Darling friends,

Oh what a week! There is nothing sweeter than starting your week with the Saints being victorious. GO SAINTS, GO!

My week started with my hot, hot! Round Table Luncheon that featured members of New Orleans Firemen signing their 2010 calendar, in addition to James Bernazzani and entertainment by Mary Flynn Thomas and Jim Walpole. It was well attended delicious and a lot of fun.

Last week, I attended the elegant United Way's Alexis de Tocqueville Society Gala, that bestowed its prestigious 2009 award to local businesswoman and philanthropist Phyllis Taylor.  The exquisite dinner was held at the newly renovated Roosevelt Hotel. The entire St. Augustine Marching 100 band strolled through the ballroom and serenaded Mrs. Taylor to the delight of the guests.

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Darling friends,

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNDEFEATED SAINTS 8-0!  My hat is off to you. Keep it going! We are proud of you!

I also want to congratulate my friend, Amy Kirk, PR Director of the French Market Corporation for being one of the 50 of CityBusiness 2009 Women of the Year. Attorney Kim Boyle was selected as the Woman of the Year.

Last week I attended some fun events that included among others, the Evening at Emeril's that benefitted the Covenant House. I also attended my girlfriend Jill DeGroff's book release of "Lush Life: Portraits from the Bar" at Cafe Adelaide. Cocktails were served by Bar Chef Lu Brow and award-winning mixologist Dale DeGroff. All proceeds from book sales at the party benefitted The Museum of the American Cocktail.

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I am still recuperating from 2009 Halloween. I had a blast and most of the parties that I attended were fundraisers in which I won, in one way or another.

I started my week by attending the opening of the fabulous production of "Cats," a special presentation of Broadway Across America. It felt so good to have a Broadway play back in town. There was a great cast party afterward at the Monteleone Hotel where I got to talk to the members of the cast and extend them a very warm welcome.

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Darling readers,

Last Sunday, I was attending the fabulous March of Dimes patron party and I found it amusing that the patrons were glued to the flat screen TV until the score assured that the Saints were going to be victorious. Immediately afterward, the legendary chefs formed a second-line parade and entered the ballroom to the tune of “When the Saints Come Marching In.”

The fundraiser was a gastronomical fete and honored my friend Marlene Donavan for her years of community involvement. Congratulations Marlene for a well-deserved award.

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Darling friends,

What an exciting week! With Saints winning and the glorious fall weather in town, we were indeed blessed. Let’s hope our good luck continues. I had a frenetic week that started with my monthly Round Table Luncheon at Begue’s of the Royal Sonesta Hotel. It was well attended, very informative and a lot of fun.

During the week I attended Kickoff Gala and Key To The Cure Charity Shopping Weekend at Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans sponsored by the Louisiana Cancer, followed by Pretty In Pink- “Bras For A Cause” sponsored by The Women’s Council of Realtors and The National Association of Professional Mortgage Women GNO benefiting Breast Cancer Research. Then there was the Gambit “Red, Whites and Blues”; the 14th Annual Pasta and Puccini Gala benefiting Jefferson Performing Arts Society in which I enjoyed an evening of world class entertainment, delicious food, and exciting auctions to the music of the great Giacomo Puccini.

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Darling friends,

I hope you enjoyed your week as much as I did. It was once again a busy one, especially with opening of the Opera Season with Tosca, which I enjoyed tremendously, the release of the John Besh book at Restaurant August, the release of George Rodrigue’s book at Borders, the opening of the New Orleans Film Festival, Domingo Latino at City Park, Parkway Partners's Feast with the Stars as well as the huge celebration of 40 years of excellence for the Royal Sonesta Hotel. I was looking forward to participating in the Carnival Latino's parade but because of the weather, it was cancelled.

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Darling friends:

In spite of the numerous fun soirees, I had a very quiet but stimulating week that started with the exhibit of talented Spanish artist Joaquim Casell at the JW Marriott Hotel. On Thursday, I was cast as a hostess for 12 young professionals coordinated by the Idea Village. It was very refreshing and delightful as we had a lovely dinner al fresco at my courtyard. I spent the weekend mostly at a course at Tulane University that is teaching me how to be a Legal Court Interpreter. It is very informative but intense so I had no energy to keep going. Sorry I missed Art for Art's Sake.

I did go last night to the Museum of The American Cocktail where John Lermayer, Beverage Director for Morgan’s Hotel Group and Ambassador at Large for Contemporary Cocktails, Inc: presented a seminar about "Modern American Bartending." He has become the best mixologist in Miami and his drinks were fabulous.

Darling friends,

Where Y’Hat, Love in the Garden and Storming the Sazerac kept me pretty busy this past week. I loved being the Mistress of Ceremonies at the French Market and judging the different hats at Where Y'Hat. On Wednesday, I attended the Feast of the Harvest Moon Wine Dinner at Vegas Tapas. Chef Glen Hogh is a very creative and passionate chef, and it showed in his delicious menu.

Talking about food, I did take time to preview the new restaurant Le Foret at the invitation of my darling friend Danny Millan, the General Manager. Le Foret is located at 129 Camp Street in a building that dates back to the early 1800s and is as historic and rich in history as the city itself. Guests of Le Foret experience three floors of elegant general dining and private function rooms that embrace the true spirit of New Orleans dining culture, in addition to a luxurious rooftop area used for private parties and special events.

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Darling friends,

Another fabulous week in which the weather was much better and our beloved Saints won big time!


My week was pretty busy, doing Real Estate work, covering social events and helping out my friend, Spain-born Joaquin Casell at his gallery at 818 Royal Street. He is an excellent painter of landscape and cityscapes in pastel, his preferred art medium. He also has a great framing shop, so please stop by and say hello. I am usually there daily except Tuesday and Wednesday; or when I have Real Estate appointments.

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Darling friends,

In spite of the inclement weather, I was able to have a full schedule of Real Estate activities as well as attending social/cultural soirees.

Of course my favorite thing to do in real estate besides helping my clients find the perfect home or sell their most valuable possession is picking up a commission check, which I did, and participating in a soiree, which I also did as a “bride” in the fabulous 2009 Overture to the Cultural Season Gala at the Roosevelt Hotel. I need to congratulate the chairperson Bonnie Broel and her committee for a job well done. The highlight of the fashion show which featured 40 years of Elegance, was the grand finale when my darling friends England-born Donald Rees, of Cox TV, married on stage, his long-time fiancée, talented vocalist Suzaune Yee McKamey. It was a very well kept secret. Congratulations to Don and Suzaune Rees!

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