Dancing to Lynne Jordan and the Shivers followed the live auction.
The
Guild of the Chicago Botanic Garden held its Tenth Annual Harvest
Ball on September 20, 2008, on the beautiful, late summer grounds
of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Over 630 guests attended, raising
nearly $400,000 for the Children's Growing Garden, a 5,000 square-foot
interactive learning space at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The event
also honored the founding co-presidents of the Guild, Susan Canmann
and John Fornengo for their leadership.
The black tie garden party began with a champagne reception, sponsored
by Moet & Chandon, and silent auction in McGinley Pavilion.
Dinner, prepared by Calihan Catering, followed in a tent on the Esplanade.
The menu featured heirloom tomato salad with shaved Capriole Farms
goat cheese. The main course was sliced tenderloin of beef with sea
salt, merlot peppercorn demiglace, scallion buttermilk mashed potatoes,
haricot verts and baby stem-on carrots and a duet of prawns skewered
with rosemary sprig. Dessert was chocolate pistachio decadence.
Decor was by Kehoe Designs and featured centerpieces with green
apples, artichokes, white roses, burgundy and green orchids, magnolia
leaves and bittersweet branches. Over 300 white tealight candles
were suspended from the ceiling, washed in amber hues.
A live auction, held over dessert, was conducted by Gary Metzner
of Sotheby's and featured domestic and international vacation packages
such as a wine tasting trip entitled "A Fabulous Getaway to
San Francisco and Sonoma;" tango, wine tasting and more in "Some
Like it Hot! An Argentinean Escape;" a week in an 8-bedroom
house that sleeps up to 20 in "Meet Me in Nantucket" and
a trip to Pebble Beach entitled "Any Golfer's Dream;" and
more. Dancing to Lynne Jordan and the Shivers followed late into
the night.
The Harvest Ball was co-chaired by Guild members Elizabeth Holt,
Jennifer Keenan and Kathryn Mangel. In 2009, the Eleventh Annual
Harvest Ball will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Established in 1998, the Guild supports the Garden through service
projects, as well as fund-raising events. Led by co-presidents Jay
Owen, and Susu Block, the group has more than 100 members representing
a diverse collection of young leaders from the Chicago area.
