La Dolce Vita > February 2007
Stop me if you’ve heard this already! Forget it – it’s too late. The freezing month of January 2007 kicked off the new year with two of the most beautiful balls this town has ever seen. It started over at The Arizona Biltmore, where beauties Sandy Magruder and Nancy Walker set into motion the Barrow Grand Ball. Even though make-up-artist-to-the-stars Laura Flagler was on maternity leave with her second Irish twin, both ball co-chairs looked radiant, dripping with class and all those jewels.
The Gold Room played host to the grand evening’s swank cocktail reception, where everyone who matters mixed and mingled. Everywhere you looked you saw: Patti Lau (smashing in a pumpkin-colored halter gown), Daryl and Chip Weil, beautiful Leslie Budinger (who should let us photograph her once in a while), Francis Najafi and Dionne Fedderson, Barbara and Craig Barrett, Caryll and Jon Kyl, Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance, and Stevie and Karl Eller. Then we ran into C.A. Howlett and his fetching wife Nan, who will chair Heart Ball 2008. But you probably knew that already. Cathy and Leon Bentley were there, too. Leon must be given high marks for putting together a handsome black suit and cashmere turtleneck after discovering his dry cleaner was closed. He’s dapper enough to have realized that a black business suit and tie wouldn’t cut it.
If you were there, you might have noticed the soul-shaking offspring of Sandy and Mac Magruder in the form of their two staggeringly beautiful daughters Kristine Thompson and Shannon Barthelemy. But hold on a second. Nancy and Jimmy Walker’s head-spinning daughter Laurie Hunter also graced the ball in a black strapless gown. We’ll just say a lot of men probably needed neck braces the following day. The ballroom was lovely with sprays of light flora and just the right amount of lighting. Both were prefect. Everyone gasped! Anne Robbs was one of the first to take to the dance floor. She looked fabulous in an emerald-green beaded number. What a body! All those dance lessons for “Dancing with the Stars” may have helped a little, too. Mary Ellen McKee entered radiant in the same gown she worn as a Trendsetter Ambassador in the pages of Trends last June. I guess she liked the turquoise-and-apricot beaded gown so much she purchased it from Neiman Marcus after our photo shoot. Then there was the lady in red, Marilyn Harris in eye-popping scarlet. If you missed her, you’d better see an ophthalmologist! Judy Hewson arrived and departed with sexy smoky eyes and black to the floor. Talk about hot! The evening came to a close with the entire ballroom singing “happy birthday” to Sandy Magruder. You should have been there.
Elsewhere, Prue Brito and Judy Zaft, two ladies of equal wit and beauty, lit the last of the remaining candles for the Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation’s Honor Ball at The Phoenician. More than 900 people you know and want to be just like made the scene. Harriet Friedland charmed in a white sheath topped by a white ruffled cape. She was escorted by her handsome husband, Jack. Also, there was much-adored Carol Critchfield, looking glamorous and wrapped in the finest fur. Julie Kroot and Kim Anderson, two beautiful young women, cordially stopped for a photo. A note to their respective husbands – don’t let your ladies out of your sight, gentleman. They’re much too attractive. Also in the crowd were Ina and Murray Manaster, Linda and Bill Pope, Priscilla and Michael Nicholas, Sandy and Frank Trznadel (the ball’s honorees), Laura and Dayton Grafman, and Keith and Patti Withycombe. Patti’s lime green gown topped by white fur had other ladies green with envy. Everyone raved about the centerpieces, courtesy of Angelic Grove. Three different centerpieces arranged with white flora only complemented the stars that dangled down to the tables. They were dressed in midnight blue, a color that seemed to be a favored choice in gown attire, too. Most danced until the sun rose as this year’s ball proved once again that elegance mixed with a little fun make the perfect affair. John Teets stopped to congratulate Charles Stewart (Phoenix’s answer to James Bond) for the outstanding job The Phoenician did on a menu, something that every ball chair will soon duplicate. And Trends was thanked twice for its support: once from the stage, plus our heart-stopping December cover featuring the event chairs and the foundation’s NOAH bus was projected on the giant screens that flanked the ballroom. It’s so nice to be appreciated.
January also brought immense sadness to the philanthropic community as Debi Bisgrove, a 1999 Trendsetter, lost her brave battle with cancer. At perhaps the most beautiful memorial service ever, great friends, including Ruth Lavinia, Lisa Shover and Robin Milne, paid tribute to one of the greatest women to have ever graced Phoenix. Debi had the ability to touch everyone around her and make all those who met her feel like they were the most important person in the room. That’s something few of us can claim. We are all much better people for having known Debi Bisgrove. She touched us all in so many ways. For a moment, Debi, we thought we might be able to keep you with us, but God had far more important things for you to do in heaven. We will miss you more than we ever could express. |
