An Encore for a Glamorous Affair: A Fundraiser at the Palos Verdes Art Center, Championing the Palos Verdes Historical Society and the PVAC

An Encore for a Glamorous Affair: A Fundraiser at the Palos Verdes Art Center, Championing the Palos Verdes Historical Society and the PVAC

Seeking the place where the upper crust of society gathers these days? You won't find them on Basin Street, famous from Louis Armstrong's “Basin Street Blues.” Instead, the locale to be is the Palos Verdes Art Center, situated on Crenshaw and Crestridge in Rancho Palos Verdes. Proof of this was the recent Sunday afternoon that hosted an elegant tea party at the venue.

The crowd was a graceful ensemble, predominantly of women, with a smattering of men who appeared to be in search of company. Each guest was welcomed with a beaming smile, a glass of Champagne, and a sense of camaraderie. Jaunty hats were the order of the day, coupled with opulent jewelry, ranging from flashy pieces found in local department stores to almost unreal emerald necklaces and rings adorned with glittering diamonds. Some of these, claimed a bejeweled attendee, once belonged to Saudi Arabian princesses who had pawned them for quick liquidity. These treasures were sometimes forgotten and found their way to American dealers through pawnbrokers.

Indeed, the displayed jewels, presented during a talk by Emily Waterfall of Bonhams (the famed jewelry auctioneers on Sunset Boulevard), may have been projected on an overhead screen, but they lent an atmosphere fit for a scene from an Agatha Christie novel.

Guests were treated to more than just visual delights; each received a goody bag that contained a graceful swan pin with a genuine pearl. The culinary offerings were no less impressive, featuring meticulously prepared finger sandwiches, delectable French macarons, and scrumptious vanilla and apricot scones, all served with jam and Devonshire cream.

Though the tickets, at $115 per person, might have seemed steep, they bought access to an event that was both tasteful and tastefully arranged. The main organizer, Lianne LaReine, emphasized that the stylish affair was more than just an extravagant gathering; it was a crucial fundraiser supporting the Palos Verdes Historical Society and the Palos Verdes Art Center—two pillars of the Palos Verdes community. It was an afternoon that harmoniously blended elegance, enjoyment, and empathy, all in support of causes that enrich the cultural fabric of the community.