Who knew the Women Against MS were such divas? Footwear divas, that is, as evidenced by the 200-plus who made a beeline for Macy’s Cherry Creek after receiving an invitation to the store’s Shoe Diva fashion show-slash-pampering party.
Their response was so enthusiastic, in fact, that the shoe department had to call for reinforcements in order to better serve the women who arrived ready to do more than just enjoy the evening’s amenities: foot massages by staffers from Pura Vida, the luxurious new spa in Cherry Creek North; shrimp rolls, cured salmon and other yummies courtesy of Encore and Black Pearl restaurants; and a variety of red and white wines served by Flybar.
These ladies were prepared to shop, and the fact that the shoe department was having a big sale had the cash registers humming.
“This is by far our most successful Shoe Diva,” marveled Jan Blankennagel, special events manager for Macy’s Colorado. “It’s the biggest crowd, and the most enthusiastic.”
The suggested $10 donation went to the Colorado chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which used the occasion to promote the Women Against MS Luncheon, which takes place Sept. 23 at the Marriott City Center.
Joanie Hartman is the chair, and national president Joyce Nelson will speak. Nelson, of Denver, succeeded Mike Dugan, a retired Air Force general who makes his home in Dillon.
In keeping with Shoe Diva tradition, a host of local lovelies joined professional models from Maximum Talent in showing off shoes from such designers as Anne Klein, Tahari and Coach. The group included Colorado chapter president Carrie Nolan; attorney Janet Savage, a past chair of the Colorado chapter board; newswoman Tamara Banks; and Lisa Helme and Elizabeth Meck Knight, who modeled in honor of friends and relatives living with MS.
“Everyone looks like a pro tonight,” observed board member Katy Spritzer. “The makeup, the clothes, the shoes — it’s hard to tell which ones are the real models and which ones are the volunteers.”
Guests included Debbie Herz and daughter Sheryl Goodman; Jan Meck; Hyla Sloane; and Molly Lee, who was in the middle of a foot massage when her name was called as the winner of one of the door prizes, a $100 gift certificate to Strings.
This and that
Allied Arts presents its Allen Young Memorial Recital at 4 p.m. today at Denver Country Club. There’ll be tea, followed by a performance by soprano Cynthia Lawrence. Call Barbara Hughes, 303-757-3207, or Nellie Mae Duman, 303-333-2895 … Shalom Park honors the chairman of its board, Gary Yourtz, at a dinner held Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt Denver. Chairmen are Marshall and Helene Abrahams, Harvey and Sue Allon, Dan and Angela Japha, Jordon and Essie Perl mutter and Terri Yortz … Twenty-five “champions of education” will be saluted on Wednesday when the Public Education and Business Coalition (pebc.org) celebrates its 25th anniversary at a luncheon held at the Marriott City Center. Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien is among the speakers … The author of “Poster Child,” Emily Rapp, keynotes Sewall Child Development Center’s Champions for Children Luncheon. It’s May 2 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center, with reservations taken at 303-399-1800.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also,
