Fall into the party
Cheers!
“Dinner, dancing, libations, silent and live auctions, wine raffle, student artwork and paddle raising” could draw any crowd. All the ingredients were announced, except one: a fundraiser for St. Michael’s School, under the slogan “Cheers to St. Michael…Where everyone knows your name!” The conviviality – and it was quite fabulous! — was the decades-old Blue Rose Ball with the students of St. Michael’s Special School who extended the invitation. The name derives from the school’s late principal, Sister Lillian McCormack, SSND, who said, “If there was such a thing as a special blue rose, how carefully it would be cared for. Our students are so special.
a threesome, Lori Ourso Babin and John and Joanna Theriot, teamed up to preside over the event, which was celebrated for hours at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, beginning with a patronal feast in the Elite Hall Foyer before moving on to the gala in the Celestin Ballroom. The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust was the presenting sponsor. Ten other sponsors (including the host hotel and Theriots) were acknowledged and thanked as Blue Roses, while dozens more were listed in other donor categories.
Three dozen people served on the prom committee that renamed the Cheers bar in Boston for the 2022 party theme. year. The fundraiser supports the school and its 225 diverse students with “intellectual and developmental disabilities,” who come from nine parishes and range in age from six to adulthood, in a Catholic environment. Student of St. Michael’s High School Philip Babin is the son of Co-Chair Lori Ourso Babin.
To enter the party site, patrons walked down a red carpet, where a breathtaking floral centerpiece captured the collective attention. The entrance to the Celestin Ballroom echoed the street view of the iconic Cheers bar with a custom canopy, topiaries and lampposts. In the ballroom, a mahogany bar featured Samuel Adams, a traditional Boston lager in Cheers-brand beer mugs. The colors played in the lighting and the shantung linens were purple and aqua, while a host of chromatics were used for the centerpieces which included a small themed floor lamp. The main stage was backed by a boxwood wall covered in oversized colorful flowers and flanked by two giant screens to show video from the school. Thank you for the decorative touch typed Mardi Gras Productions.
The evening’s agenda officially began when the master of ceremonies Marc Romig came forward with words of welcome. Then came the Archbishop Gregory M. Aymondinvocation, words of the headteacher Elizabeth “Cissy” Cherry LaForge, Ph.D, and recognition from the Trio President. Dinner started with arugula rocket salad and continued with prime rib of beef in red wine, assorted breads and three chocolate mousse cake. Under the “go, go, gone” of Chuck Mutz, the live auction followed with a personalized NOLA Wine Merchant wine tasting at the school board president’s home Gregg and Shari Barrios (purchased by Jessica Brandt), a charter fishing trip (purchased by Chris Binion), Pensacola Beach Vacations (purchased by Thomas Ross Babin), and A Saints Trip to Tampa (also purchased by Jessica Brandt). During the silent auction, 75 wonderful items attracted prom-goers, many of whom also raised paddles to support ($70,000) students. Another feature was the raffle, a Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks game-day experience for which Mark Romig drew the winning name from Jason Saucier. In the wine glass raffle, the winner was Lannie Denoux.
The notables were numerous and understood the above as well as Kevin and Nancy Colomb, Jimmy and Vicki Leedr. RaeNelle Houston, Joe and Debbie Exnicios, Phil and Liz Slattery, Judge Steve and Doni Enright, Mary and Keith Spera, Julie Vanderbrook, Ralph and Patricia Cox, Ann Heslin, and Kevin and Tootie Avin. To start.
The band, Four Unplugged, had fun musically with the theme from start to festive end. In the final moments, “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” filled the dance floor and even added several 21-plus students to St. Michael, such as Neal Enright, to the scene. Their duty? Throwing cheeseburgers at the public.
Let’s You Night for a Guinness World Record
The Crescent City may add a feather to its hat – and perhaps it literally did, on the show – when You Night Events, in partnership with Positive Modeling and Chic Nouvelle Model Management, broke records of the Guinness World on October 1, at The Sugar Mill, mostly models in a fashion show. The ousted record was 421 in Spain and You Night had 430 at its Ribbons Rock the Runway fundraiser for public charity We Lift You Up. The event was much more than a record attempt. “Models used this runway platform as an opportunity to bring hope and resources to women with cancer.” The masters of ceremonies were Kenny Lopez and Peyton LoCicero Trist with WGNO, with the artist Marshal Harris. Sarah Casson, an official GWR judge from Washington, DC presented the award, and You Night Founder and CEO, Lisa McKenziein the same way Leslie Legania-Shelby and Rowena Kay, received confirmation certificates.
The Sugar Mill was designed with a 500-foot lavender runway with courtyard seating and a VIP section near the stage, which was provided by See Hear Productions. Fancy Faces provided the decor and The Molly Ringwalds entertained after the show with nostalgic 1980s hits.
Headliners – oh so many, and all with relevant titles! – were Drs. John Stewart, Chris Trahan, Jimmy Ellis, Trey Sands, Ali Sadeghi, Scott Bermudez, Genevieve Maronge, and Denis Tracey. Also, Michael Holmes, brothers and sisters McLean Bergeron and Nicole Allison, Susan Nuss, Betsy Barnes, Tracy Duhon, Chad Devilleand, of course, the record-breaking 430 models.
A future website
“Almost Home: Shelter from the Storm” commissioned the Open House Cocktail Party fundraiser to “support operations and create a forever home for Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO).” The gathering took place in Elmwood, the future location of the shelter, where “casual chic” was the dress code, and appetizers and cocktails, food and drink. La Galerie Végétale embellished the premises, Cottage Catering provided and Jean Luc Albin from Maurice French Pastries added sweet treats.
Among those gathered were Paulette and Frank Stewart, Barbara Gaiennie, Carey Hammett with his granddaughter Elizabeth, Rosemary and Rebecca Arriaga, Sandy Bounds, Mimi and Claude Schlesinger, Andrea Duplessis, Cathy and Toby Young, Patricia and Fernando Patron, Sharon Stoskopf, Terry and Tony Spitale, Jean and Frank Guerrera, Beth Verlander Webb, Helene De La Houssaye Tebo , Gissela and Michael Zsembik, Marla Donovan, Yvel Flemming and son Tommy, and ARNO, President Kathy Perra, vice-president Ginnie Baumann Robilottaand secretary Ed Lily. Along with the excitement of a building to renovate for the furbaby herd and party-like camaraderie, there was an added attraction: adoptable dogs.
