Preservation Society of Newport hosts annual dance
NEWPORT, RI — Newport residents are practical. When the Preservation Society of Newport County was looking for a place to celebrate summer gardens, it chose a summer garden.
See how this works?
La Fete du Jardin, the organization’s annual summer dinner dance, was held August 10 at The Elms, a Gilded Age mansion designed and built by architect Horace Trumbauer for coal magnate Edward Berwind between 1899 and 1901.
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Ala von Auersperg Isham, Meg Braff and Kate Gubelmann chaired the evening, which began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the gardens, where no trace of Hurricane Debby could be seen offshore.
After the lengthy cocktail hour (not that we were complaining, mind you), the crowd moved into the huge white dinner tent, decorated in summery green and white, with potted orange trees lining the tent walls and on the tables in the center.
In keeping with the theme, reproductions of vintage images of The Elms’ original gardens were illuminated and displayed around the tent, paying homage to the Gilded Age beauty of the property.
After a dinner prepared by A Catered Affair, the evening continued in 3-D – dessert, dancing to the Bob Hardwick sound and DJ Marjorie Gubelmannalso known as “Mad Marj”. Although we don’t really know what she’s angry about since she’s young and successful and filthy rich.
Over 575 people took part.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Preservation Society of Newport County in its mission to preserve and interpret the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts and social history. The 11 historic buildings – seven of which are National Historic Landmarks – span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.
