Pam's Party Line for Dec. 11, 2011

Debutantes lead list of happenings

Once again, debutantes top the social agenda for this week’s Party Line. Combined with the plethora of holiday parties, there’s lots to share!

Krewe of Gabriel

We begin in Lafayette where the Krewe of Gabriel presented 22 high school seniors at its annual Presentation Ball Dec. 2 at Frem Boustany Convention Center. As they were introduced to members and guests, the debutantes were presented with nosegays of pink roses by their sponsors and received krewe medallions from krewe Commodore Sam Robertson.

The debs included Jasmine Abdalla, daughter of Elizabeth and Harold Abdalla; Elizabeth Adley, daughter of Kathy and Michael Adley; Kathryn Bienvenu, daughter of America and Mark Bienvenu, of Baton Rouge; Mary Margaret Billeaud, daughter of Claire and Robert Billeaud; Holland Campbell, daughter of Amy Billeaud Campbell and John Campbell; Hailey Curtis, daughter of Michelle and Tracy Curtis; Victoria Dupré, daughter of Janie Delahoussaye and Tim Dupré; Kate Eddy, daughter of Toni and Robert Eddy; Elyse Faugot, daughter of Christie and Jay Faugot Jr.; Jacqueline Foreman, daughter of Lynette and Kevin Foreman; and Ryan Gambel, daughter of Karen Gambel and the late Chris Gambel.

Also, Dominique Giosa, daughter of Denise and Thomas Giosa; Caitlin Guidry, daughter of Julie and Douglas Guidry; Kristen Guidry, daughter of Michelle and Darren Guidry; Heidey Hanks, daughter of Leslie and Chad Hanks; Madeline Langlinais, daughter of Elizabeth and Daniel Langlinais; Emily Lerille, daughter of Jacquie and Mark Lerille; Kaitlyn Mallia, daughter of Kim and Jimmy Mallia; Emily Mann, daughter of Stephanie and Randall Mann; Amanda Montesano, daughter of Stacey and Bruce Montesano; Maggie Mouton, daughter of Peggy and Chuck Mouton; and Grace Reaux, daughter of Renée and Gerald Reaux.

Krewe of Cypress

A little closer to home, Plaquemine’s Krewe of Cypress presented five young ladies at its annual Debutante Ball Nov. 26 at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center. Kitty Martin served as this year’s ball chairwoman.

Introduced to members and guests were Morgan Elizabeth Allain, daughter of Patrice and Bert Allain; Bailey Alise Burleigh, daughter of Jaymee and Steven Burleigh, her mother was presented in 1989; Kristen Kathryn Grace, daughter of James E. “Tiger” Grace Jr. and the late Theresa Horn; Elizabeth Michelle Grant, daughter of Melisa O’Neil Jackson and Robert Powell Grant; and Jena Fontenot Grant, daughter of Lisa and Carl Prentiss Grant, of New Iberia.

Grace was presented by her grandparents, krewe charter members Diane and James E. Grace Sr., and escorted by her grandfather; and Grant was presented by her grandmother, Peggy Powell Grant, a founding member of the krewe along with her late husband Carl, and escorted by her father. The other debutantes were presented and escorted by their fathers.

The debs will also serve as maids at the krewe’s Carnival Ball Feb. 4.

Plaquemine Garden Club

Plaquemine was the hub of social activity Dec. 2 as well, when the Plaquemine Garden Club hosted its 53rd annual Christmas Tea. Welcoming guests with hostess Kathleen Fort Cooper, who lives in the home where she grew up, were President Madeline Kessler and tea Chairwoman Brenda Blanchard.

Club members filled the home with the scent of Christmas as they decorated every nook and cranny with fragrant evergreens and flowers. Pianist Jimmy Ramirez filled it with the sound of holiday songs. Causing the most hoopla was the bread centerpiece standing like a sentry on the kitchen island. It was constructed of various breads all homemade by the hostess at her bakery, A Fort Grove. Kathleen got the inspiration from a “Christmas Decorating from Williamsburg” and enlisted the help of club members Peggy Alonzo, Mary Jo Hymel, Ramona Perrin and Patty Phillips for its construction. It was breathtaking!

Also helping to transform the Cooper abode were floral designers Gwen Baxley, Travis Campesi, Jackie Carville, Nancy Delahaye, Lucille Distefano, Diane Evans, Joyce B. Hebert, Julie Hebert, Charlie Kirkland, Betty LaBauve, Sandra Landry, Gail LeJeune, Carol Anne Marionneaux, Marian Medine, Jeanne Panepinto, Linda Panepinto, Sheryl Ramirez, Gloria Weldon and Patsy Williams.

BRAC holiday

I trekked back across the river that evening in time to pop in at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s “Holly Jolly Happy Hour”at The Lyceum. Downtown was packed with folks for the lighting of the city’s official Christmas tree and Forum 35’s Jingle Bell Jog.

It was a pleasure to visit with BRAC’s new event director Nancy Little and to catch up with longtime friends Linda and John Spain. They were proudly showing off their adorable granddaughters, Adelaide and Eleanor Wells.

Holiday open house

The Old Governor’s Mansion was decked out in all its holiday glory for the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s open house, also part of the downtown festivities. Admission was a non-perishable food item for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, aka Clif and Mary Murphy, were holding court in the ballroom and finding out the Christmas wishes of little visitors, some of whom weren’t too sure about this guy with the beard. Holiday movies and popcorn could be found across the foyer in the library. There was even a station where the kiddos could make cards for Brave Heart Children in Need.

Fairleigh and John Jackson had their precious new baby, Hayes, in tow hoping for a photo with Santa but he was sound asleep. You know what they say, let sleeping dogs and children alone!

Campus Club

The day began at the State Archives for the LSU Campus Club’s Christmas Coffee. This year’s gathering was chaired by Kathy Baker, Jane Carpenter and Sue LaHaye. Everyone was vying for an up-close look at the Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made of rope knots. It’s worth a visit just to see.

In keeping with tradition, members brought along a children’s book to donate to the clinic at Earl K. Long Medical Center. Another tradition at this event is the introduction of the club’s scholarship winners. Joining in the celebration were Lindsey Deason, daughter of Melissa Hendricks and David Deason; Meaghan Hussey, daughter of Donna and Stephen Hussey; and Elise Madara, daughter of Barbara and Gerald Madara.

Christmas Coffee

Nottoway Plantation’s Susan Romig shared all the new exciting things taking place there with members of the Woman’s Club at its Dec. 1 Christmas Coffee. Joining her was co-worker Randy LaPrairie, a woodcarver and artist who was December’s cameo artist. In welcoming members and guests, President Jackie Kreutzer acknowledged past presidents Martha Bienvenue and Mary Butts.

The morning’s highlight though was the Jingle Bell Raffle, for which I had the pleasure of drawing the winning names. The top prize of $1,500 cash went to Kay Johnson. Alice Nelson won the beach trip and Lana Merliss won the necklace. Linda Wasiloski won the day spa package and Nan Nowak took home the basket of goodies from Fresh Market.

Assisting coffee chairwoman Pat Hoth were Jennifer Angier, Alice Bondy-Hill, Anette Broderick, George Anne Brown, Janet Bruner, Eleanor Callon, Grace Cappel, Nell Doughty, Carol Haase, Rosemary Lane, Phyllis McKay, Grace Moore, Tyke Olinde, Lois Saye, Trish Sedlin, Connie Smith, Kathy Stone, Debra Tarter and Merliss.

Knock Knock

The round of events Nov. 30 began with an information luncheon hosted by the Knock Knock Children’s Museum at Baton Rouge Gallery. I think the Plutarch quote shared by board member Cricket Gordon best sums up the focus of this ambitious $15 million project, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”

The target audience for the museum is ages infancy to 8. The plan is raise $6 million for the actual building and $5 for exhibits. A $3 million anonymous donation has already been received and BREC has partnered with the museum by donating land in City Park.

Addressing luncheon-goers, many of whom were among the 26 founding members, were lead architect Peter Kuttner with Cambridge Seven Associates, of Boston, and Trula Remson with the local partner firm, Remson Haley Herpin Architects. They not only shared their ideas but took suggestions from the audience — all which sounded great in helping realize Knock Knock’s mission “to create a world-class museum, delivering extraordinary play experiences and programs to inspire and promote the young children’s intellectual curiosity, self expression and early literacy development.”

Food Bank

Stop No. 2 was the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank where I got to meet the Chick-fil-A Cow, who was there to deliver a check for $6,000. The funds had been collected throughout the year at the Siegen Lane and Millerville Road locations as part of a campaign by Change for Community and the Al & Diane Kramer Foundation.

The foundation supplied the coin canisters used to collect the spare change of Chick-fil-A customers. Whitney Bank was in charge of collecting and counting that money. And, what would a Chick-fil-A party be without a cow joke or two? Development Director Charlene Guarisco just couldn’t help herself as she got everyone together for a photo: “Nobody moove!”

‘Shaken or Stirred’

The after-dark parties started with the Capital Area United Way’s “Shaken or Stirred” finalé. Lacing up their gloves at Sullivan’s Ringside were Hancock Bank’s Troy Hebert, Business First Bank’s Kimberly Stephens and Chase Bank’s Robert Schneckenburger. It was good to visit with Pete Bush, who I accused of being in hiding this social season, and Sullivan’s general manager extraordinaire Leo Verde.

After a hard-fought 12 rounds the judges tapped Kimberly as the evening’s champ, but it wasn’t enough to earn her top bartender honors. That honor went to Paul Rainwater, Gov. Jindal’s commissioner of administration, who raised $6,000. Coming in second with $3,000 was Scott Berg, of Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, followed closely by Chris Bachman, of Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The final tally for this year’s “Shaken or Stirred” series was more than $31,000, some $3,000 more than last year.

Wonder who’ll win the 2012 competition? Planning’s already underway.

OLOL

From Sullivan’s I headed downtown to the Camelot Club where I found not one but two parties in full swing. On one side, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation was fêteing its members at its annual holiday party and annual meeting. Scurrying around to make sure everyone was having a good time was Executive Director John Paul Funes.

‘This Cab’s for You’

Across the way, the Camelot Club’s Wine Society was hosting its “This Cab’s for You” all-Cabernet Sauvignon tasting. In all, reps from Artisan Fine Wines, Glazers and Republic were sampling 29 Cabs.

On the recommendation of fellow wine aficionados Kay and Hershel Hoffpauir I sampled the 2009 Dreaming Tree, 2008 Faust and 2007 Spring Mountain Vineyards wines being poured by buddy Brett Smith. I was as enamored of them, as well. Then there were some of my favorites: Keenan Spring Mountain, St. Clement, Napa Cellars and Markham. What a great way to wrap up a day of party hopping!

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