SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted. Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.
Christ Child Society Home Tour
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Christ Child Society Home Tour Julie Hamaty and Ann Jordan chaired Christ Child Society’s 2015 Home Tour of six exceptional Bloomingham area homes. Most of the 600-plus Sally Gerak tourists stopped for brunch at Birmingham Country Club and to shop at the 20 boutiques set up there. The generous owners who decorated and opened their homes were Marianne and John Boukamp, Susan and Mark Davis, Jenny and Chris McCuiston, and Karen and Rick Williams. The tourists were unanimous in their praise of the homes. Kelly Martin, who toured with her interior design business partner Amy Fischer, said that “...all were festive and beautiful...especially (McQuistons’) modern farmhouse...that showcased today’s freshest design ideas and perspectives.” Carol Roney, Nora Hamill, and Lori Gothard coordinated the society members (10 house captains and 75 docents) who worked at the homes. Thanks also to sponsors and a raffle, the event raised an all time high $50,000-plus for CCS to help children at risk rebuild their lives.
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1. Ann Jordan (left) of Beverly Hills and Julie Hamaty of Birmingham. 2. Tina Stonisch (left) of Birmingham, Liz Lee of Bloomfield. 3. Katie Serda (left) of Grosse Pointe, Pam Surheigh of Bloomfield. 4. Julie Lunghamer Jenney (left) of Bloomfield, Mandy Lunghamer and Jeannie Lunghamer Petzold. 5. Janet Stenger (left), Sarah Stenger Dodge and Bev Stenger of Birmingham. 6. Dr. Virginia Graham (left), Diane Roelant and Janet Forgione of Bloomfield. 7. JoAnn Patterson (left) of Lake Orion, Mary Jo Dawson of Bloomfield.
Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll Just before Meadow Brook Hall’s 44th annual Holiday Walk concluded, a sold out crowd of 280 ($75 ticket) flocked to the hall for the Starlight Stroll. Guests included MBH director Geoff Upward and his wife Suzanne, who had been married at the estate a year earlier. All the guests savored the butler-passed hors d’oeuvres, the open bar, a grand buffet dinner, dancing in the lower level ballroom to the Sheila Landis Trio and touring the hall. It had been decorated by floral designer Alice Waterous and her crew with a lot of preliminary help from the MBH volunteers and staffers. Originally, the Holiday Walk comprised three days, preceded by a black tie gala. It has grown to encompass, in addition to the cocktail dinner/dance, 27 days of self-guided tours by 16,950 tourists, teas for 94 guests each, Santa events for 115 guests each and private parties. About 100 volunteers work during the events. The 2015 walk raised approximately $160,000 for the ongoing preservation ($1,000 per day) and operation ($6,500 per day) of the National Historic Landmark that was built in the 1920s.
Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary Holiday Splendor Randy Forrester and Dick Lilley co-chaired the Cranbrook House Auxiliary’s new project that replaced the auxiliary’s perennial Holiday Tables. It comprised about a dozen decorated trees and other holiday decor displayed throughout the historic house for viewing by tourists (three weekends) and guests at an elegant tea, a Santa Sighting event, a cocktail party and shopping in the Thistle Gift Shop. The new tradition got off to a good start, with more than 600 total visitors, including the 40 who attended the cocktail party, and it raised some $50,000 for the non-profit Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary.
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Women’s Division Project HOPE’s Luncheon/Boutique Linda Juracek-Lipa chaired the Women’s Division for Project HOPE’s popular annual holiday gathering. It attracted 120 to Oakland Hills Country Club for socializing, shopping and dining. Alice Haidostian’s piano music accented the room before lunch. The program included remarks by Tracy Anderson, who came from PH headquarters in Virginia, and a preview of an historical PH Power Pointe. WD president Bettina Gregg thanked the committee members and honorary chairs Maggie Allesee and Brigitte Krawiec and introduced her board. The cheery event netted $11,000 for PH’s disaster relief and sustainable health care around the world.
1. Geoff (left) & Suzanne Upward of Bloomfield, Pat & Nadine Milostan of Rochester Hills, Tamare Burns and Gene Hopkins of Ann Arbor. 2. Helen & Dr. Neil Matthews of Rochester. 3. Katie Modelski (left) of Northville, Matt Affeld of Bloomfield, Laura & Steve Nastoski of Chesterfield, Christie & Brad Whitmer of Rochester Hills. 4. Carla & Bob Giddings of Rochester Hills. 5. Sandee Rellinger (left) of Rochester Hills, Sue May of Waterford.
Ronald McDonald House Snazzy & Jazzy Tea More than 90 people convened for tea and a fashion show at The Townsend to support the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit. The eighth annual event was chaired by new board members Treva Beckius and Charlene Mitchell and sponsored by Bricker-Tunis Furs. The furrier showcased its new Italian collection in a fashion show narrated by jazz singer Kimmie Horne. Music by jazz duo Mike and Mike (violinist Michael Saxon and keyboard player Michael Evans)
DOWNTOWN
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