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The 2007 Easter Seals’ Taste of the Oaks Celebrity Party
will be Thursday, May 3, 6-11p.m., Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John’s
Cardinal Stadium. Tickets $50. Dress: Smart Casual. Call Phyllis Santos at (502)
584-9781, ext. 167.
The 2007 Mint Jubilee will be held on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m., with dinner at
8:30 p.m. at the Galt House Hotel & Suites Grand Ballroom. The
cost per person is $500 and guests may register online at www.mintjubilee.org, call
(502) 562-3153, email heather.falmen@louisville.edu or fax (502) 562-4368. Check
the website for information on special guests.
The 2007 Derby Eve Gala for the American Lung Association of Kentucky is
scheduled for Friday, May 4, in the Seelbach Hilton's Medallion Ballroom. Cocktails
and Hors D'Oeuvres will be served at 8 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner at 8:30.
The gala's theme is "Fiesta!" and tickets are $300 per person. Black tie is optional.
For more information, call (502) 363-2652 or go to www.derbyevegala.org. Checks
may be mailed to American Lung Association of Kentucky, P.O. Box 9067,
Louisville, KY 40209.
Parties
Taste of Oaks Celebrity Party
Benefiting children with disabilities treated at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation
Center.
When I was asked to cover this charitable event, which took place in the ballLroom of
downtown Louisville’s Marriott Hotel, little did I know just how entertaining the evening would
turn out to be. Accompanied by my friend, Elizabeth Kemp, the night started with a
celebrity run-in as we stepped off the escalator at 8 p.m. and came face-to-face with
Louisville native William Mapother. Mapother, who television audiences will recognize from
the short-lived CBS sci-fi series Threshold and ABC’s Lost is a very likable guy. After
chatting for a few minutes about his upcoming projects, Mapother, who also happens to be
Tom Cruise’s first cousin, mentioned: “I return to Louisville every year for the holidays,
because my parents, Louisa Riehm and Bill Mapother, still live here.”
Upon entering the ballroom, I found it to be very pleasingly decorated with yellow walls,
complemented by yellow tablecloths covering round tables that held centerpieces
consisting of long-stemmed red roses arranged in large mint julep (faux) silver cups.
(Actually the arrangements were so lovely I took one home.)
A couple of things stood out in my mind about that night.
The first was the easy accessibility guests had to the celebrities, all of whom were sitting
matter-of-factly at different tables surrounding the dance floor, smiling,
signing autographs and amicably posing for pictures. It was fun to
observe the star-struck looks on guests’ faces as they excitedly
approached one celebrity after another. Nothing was more enjoyable,
though, than watching the giggly school-girl vibe that came over grown
women of all ages as they brought cameras to the table of handsome
Louisville-native Kevin Talley, who had gained notoriety earlier that
year by very publicly turning down Playgirl magazine’s 2006 Man of the Year title.
My second stand-out of the night was the selection of restaurant/caterers and beverage
booths in attendance, all of which had their tables filled to the max with complementary
food and drink. With, for instance, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey alongside Papa
John’s Pizza, Gumby’s Catering, and Panera Bread, and for dessert, Krispy Kreme Donuts,
side-by-side with The Louisville Chocolate Fountain — it was a veritable yeast feast.
Finally, with the possible exception of the thrill Elizabeth and I had meeting a very friendly
Ned Beatty, I surprised myself by spontaneously shouting out “PHIL!” when I spotted a
smiling Phil Keoghan, host of my favorite reality series The Amazing Race, make a late
entrance and then proceed to stride directly up my aisle.
Special congratulations also to the caliber of the raffle, as well as silent auction items. For
instance, as I was leaving the party at 10 p.m., I heard the auctioneer proclaim the winning
bid on box seats for the 2007 Kentucky Derby.The Eastern Kentucky native, and Eastern
Kentucky University graduate, Lee Majors (above) is a television icon because of the
simple fact that he starred in three series in three consecutive decades: 1960s’ The Big
Valley, 1970s’ Six Million Dollar Man, and The Fall Guy in the 1980s. Majors received an
honorary degree from Eastern Kentucky University during his May 2006 visit to the
Commonwealth. “You’ll have to address me as ‘Doctor’ Majors from now on,” he joked, then
said: “I remember coming from Eastern and slippin’ in and jumpin’ over the fence at
Churchill Downs and running like heck to the infield during a Kentucky Derby. (Laughs) We
never saw a horse the entire time we were there!”Phil Keoghan of TV’s The Amazing Race
posing with actor Ken Howard of television’s Crossing Jordan fame.Louisvillian Kevin Talley
who turned down Playgirl magazine.Celebrity guests included two Kentucky natives/actors
— Ned Beatty and William Mapother (below, pictured with Elizabeth Kemp). Gioia Patton is
a celebrity arts & entertainment writer for various publications.
Mint Jubilee Gala
By Melissa Arnold
Excitement was in the air as guests chatted and sampled hors d'oeuvres offered by waiters
and waitresses who walked around carrying fancy finger foods on silver trays — rock
shrimp and salmon with Kentucky caviar. Those with parched throats had an array of liquor
choices available to sample, too.
It was Derby Eve 2006, and the 10th Annual Mint Jubilee Gala was in full swing. The Galt
House’s red carpet was rolled out and guests gathered nearby to catch a glimpse of the
celebrities as they arrived. Beauties, jocks, reality television stars and jockeys were all in
attendance.
The night was sophisticated, yet fun, and the crowd was lively, energetic and enthused to
be at such a grand event. I know I was, and I was working it.
The Mint Jubilee benefits the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and Gilda’s Club of
Louisville to help raise money to fight cancer. Tickets for the sold-out event were $400, but
couldn’t have gone to a better cause.
It was fun to watch the guests sneak a peak at what other guests were wearing, especially
the celebrities. But hey, let’s face it, what makes a gala a gala are the outfits. From a
purple tuxedo with white shoes to Heather French Henry’s beautiful pink dress, (which
instantly reminded me of something Barbie might wear) represented the broad range of
fashions worn. But I must say with no offense to the men, it was the dresses that made the
lasting impression.
I saw NFL legend John Elway, actor Gary Cole, who I will always remember as Bill
Lumbergh in “Office Space,” one of my favorite movies, cast members from Donald
Trump’s The Apprentice, including Louisville’s own Mark Lamkin, legendary jockey Pat Day
and Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, who even did a SpongeBob
impersonation.
Making her first visit to the Bluegrass state was Charmed actress
Alyssa Milano, who was in attendance with her family to help support
cancer research, which is a cause dear to her heart. Her best friend
had testicular cancer.
While flashes from cameras were lighting up the red carpet area, in
another section of the lobby guests were having their photo taken,
compliments of the Mint Jubilee. Later that night, they could pick up
their framed photo, which I think made for a wonderful souvenir.
An elegant dinner was served to gala-goers in the ballroom, where tables had been
lavishly decorated in colors of black, white and silver.
Once the meal started, I sauntered over to the women’s bathroom, where the atmosphere
was nothing like what was going on outside of those walls. While it was impeccably clean, it
was also extremely quiet as if we were inside a library and you were afraid of getting in
trouble for talking too loud. There was one other thing about the bathroom that struck me
as odd. On the sink area sat a basket filled with random feminine hygiene products, with an
aerosol hairspray can thrown on top. Maybe it is just me, but I think they could have been a
little more discreet. Here we were all dressed up enjoying a night of sophistication and
class and there is the basket for everyone to see when you washed your hands. But hey,
ladies, at least you knew you were covered in case of an emergency!
The old saying, “Laugh, drink and be merry,” definitely held true throughout the evening.
Sounds of a good time were heard from conversations to dancing to glasses being clinked
together in toasts to the songs of Lee Greenwood and additional entertainment from
Starlight Orchestra, which traveled all the way from New York to perform at the Gala. All
and all, I cannot think of a better way to have spent my Derby Eve.
Annual Derby Eve Gala
By Jolea Brown
My assignment for evening was to take photos at the American Lung Association of
Kentucky’s Annual Derby Eve Gala at the Seelbach. Not too shabby. This event was
chaired by a lovely lady I had met before, Joyce Jennings. Since I remembered her as
being a gracious hostess, I felt confident the evening would go well. But first, I had to get
there.
Any Louisvillian worth her salt knows that maneuvering anywhere downtown on Derby Eve
is at your own risk. There is the new Marriott, several bars, Fourth Street Live!, and a
cluster of confused out-of-towners all adding to the gridlocked traffic. (How do you think
cruising started? People were just stuck in traffic and started talking to one another.)
Luckily, I live downtown, and had a friend drop me off. Gotta love a chauffeur. As I
approached the Seelbach, I noted that they offer valet parking. For those wearing the
$1,500 evening gown and $500 4-inch heels (not me!), I recommend it.
Entering the hotel lobby, the drone of excited voices everywhere mingled and echoed off
the high marble walls. I passed the Seelbach bar, filled to the brim with joyous chatter, and
saw exhausted guests fresh from the Oaks lounging in high-backed chairs and picking out
tomorrow’s winners.
It was not hard to find my party. Though everyone in the hotel was dressed nicely, it was
the cluster of dazzling evening gowns that pulled me in. Amazing colors and designs!
Gowns of silk, beaded lace, backless, full-length and stunning. Vera Wang, Oscar De La
Renta, and other names I’d only heard on Sex in the City were being thrown around as the
women gushed over one another.
The men looked great in their tuxes, with the occasional eccentric who wore a funky suit
with an equally funky tie. Everyone was being held captive in the lobby, enjoying cocktails
while the finishing touches were added to the tables in the Medallion Ballroom. Since I had
a camera and looked official, I was able to slip past the intimidating guards at the door and
was allowed a sneak peek.
The room was filled with black and gold tables, accented with either red flowers or candles.
All of this surrounded a large dance floor and stage. Waiters ran about yelling about
missing salad forks and lighting the candles.
I took this opportunity to read one of the programs placed at the tables. Apparently the
theme of the ball was “Let’s Dance”, and the guest speaker — John O’Hurley. Mr.
Peterman? From Seinfeld? I had no idea what to expect. I was contemplating what he would
be like in person when the doors opened.
As people walked in, professional dancers from New York took the dance floor, spinning
elegantly to Frank Sinatra. As the guests gathered in the ballroom, the dancers broke
apart from one another, and started pulling less-than-enthusiastic regular folk onto the
dance floor with them.
Finally, everyone was allowed to sit down and enjoy the salad and wine being served.
Mayor Abramson was there with his wife and son, patting backs and shaking hands. (Alas,
there were no babies available for kissing photo ops).
Soon after, the program began with Vicki Rogers of Lite 106.9 doing a bit of emceeing. She
introduced the chairs of the Ball and gave praise to all the folks who had donated
generously to the cause. Eventually it was time to introduce Mr. Peter…er, I mean John O’
Hurley.
In person, he looked like a normal guy, but he was a lot more charismatic. He was really
quite funny. He started by thanking everyone for coming and then set off on a tangent of
self-deprecating humor that made me want to take him aside and say “There, there…you
did your best.”
He claimed sole responsibly for the cancellation of Seinfeld, Dancing With the Stars, and
another show I’d never heard of, which had aired on cable. He was a very pleasant and
entertaining man, who spoke for about 10 minutes. Just the right amount of time for any
speech.
As the audience was being treated to the main course of duck breast and beef fillet, the
dancers once again took the floor. They performed a medley of great dance styles,
including swing, salsa and tango.
I was absolutely amazed to watch their grace and agility. I took in about 10 more minutes
before I realized I had to leave. I looked around for Mrs. Jennings to say goodbye, but she
was busy dishing the duck with Mr. O’Hurley. I decided to leave them in peace. After all, it
was Derby, and I had two more parties to infiltrate.
will be Thursday, May 3, 6-11p.m., Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John’s
Cardinal Stadium. Tickets $50. Dress: Smart Casual. Call Phyllis Santos at (502)
584-9781, ext. 167.
The 2007 Mint Jubilee will be held on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m., with dinner at
8:30 p.m. at the Galt House Hotel & Suites Grand Ballroom. The
cost per person is $500 and guests may register online at www.mintjubilee.org, call
(502) 562-3153, email heather.falmen@louisville.edu or fax (502) 562-4368. Check
the website for information on special guests.
The 2007 Derby Eve Gala for the American Lung Association of Kentucky is
scheduled for Friday, May 4, in the Seelbach Hilton's Medallion Ballroom. Cocktails
and Hors D'Oeuvres will be served at 8 p.m., followed by a gourmet dinner at 8:30.
The gala's theme is "Fiesta!" and tickets are $300 per person. Black tie is optional.
For more information, call (502) 363-2652 or go to www.derbyevegala.org. Checks
may be mailed to American Lung Association of Kentucky, P.O. Box 9067,
Louisville, KY 40209.
Parties
Taste of Oaks Celebrity Party
Benefiting children with disabilities treated at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation
Center.
When I was asked to cover this charitable event, which took place in the ballLroom of
downtown Louisville’s Marriott Hotel, little did I know just how entertaining the evening would
turn out to be. Accompanied by my friend, Elizabeth Kemp, the night started with a
celebrity run-in as we stepped off the escalator at 8 p.m. and came face-to-face with
Louisville native William Mapother. Mapother, who television audiences will recognize from
the short-lived CBS sci-fi series Threshold and ABC’s Lost is a very likable guy. After
chatting for a few minutes about his upcoming projects, Mapother, who also happens to be
Tom Cruise’s first cousin, mentioned: “I return to Louisville every year for the holidays,
because my parents, Louisa Riehm and Bill Mapother, still live here.”
Upon entering the ballroom, I found it to be very pleasingly decorated with yellow walls,
complemented by yellow tablecloths covering round tables that held centerpieces
consisting of long-stemmed red roses arranged in large mint julep (faux) silver cups.
(Actually the arrangements were so lovely I took one home.)
A couple of things stood out in my mind about that night.
The first was the easy accessibility guests had to the celebrities, all of whom were sitting
matter-of-factly at different tables surrounding the dance floor, smiling,
signing autographs and amicably posing for pictures. It was fun to
observe the star-struck looks on guests’ faces as they excitedly
approached one celebrity after another. Nothing was more enjoyable,
though, than watching the giggly school-girl vibe that came over grown
women of all ages as they brought cameras to the table of handsome
Louisville-native Kevin Talley, who had gained notoriety earlier that
year by very publicly turning down Playgirl magazine’s 2006 Man of the Year title.
My second stand-out of the night was the selection of restaurant/caterers and beverage
booths in attendance, all of which had their tables filled to the max with complementary
food and drink. With, for instance, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey alongside Papa
John’s Pizza, Gumby’s Catering, and Panera Bread, and for dessert, Krispy Kreme Donuts,
side-by-side with The Louisville Chocolate Fountain — it was a veritable yeast feast.
Finally, with the possible exception of the thrill Elizabeth and I had meeting a very friendly
Ned Beatty, I surprised myself by spontaneously shouting out “PHIL!” when I spotted a
smiling Phil Keoghan, host of my favorite reality series The Amazing Race, make a late
entrance and then proceed to stride directly up my aisle.
Special congratulations also to the caliber of the raffle, as well as silent auction items. For
instance, as I was leaving the party at 10 p.m., I heard the auctioneer proclaim the winning
bid on box seats for the 2007 Kentucky Derby.The Eastern Kentucky native, and Eastern
Kentucky University graduate, Lee Majors (above) is a television icon because of the
simple fact that he starred in three series in three consecutive decades: 1960s’ The Big
Valley, 1970s’ Six Million Dollar Man, and The Fall Guy in the 1980s. Majors received an
honorary degree from Eastern Kentucky University during his May 2006 visit to the
Commonwealth. “You’ll have to address me as ‘Doctor’ Majors from now on,” he joked, then
said: “I remember coming from Eastern and slippin’ in and jumpin’ over the fence at
Churchill Downs and running like heck to the infield during a Kentucky Derby. (Laughs) We
never saw a horse the entire time we were there!”Phil Keoghan of TV’s The Amazing Race
posing with actor Ken Howard of television’s Crossing Jordan fame.Louisvillian Kevin Talley
who turned down Playgirl magazine.Celebrity guests included two Kentucky natives/actors
— Ned Beatty and William Mapother (below, pictured with Elizabeth Kemp). Gioia Patton is
a celebrity arts & entertainment writer for various publications.
Mint Jubilee Gala
By Melissa Arnold
Excitement was in the air as guests chatted and sampled hors d'oeuvres offered by waiters
and waitresses who walked around carrying fancy finger foods on silver trays — rock
shrimp and salmon with Kentucky caviar. Those with parched throats had an array of liquor
choices available to sample, too.
It was Derby Eve 2006, and the 10th Annual Mint Jubilee Gala was in full swing. The Galt
House’s red carpet was rolled out and guests gathered nearby to catch a glimpse of the
celebrities as they arrived. Beauties, jocks, reality television stars and jockeys were all in
attendance.
The night was sophisticated, yet fun, and the crowd was lively, energetic and enthused to
be at such a grand event. I know I was, and I was working it.
The Mint Jubilee benefits the James Graham Brown Cancer Center and Gilda’s Club of
Louisville to help raise money to fight cancer. Tickets for the sold-out event were $400, but
couldn’t have gone to a better cause.
It was fun to watch the guests sneak a peak at what other guests were wearing, especially
the celebrities. But hey, let’s face it, what makes a gala a gala are the outfits. From a
purple tuxedo with white shoes to Heather French Henry’s beautiful pink dress, (which
instantly reminded me of something Barbie might wear) represented the broad range of
fashions worn. But I must say with no offense to the men, it was the dresses that made the
lasting impression.
I saw NFL legend John Elway, actor Gary Cole, who I will always remember as Bill
Lumbergh in “Office Space,” one of my favorite movies, cast members from Donald
Trump’s The Apprentice, including Louisville’s own Mark Lamkin, legendary jockey Pat Day
and Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, who even did a SpongeBob
impersonation.
Making her first visit to the Bluegrass state was Charmed actress
Alyssa Milano, who was in attendance with her family to help support
cancer research, which is a cause dear to her heart. Her best friend
had testicular cancer.
While flashes from cameras were lighting up the red carpet area, in
another section of the lobby guests were having their photo taken,
compliments of the Mint Jubilee. Later that night, they could pick up
their framed photo, which I think made for a wonderful souvenir.
An elegant dinner was served to gala-goers in the ballroom, where tables had been
lavishly decorated in colors of black, white and silver.
Once the meal started, I sauntered over to the women’s bathroom, where the atmosphere
was nothing like what was going on outside of those walls. While it was impeccably clean, it
was also extremely quiet as if we were inside a library and you were afraid of getting in
trouble for talking too loud. There was one other thing about the bathroom that struck me
as odd. On the sink area sat a basket filled with random feminine hygiene products, with an
aerosol hairspray can thrown on top. Maybe it is just me, but I think they could have been a
little more discreet. Here we were all dressed up enjoying a night of sophistication and
class and there is the basket for everyone to see when you washed your hands. But hey,
ladies, at least you knew you were covered in case of an emergency!
The old saying, “Laugh, drink and be merry,” definitely held true throughout the evening.
Sounds of a good time were heard from conversations to dancing to glasses being clinked
together in toasts to the songs of Lee Greenwood and additional entertainment from
Starlight Orchestra, which traveled all the way from New York to perform at the Gala. All
and all, I cannot think of a better way to have spent my Derby Eve.
Annual Derby Eve Gala
By Jolea Brown
My assignment for evening was to take photos at the American Lung Association of
Kentucky’s Annual Derby Eve Gala at the Seelbach. Not too shabby. This event was
chaired by a lovely lady I had met before, Joyce Jennings. Since I remembered her as
being a gracious hostess, I felt confident the evening would go well. But first, I had to get
there.
Any Louisvillian worth her salt knows that maneuvering anywhere downtown on Derby Eve
is at your own risk. There is the new Marriott, several bars, Fourth Street Live!, and a
cluster of confused out-of-towners all adding to the gridlocked traffic. (How do you think
cruising started? People were just stuck in traffic and started talking to one another.)
Luckily, I live downtown, and had a friend drop me off. Gotta love a chauffeur. As I
approached the Seelbach, I noted that they offer valet parking. For those wearing the
$1,500 evening gown and $500 4-inch heels (not me!), I recommend it.
Entering the hotel lobby, the drone of excited voices everywhere mingled and echoed off
the high marble walls. I passed the Seelbach bar, filled to the brim with joyous chatter, and
saw exhausted guests fresh from the Oaks lounging in high-backed chairs and picking out
tomorrow’s winners.
It was not hard to find my party. Though everyone in the hotel was dressed nicely, it was
the cluster of dazzling evening gowns that pulled me in. Amazing colors and designs!
Gowns of silk, beaded lace, backless, full-length and stunning. Vera Wang, Oscar De La
Renta, and other names I’d only heard on Sex in the City were being thrown around as the
women gushed over one another.
The men looked great in their tuxes, with the occasional eccentric who wore a funky suit
with an equally funky tie. Everyone was being held captive in the lobby, enjoying cocktails
while the finishing touches were added to the tables in the Medallion Ballroom. Since I had
a camera and looked official, I was able to slip past the intimidating guards at the door and
was allowed a sneak peek.
The room was filled with black and gold tables, accented with either red flowers or candles.
All of this surrounded a large dance floor and stage. Waiters ran about yelling about
missing salad forks and lighting the candles.
I took this opportunity to read one of the programs placed at the tables. Apparently the
theme of the ball was “Let’s Dance”, and the guest speaker — John O’Hurley. Mr.
Peterman? From Seinfeld? I had no idea what to expect. I was contemplating what he would
be like in person when the doors opened.
As people walked in, professional dancers from New York took the dance floor, spinning
elegantly to Frank Sinatra. As the guests gathered in the ballroom, the dancers broke
apart from one another, and started pulling less-than-enthusiastic regular folk onto the
dance floor with them.
Finally, everyone was allowed to sit down and enjoy the salad and wine being served.
Mayor Abramson was there with his wife and son, patting backs and shaking hands. (Alas,
there were no babies available for kissing photo ops).
Soon after, the program began with Vicki Rogers of Lite 106.9 doing a bit of emceeing. She
introduced the chairs of the Ball and gave praise to all the folks who had donated
generously to the cause. Eventually it was time to introduce Mr. Peter…er, I mean John O’
Hurley.
In person, he looked like a normal guy, but he was a lot more charismatic. He was really
quite funny. He started by thanking everyone for coming and then set off on a tangent of
self-deprecating humor that made me want to take him aside and say “There, there…you
did your best.”
He claimed sole responsibly for the cancellation of Seinfeld, Dancing With the Stars, and
another show I’d never heard of, which had aired on cable. He was a very pleasant and
entertaining man, who spoke for about 10 minutes. Just the right amount of time for any
speech.
As the audience was being treated to the main course of duck breast and beef fillet, the
dancers once again took the floor. They performed a medley of great dance styles,
including swing, salsa and tango.
I was absolutely amazed to watch their grace and agility. I took in about 10 more minutes
before I realized I had to leave. I looked around for Mrs. Jennings to say goodbye, but she
was busy dishing the duck with Mr. O’Hurley. I decided to leave them in peace. After all, it
was Derby, and I had two more parties to infiltrate.
