Tudor Place Garden Party Exceeds All Expectations
The strains of bagpipe music greeted the many elegantly plumed guests ascending the winding gravel drive of Tudor Place Wednesday night as they arrived for the 21st annual Spring Garden Party.
Under a gorgeous transparent tent decorated to complement the "green" theme, guests enjoyed the balmy May weather and were treated to a delicious buffet dinner catered by Design Cuisine.
Glamorously attired, the charming co-chairs Colman Rackley Riddell and Page Evans welcomed guests and introduced Tudor Place Executive Director Leslie Buhler and President of the Board of Trustees, Tim Matz, who announced that this year's party raised over $250,000, handily exceeding the 2013 fundraising goal with the aid of generous benefactors and record attendance at the event which traditionally raises 22% of Tudor's annual budget and is the historic home's largest fundraiser of the year. Phillips S. Peter, a descendent of the original owners of Tudor Place, was the guest of honor.
Guests in attendance included Jack and Michele Evans, Shigeko Bork, former event co-chairs Carrington Tarr, Kate Chartener, Liz Dougherty, Cathy Kerkam and Flower committee chair (and mother of this year's co-chair) Betsy Rackley and Dr. Charles Rackley.
Also among those enjoying the spring cocktails and locally sourced fare were Betsy Cooley, Allison Schafer and Edith Schafer, Dr. Tina Alster, Christian Zapatka, Elizabeth Powell, Kinsey Marable and Elizabeth Bunting Burke.
The sultry evening weather, the candlelit tables and guests dressed colorfully in garden hats and fascinators lent the scene a Gatsby-esque feel and the perfect moon above only heightened the soiree's Lost Generation languor.
