You can’t fool Mother Nature, or so the saying goes. But she sure seems to get a kick out of playing games with anyone daring enough to host an outdoor event in June.
Especially those without a Plan B — a tent, canopy or other shelter — should the unthinkable happen.
Fortunately, the rain that fell on the night that staged its annual Flor y Canto Festival and the had its 39th Birthday Bash amounted to nothing more than a brief sprinkle. About a minute after it began, the sky cleared, the stars came out and guests at both events were able to enjoy food, music and drink in outdoor settings without the inconvenience of toting an umbrella.
Flor y Canto, chaired by James Mejia and his wife, Heather Riley, and Gabriela and Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, began with a VIP reception in historic St. Cajetan’s Church, a Spanish Colonial structure built in 1925 on what is now the Auraria Campus.
After an hour spent socializing, Escuela’s president and CEO, Nita Gonzales, invited such guests as Police Chief Robert White, former Denver Fire Department chief Larry Trujillo and KBNO Radio’s Zee Ferrufino to make the short walk to the Ninth Street Park for a buffet and a tribute to the 2012 Champions of Change.
The honorees were former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb; Ramona Martinez, a past president of the Denver City Council; architects Michael and Ron Roybal; Maria Guajardo, a former executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Education and Children who now shares her expertise in education by working as a speaker and trainer; and U.S. District Court Judge Christina Arguello.
“Never Grow Up” was the theme for the Children’s Museum fundraiser, and co-chairs Anne Miller Larsen and Taryn Walsh had great success in pulling off an event that brought out the kid in everyone and grossed $250,000.
Tinkerbell (celebrity impersonator Princess DeJaynes) flitted about, sprinkling pixie dust. Most landed on hands, arms and cheeks, although we did spot one fellow with a spot of the sparkly stuff on the tip of his nose. Food, by , included mac ‘n’ cheese, pizza and chicken pot pies.
Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl and his life partner, Kim Van Deraa, were the honorary chairs and mingled with a crowd that included Brook and former Denver Bronco Brian Griese; Lisa Merlino, executive director of Invest in Kids; Denver Zoo president Craig Piper; Morris Price Jr., Gill Foundation’s national program officer; Matt and Jill McClure; Merrill and Lem Smith; Lisa and Bill Maher; Ryan and Beth Armijo; Meredith and Peter Coors (she will chair the 2013 Birthday Bash with Monica Denler); and former CBS4 anchor Molly Hughes.
Hughes, who now does executive coaching, emceed the event with Scott Gray of Pyramix Interactive.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, blogs.denverpost.com/style and @GetItWrite on Twitter
