Time isn’t always kind to fundraisers: They’re fresh and fun for a while, but if someone isn’t careful they can grow stale and simply wilt on the vine.
The Central City Opera’s L’Esprit de Noel, however, continues to thrive. In its 31st year, the holiday home tour was especially delicious.
Edna Chang-Grant and Cindy Koch had the good fortune to chair it in a year that the owners of five of the most stunning homes in Old Cherry Hills agreed to take part. They also were lucky enough to have a team of 40 home- tour veterans helping with such important components as the patron party and boutique.
Sharon Whiton Gelt, who has chaired at least 10 patron parties, as well as L’Esprit itself, handled the patron party held the night before the weekend-long event opened to the public. Her co-chair was Jan Top.
The party was at Jim and Debbie Shpall’s home, and while the home was not part of the tour itself, it did set an elegant example of what was to come.
The Shpalls welcomed 200-plus guests for cocktails and a buffet supper by Kurrant Catering — a meal that continues to draw raves for a menu that was both imaginative and tasty. Butternut squash and brandy bisque shooters provided a warm start; there also was pomegranate and warm spinach salad with apple cider vinaigrette; ginger-sesame seared-ahi sliders; miniature Reuben sandwiches; roasted acorn squash and chicken won tons; stuffed Peruvian purple potatoes; coriander- and-peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin; and all sorts of miniature pastries for dessert.
Holiday decor in the Shpall home was by dl guenin of Denver Flowers.
The featured residences on South Downing Street, East Stanford Avenue and South Vine Way were festooned for the season with tabletop and floral displays by Plum Gallery, Pottery Barn, Ramah Flower Co., Compleat Gourmet, Flower Power, Vario, Side Effects, Heritage Floral and The Lark.
Preview night guests included Susan Stiff, president of the Central City Opera House Association Guild; chairman of the board Ed Nichols and his wife, Meg; the company’s director, Pat Pearce; the guild’s president-elect, Pam Bansbach, with her husband, Dutch; Nancy Parker; Missy Eliot; Gordon and Patrice Von Stroh; Margot Gilbert Frank; Lisa Merritt; Julie Rose and Sonny and Pam Wiegand.The new Will Smith flick, “I Am Legend,” will be shown at Reel Hope: Take 12, the annual night at the movies put on by Jewish Family Service. It’s Dec. 13 at the United Artists Continental Theatre and the $180 tickets include a box supper and dessert reception. Immediately before the film, Blanca and Howard Lerman will be given the Jack Shapiro Community Service Award and Steven Kris will accept the Kal Zeff Business Leader of the Year Award. Order tickets by calling 303-597-5000, ext. 365 … Gloria Kubel, Rene Heredia, Nancy Spanier, Cleo Parker Robinson and Virginia Putnam have been honored as Living Legends of Dance in Colorado by Friends of the Carson-Brierly Dance Library.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@ ; also, blogs
