More than 250 Guests Tour the Boddy House at Descanso Gardens
It’s Showcase season! Nearly 250 design enthusiasts and patrons of the arts attended the 2019 Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts’ (PSHA) annual Empty House Party on Friday, January 25. Held at the Boddy House on the grounds of Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, the event marked the debut of the fifty-fifth Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
The soiree, chaired by Marilyn Anderson and Vikki Sung, treated guests and media to a sneak peak of the Hollywood Regency style, 12,000-square-foot historic mansion. Designed by celebrated architect James E. Dolena, the grand interior and landscape architecture radiate from a central sphere, extending to numerous rooms with magnificent views. In the upcoming months, 26 design firms will usher the historic estate into the 21st century.
“This year, in addition to house tours, we’re rolling out a designer talk series and our guests can also visit the Art Gallery and take part in the Instagram Photo Wall. We will have the largest Shops at Showcase with 29 vendors plus four weekly pop-up shops as well as restaurant amenities,” said 2019 Benefit Chair Barbara Damerel.
During the evening, guests mingled among the design spaces glimpsing the various design concepts while enjoying an impressive selection of culinary offerings from the Patina Restaurant Group. The menu included Lobster Bisque, a Grilled Napa Cabbage Caesar Salad, Braised Imperial Wagyu Brisket, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries, Winter Fruit Salad and a grand Cheese Board and Charcuterie. A selection of seasonal mini cheesecakes, baked cookies and coffee rounded out the menu.
“We’re grateful for our volunteers and the designers, who year after year, dedicate endless hours to producing the Showcase House,” said PSHA President Dana Marevich.
The Pasadena Showcase House is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the United States. Each year, prominent Southern California designers renovate an estate of architectural significance, showcasing the latest design trends. Approximately 25,000 guests will visit the House, its restaurant, and the Shops at Showcase this Spring to view the results of the time and dedication invested by the designers and the PSHA volunteers.
2019 Pasadena Showcase House of Design
The 2019 Showcase House will be held at the Boddy House on the grounds of Descanso Gardens from April 21 – May 19, 2019 (house tours are closed on Mondays). Tickets go on sale January 31 and cost between $35-$50. Includes complimentary off-site parking and a short shuttle service. Don’t miss the extraordinary Shops at Showcase featuring 29 vendors and pop-ups. Designer Talks, an Art Gallery dedicated to California painters, the Camellia Cocktail Lounge and Maple Restaurant round out a full day experience. Proceeds benefit arts and music programs throughout Southern California. For more information, visit www.pasadenashowcase.org.
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Vikki Sung and Marilyn Anderson, 2019 Empty House Party Co-Chiars with Dana Marevich, President of Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
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Dana Marevich, 2019 President of Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts with Barbara Damerel, Benefit Chair, 2019 Pasadena Showcase House of Design
Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli
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