JOYS, perils of driving

An ivy-covered wall of champagne-filled glasses greeted 500 decked out guests sporting velvet jackets, satin holiday frocks and heels made for walkin’ at the Dec. 4 Junior League of Los Angeles annual Harvest Boutique fundraiser at the Skirball Cultural Center.

JLLA President Joy C. Williams proclaimed that the 23rd annual event would set the tone for the remainder of the year, and this party didn’t disappoint. Final numbers aren’t in yet, but ticket sales and the live auction alone raked in more than $125,000 for JLLA community projects.

AT MUD AUSTRALIA, NGA members and guests included, from left to right: Nora Suk, Susan Kneafsey, Megan Drynan, NGA President Beverly Brown, Michaela Burschinger and Erin Garvan.

Around the Town

with Sondi Toll Sepenuk

Upon arrival, guests bid on silent auction items including a private suite at Crypto.com Arena, getaways to Iceland and the island of Capri and autographed movie posters and sports memorabilia including a boxing glove signed by Muhammad Ali. More fun was had with the many boutiques that set up tables for shopping and gifting, donating 20 percent of their proceeds to the organization.

Guests feeling lucky could drop their coin on a $25 wine pull that guaranteed “every ticket wins a mystery bottle of wine.” Attendees were then ushered into the hangar-like Guerin Pavilion to celebrate the three honorees of the occasion, Community Achievement Award winner Jesse Draper (founding partner of Halogen Ventures), Community Achievement Award winner Melissa Hanna (co-founder and CEO of Mahmee) and Spirit of Volunteerism Award winner Gayle Wilder (active JLLA member since 1991).

The luncheon featured a

HARVEST BOUTIQUE VIPs: Rosie Herzog (Harvest Boutique co-chair), Tessa Madden Storms (VP development), Joy C. Williams (president), Jane Davidson (Harvest Boutique co-chair) at the Junior League event. PAST PRESIDENTS AND MORE: Alexa Bleifer (past president - 2012-13), Julie Guest (past president - 2005-06), Katherine La Spada (president-elect - 2023-24), Joy C. Wiliams (president - 2022-23), Lisa Miller (past president - 200405), and Wendi Woods Chandler (past president 2003-04) attended.

green salad starter with candied pecans, tomatoes and grapefruit; a main course featuring buttered mashed potatoes and rosemary chicken with sautéed vegetables; and an irresistible dessert plate of mini chocolate soufflé, lemon meringue tart and a ridiculously large dark chocolate-dipped strawberry. The JLLA, built as an “organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training,” was established in Los Angeles in 1926. Harvest Boutique Co-Chair Jane Davidson’s great-grandmother, Ethel Coleman Toll, lived in Windsor Square and was the JLLA President in 1943.

“This event was meant to reignite, rebuild and reconnect,” said current president Joy C. Williams. “I’m so proud of this community and grateful for the people who have made it a success, and we’re so fortunate to be able to give back.” o o o

After a two-year COVID hiatus, the threat of rain, followed by actual rain, couldn’t stop neighbors young and not-asyoung from flocking to the Dec. 4 Brookside Annual Holiday Caroling Party on South Tremaine Avenue. Nearly 100 eager revelers popped in early to the home of Brookside Homeowners’ Association Communication Chair Loren Dunsworth, where they were treated to hot mulled wine, eggnog, hot chocolate, candied chocolate peppermint bark and an array of holiday cookies and treats. The evening’s main attraction, a glowing horse-drawn carriage carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus, made (Please turn to page 8)