford, Mississippi, in partnership with Joel’s Catering. Wines and spirits were generously donated by Fred Holley and Bill Goldring of the Sazerac Company. The music during dinner was provided by strolling musicians. After dinner, DJ Heat Wave spun tunes for dancing.
Two lucky live auction winners bid on a lot to Chef John Currence’s Oxford Bourbon Festival and a Cal-A-Vie La Petite Spa package.
Over 325 guests attended the popular event, chaired by past Chairs from the previous nine years, including: Carla Adams, Dana Hansel, Muffin Balart, Juli Miller Hart, Caitlin Brewster, Jessie Haynes, Ashley Bright, Tina Kern, Joey Brown, Rebecca Schultz Lester, Liz Brown, Shawn O’Brien, Marla Donovan, Sandra Pulitzer, Margo DuBos, Edmund Redd, Sybil Favrot, Liz Sloss, Natalie Finnegan, Leigh Thorpe, René Fransen, David Waller, Dessa Giffin and Sarah Young. Honorary Co-Chairs were Natalie Finnegan, Kelly Cusimano, Vincent Giardina and Lisa Romano from the Oscar J. Tolmas Foundation and Genevieve Trimble.
Event at a Glance
What: “Magic in the Moonlight,” benefiting Botanical Garden Foundation
When: Friday, October 11
Where: Pavilion of the Two Sisters
Chef Vishwesh Bhatt, Dr. Dan Lester and Co-Chair Rebecca Schultz Lester and Chef John Currence
Honorary Co-Chairs Vincent Giardina and Lisa Romano, Co-Chair Renê Fransen and Eddie Bonin
Co-Chair Shawn O’Brien and Bob Becker
Co-Chairs Marla Donovan, Dana Hansel and Carla Adams
Casie Duplechain and Paul Soniat