The folks behind the Civic Center Conservancy Gala always have a trick or two up their sleeves; a special something that adds zing into a fundraiser that always draws an illustrious crowd.
This year it was the cocktail hour locale.
Instead of having guests gather indoors at the historic McNichols Building on the edge of Denver’s Civic Center Park, libations — and some creative hors d’oeuvres from Catering by Design — were served outdoors, on the sweeping new entry plaza designed by Humphries Poli Architects.
Good thing the weather cooperated.
In addition to raising funds for the Civic Center Conservancy, the event chaired by Kent Rice, executive director of Denver Arts & Venues; Ann Corrigan and Mardi and Brown Cannon, celebrated the completion of an extensive remodeling of the 33,000-square-foot neo-classical building that opened as a Carnegie Library in 1910.
Addressing the 340 guests from the second-floor balcony that overlooks the entry plaza, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock praised the Civic Center Conservancy for “Giving voice to the park and ushering in a new vibrancy.” He noted that money raised at the gala will help the conservancy continue and expand its year-round public programming in the park, programs that include free fitness classes, the Independence Eve concert and fireworks display, bike-in movies and Civic Center EATS.
Guests — including author Helen Thorpe, Marilyn Coors, Arlene Hirschfeld, Jeff Hermanson and Amy Harmon — were directed to the third floor by the conservancy’s executive director Lindy Eichenbaum Lent. As the dinner service began, Elaine Asarch joined Chris Frampton in leading a toast to the late Susan Kirk, a founding member of the organization’s board and champion of the park’s revitalization. Asarch founded the conservancy; Frampton is chairman of its board.
Others joining in the festivities were Tariana Navas-Nieves, Denver’s director of cultural affairs and McNichols Building director, with her husband, Lester; District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and his wife, Maggie; Happy Haynes, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation; Mickey Zepppelin and Susan Wick; developer Chad McWhinney; Norm and Sunny Brownstein; Greg and Jolie Schmidt of Saunders Construction; Erin Trapp; University of Colorado vice chancellor Leanna Clark; master of ceremonies Reggie Rivers and such conservancy board members as Chris Castilian, Rex Carpenter, Vicki Sterling, Bruce James, Susan Noble, Marcus Pachner, Rich von Luhrte, Marvin Wilkinson and Ferd Belz.
