Social Planner of the Year by BizBash
Merryl Brown and her team pulled out
all the tricks in their party bags to
make this year’s Community Environmental
Council Green Gala on Friday evening, Oct.
21, one of the best events of the 2011 season.
More than 350 people dressed in gypsyinspired
attire made their way into a transformed
Armory to find an exotic gypsy
encampment featuring beautiful gypsy
servers bearing organic wines and decadent
specialty drinks and locally sourced family
style dinner from a Full of Life Flatbread.
Tarot card readers and other fortune
tellers were seated in draped vignettes as
guests entered the party.
In keeping with the green theme more
than 90 percent of the waste from the Gala
was diverted from the landfill by recycling,
reusing and composting food scraps.
Dave Davis, executive director of the
CEC and board members, gave a presentation
of CEC’s visions for the future of our
region.
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Executive Director Marni Rozet and Sheela Hunt
Live auctioneer Ann Gursey conducted a
short live auction with items shown on large
screen rather than using more paper for programs.
Prizes included a bells-and-whistles staycation
at the Four Seasons Biltmore, a one
night stay at the Ojai Valley Inn, a Full of
Life Flatbread Party for 10 guests and a custom-
designed gypsy inspired jewelry collection
by Montecito artist Samantha Goldstone
of Adesso. The highlight of the auction was
the opportunity to bid on an authentic gypsy
caravan, the perfect backyard retreat with
beautiful details inside and out by
Maryvonne LaParliere.
Jim Forsha Of Imagine Design and Jaime
Nelson of Nelson Construction designed and
built the caravan which could be used as a
guest house, home office, romantic retreat or
playhouse built using reclaimed wood,
organic paint, repurposed fabrics and even a
solar panel that provide electricity to power
interior and exterior lights and computer
energy needs.
After dinner, Tina Schlieske and the
Graceland Exiles orchestra rocked the house
under a fiery gypsy sky. Exotic, exciting and
very eco- friendly!
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