February 13, 2008 6:22 PM
 |  Caption: Katy Casbarian, Mathilde Currence and Bev Church for “An Evening Benefiting Lighthouse for the Blind.” This fund-raiser is March 6 at Arnaud’s restaurant, where there will be gourmet cuisine, entertainment, a raffle for a weekend getaway and a silent auction. |
A Note from Bev
The 20th annual “Art in Bloom” is April 2 to 6 at the New Orleans Museum of Art and you don't want to miss it! Thanks to our cover models: event co-chairs Dana Hansel and Anne Redd; vice president of the Garden Study Club of New Orleans, Susu Stall; and New Orleans Museum of Art executive director John Bullard. This year’s theme is “Merci Bien: A Bouquet of Thanks,” which is so apropos for the city’s recovery. It is meant to be a thank-you to all of the many individuals and groups who have come to help us in New Orleans. The image illustrating the event is a worldwide icon—the Blue Dog--by artist George Rodrigue.
The Blue Dog among flowering blooms mixed media piece was created just for the event and it will be auctioned off at the patron and preview party on April 2. (Because the painting wasn’t ready for this cover photo, Rodrigue generously allowed us to use another original piece.) For Rodrigue fans, his work will be on exhibit, “Rodrigue’s Louisiana,” at the museum March 1 to June 8. The party will offer other auction items, as well as food and entertainment. The subsequent days will feature lectures, a luncheon, and the museum transformed into a floral paradise by local florists, designers and other creative talents. This all benefits the New Orleans Museum of Art and the projects of the Garden Study Club of New Orleans.
For those who are getting married this year, the magazine’s special wedding guide showcases beautiful gowns for bride, bridesmaids and flower girls, as well as features a useful list of vendors.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so you’ll want to check out “What’s Hot for Valentine’s Day” for gift ideas for men and women. Two other spots you need to stop by are Rubensteins and Brenchley. Allison Rubenstein Marshall is so excited about the Rubensteins’ $2 million renovation, as well as the store being named one of Harper's Bazaar's “Style Leaders” and Esquire's “Best of Class for 2008.” The store, located on the corner of Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue, is introducing Just Cavalli in February. This line--which has sexy silhouettes and great prints--will be presented so you can see the complete line. On Feb. 22 and 23, Brioni (which dresses actor Daniel Craig when he plays agent James Bond) will send its master tailor Angelo Petrucci from Rome for personal fittings. On the same weekend, the store will have a Ports1961 trunk show in the women’s department.
Hot items and trends for spring at Brenchley include shoes and handbags in liquid silver and gold metallics in faux crocodile and smooth leather; handbags made of woven metallic raffia/straw; and shoes in flats and low wedges. Giraffe prints are the new leopard. All shades of pink, orange and yellow in patent leather, as well as bamboo and tortoise hardware and ornamentation are fresh for the season. New spring looks from Donald Pliner, Charles David, Stuart Weitzman, Calvin Klein, Martinez Valero, Gucci and Christian Dior and many more are available. So take the time to head to Mandeville to see how Brenchley can spruce up your wardrobe for spring.
A big thank-you to all of you who sent $1,000 donations to my Make It Right “Thank You Brad Pitt” project to raise $150,000 for one house in the Lower Ninth Ward. The Marsiglias, Millings, Dubos, Villeres, Wests and Churches thank you! At press time, we are only 15 people away from reaching our goal. And kudos to all of you who have sent any donation large or small to the Make It Right Foundation. We are so grateful to Brad Pitt for his help with the city’s recovery. This is our way to show our appreciation to him and his family and to recognize the many people worldwide who’ve helped New Orleans. You can still be involved: Donate money for a whole house or an element in the house. Go to www.makeitrightnola.org for more information.
I am so sad that we will be losing my friend and colleague Sue Strachan as editor of St. Charles Avenue! She has been the most incredible professional that I've ever worked with--we've been together for 12 years and I will miss her tremendously. She will now become the public relations director at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and we wish her well in the new job. I welcome Morgan Packard to her new position as editor at the magazine. She’s a wonderful new addition to our magazine and I am excited to be working with her.