OVER THE MOON
MIDDLEBURG SAFARI
Jay Fetner and Sandi Young at the safari-inspired dinner party they held at Coachman Farms.
BY V I C K Y M O O N
C
ity dwellers may envision lazy summer after noons in the country as long naps on the verandah, strolls in the garden and refreshing lemonade. Well … we do sip lemonade, sometimes even with a splash of something extra. But not much has slowed down out here. Just ask Rob Banner, one of Middleburg’s most eligible bachelors. Rob, the dashing publisher of The Chronicle of the Horse, throws an après Gold Cup extravaganza in a field near his home each year called “Shock and Awe.” From all reports the name is most appropriate. Not too long ago, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld heard of the success of Rob’s “initiative” and invited him to lunch at the Pentagon.
BIG GAME Sandi Young and Jay Fetner hosted a safari-inspired al fresco dinner party for seventy friends at their Coachman Farms. It was preceded by a private game of polo at Great Meadow, where Jay plays with his Golden Zebra team along with professional Doug Barnes, who runs Destination Polo. Round tables covered with animal print fabric and burlap were set up in the stone courtyard of the “cottage” at Coachman. Guests wandered inside the African-inspired home, which includes an open aviary in the great room with exotic Gouldian and other finch. It all overflows with fascinating antiques,
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art and memorabilia from Jay’s many years spent on the continent taking photographs for his massive book The African Safari. He is currently working on volume II. The page proofs have been laminated and are attached to the pine ceiling. The centerpieces of bronze, malachite and other materials from their sculpture collection were of various exotic animals—hippos, rhinos and elephants. Many of the details were most appropriate since, after fifteen-plus years of volunteer event planning and hosting up to 800 guests for various charities, Sandi has started “Elephant Foot Productions,” her own event planning firm, which “leaves a lasting impression.” Guest of honor Vance Martin, CEO of WILD, a wilderness conservation and endangered species protective organization, said a few words. Many of the guests are animal lovers and concerned about preservation of open space around the world. Publisher Nick Arundel’s lifelong support of African wildlife is very strong—he was instrumental in bringing back the first two gorillas to the National Zoo. Alona and Al Croft, Holli and Moses Thompson (he runs Maizemoor International, which provides products and services to developing communities) and Carey Crane (his mother, Maggie Ohrstrom Bryant, is heavily involved with WILD but was off watching one of her horses race that evening) and his date Troye Plaskitt listened carefully.
The National Sporting Library in Middleburg houses a collection of 15,000 books on everything from fox hunting to fly-fishing.
WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| SEPTEMBER
| washingtonlife.com