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Fanfare: Green, Blue and Red
Now the Trust has commissioned Concord Eastridge and a world-class design team to develop RiverParc, a spectacular six-acre, $460 million project overlooking the Allegheny River that's destined to become the smartest address in town. Everyone is just thrilly-thrilled about the new metropolis and Friday's soiree celebrated its launch.
"At Home in the District," as planned by Nancy Byrnes, asked nearly 500 guests to live green, view blue and paint the town red in a tented pavilion on the actual site. How clever is that? Video projectors created a brilliant overhead panorama that segued from one shade to the next, but the blue hue prevailed. It was repeated in lethal martinis, dramatic fleurs by Toadflax and in table coverings. Nearby, Squonk Opera squonked in a red-lit tent.
As with cocktail parties (this was a big ticket at $500 per), there was no assigned seating for dining, which meant a mix and mingle and a mad dash for the too few tables. The only thing lovelier than the setting was Big Burrito's marvelous menu and classy presentations. Each bite was an occasion, and the desserts tuned everything else out.
The dress code read "urban chic," and the crowd of chicsters was laced with such project heavies and Trust loyalists who helped green the bottom line to $500,000: developers Susan Eastridge and Jeff Arnold; PCT prez Kevin McMahon and Kristen; Steve and Helen Hanna Casey; architect Martin Haas, of Stuttgart; Candy and Rich DeYoung; Peggy and Max King; Audrey and Tim Fisher; Syl Damianos; Bill Trueheart and Carol Word; Janet and Bill Hunt; Debbie and Joe Milicia; County CEO Dan Onorato; Bonnie and Tom VanKirk; Cate and Mike Linn; Jane Arkus; Toto and Jim Fisher; Dee Bold; Charlotte and Hank Beukema; Rita and Bob Randall; Suzy and Jim Broadhurst; and Pam and Ken McCrory.
More: Ranny and Jay Ferguson; Ann and Frank Cahouet; Becky and Lee Keevican; Joel and Mia Hallett-Bernard; Sally Levin; Jane Haskell; Judy and Dr. Ron Linaburg; Sarah and Joe Wilson; Sydelle Kessler; Teri and Damian Soffer; Dr. Elliott Kramer and Bill Modrak; Nanette and Ira Gordon; Brigette Pavlik and Bill Kolano; David Hillenbrand; Abby and Mossie Murphy; Veronica and Lou Guarino; Peggy and Steve McKnight; Juliette Grauer; Judy and Ron Davenport; Barb Mendlowitz; Carol Caroselli; Phyllis Kokkila and Sandy Pollock; Marsetta and Rich Schweiger; Lora and Steve Zylstra; and Connie and Benno Bernt.
| Historic Salon |
"Welcome to our little loft in the Strip district," Tim Fisher told the A-list gathering of glitterati and literati at Wednesday's debut of the Heinz History Center's Salon Series. Little loft? Hah! Audrey and Tim Fisher have one of the biggest and most beautiful apartments in town, with a spectacular view of the city from their penthouse terrace. They spared nothing to make it wondrous to behold. It took something like two years to complete, and it was worth every minute. Everyone is dying to be invited to see it with a capital I. The ceilings are lofty and the spaces so huge that they swallowed nearly 100 guests with nary a hiccup.
The Fishers are matchless hosts, and their parties are perfection. Audrey adores flowers so Tim Condron obliged with ravishing bouquets everywhere and the Fluted Mushroom's buffet was equally soignee. But the eve's star attraction was actress Barbara Feldon, Mt. Lebanon native, Carnegie Tech grad and Agent 99 on "Get Smart," the TV spy spoof. Add stunning spellbinder to her credits, because she held us captive in a state of delight as she read short passages on Pittsburgh from works by Willa Cather and Annie Dillard, then included her own poetic reminiscences. Pure ambrosia.
Seated on dazzling sofas and lolling against cushions were such worthies as HHC's Andy Masich with Debbie; Elsie and Henry Hillman; Ellen and Jim Walton; Janie and Harry Thompson; Pam Bryan; Grace Compton; Harley Trice; Suzanne and Jim Wilkinson; Catherine and Mark Loevner; Gregg and Ellen Weiss Kander; Ann and Ron Wertz; Carl Kurlander; Jane Vandermade; Cathy and Lou Testoni; Babs Widdoes; Bruce Crocker; Peggy and Steve Snavely; Drs. Helene and Todd Blodgett; Kitty Hillman and Richard Burkland; Ellen and George Eichleay; Pam and Ben Chapple; Courtney and Carl Borntraeger; Betsy and Mike Marcu; Eric Springer; Fran and Jim Abraham; and Madeline McCrady.
| Profile in Courage |
At 16, Patty Duke became the youngest Oscar-winning actress for her role as the young Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker." She became a household name. Emmy Awards and Golden Globes filled her mantel until mental illness pulled the rug of reality out from under her, as chronicled in her book, "A Brilliant Madness."
On Tuesday, An Evening with Patty Duke brought the feisty survivor to the UPMC Cancer Pavilion to benefit Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Duke, 59, spoke of her odyssey of despair until she was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her frankness sets squarely with our current taste for public bloodletting. But, it also says a lot about her courage in becoming an activist for those suffering with manic depression.
At the reception that followed, she chatted up the crowd as if they were all dear friends, including host and WPIC chair Dr. David Kupfer; Nikki and Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg; Dr. Tom Detre; Dotti and Nick Beckwith; Dean George Werner; Sheila Fine; Sibby McCrady; Megan and Rob Glimcher; Gayle Tissue; Phil Joyce; Eleanor Medved; Ed Karlovich; Kevin Bablak; and Dr. Martin Lubestky.
| Antiques Appeal |
As usual, the Benzs, Beemers and Rolls lined Academy Avenue during Friday's preview of the Sewickley Valley Antiques Show at the Edgeworth Club, where 30 merchants showcased early American furniture, centuries-old paintings and other provenance-plus treasures. Now seven years old, the sale adds tens of thousands of dollars to the Child Health Association of Sewickley war chest to help local kids in need.
Master dealer Jack Squires once again assembled the dealers, while co-chairs Kelly Pfenninger (with Joe) and Amanda Dunn (with John) headed the tireless all-volunteer CHAOS committee. Among the 250 antiques lovers were prez Beth Rom and Ken; Nancy and Doug Sansom; Doe and Tom Samuels; state Sen. John Pippy; Lisa and Joe Gaydos; Emily and Doane Shipley; Bette and Howard Rom; Michele and Trevor Edwards; Linda and Scott Schober; Suanne and Paul Patek; Lisa and Dennis Pegden; Harley Trice; Christa and Rob Oelhaf; Coleen and Dr. Curt DeGroff; and Susan and Paul Dimmick.
-- John Altdorfer
