2011 Parties for the Necklace Schedule Filling Up for the Redlands Conservancy

On April 30, at 6pm at the Kickoff Party at the Mitten Building, Redlanders and their guests will be getting in line to make their reservations for the 2011 Parties for the Necklace.  This “fun”-raising program, the only one of its kind in the Southern California, is rapidly becoming a main attraction for generous Redlands residents and guests.

First up will be the Picnic on the Zanja on Sunday, May 22 at 5pm.   All the Redlands old timers like to brag about how they used to play in the Zanja when they were little.  Well, this is the public’s chance to say the same thing at a picnic under huge oaks next to the historic Mill Creek Zanja.  Three long tables, laden with classic picnic fare prepared by Olive Avenue Market, will be spread out under the oaks, and Tom Atchley, one of Redlands’ resident historians, will guide party guests on a walking tour of the Zanja, from the historic Paine Ranch to Opal Avenue and the site of one of many regional homes of the Earp family.  Hosted by Hal and Cornelia Grant, Craig and Carole Wesson, and the Zanja Trail and Greenway Committee, the party will include a little entertainment, a little wine, and a lot of fun.  The Party costs $45 and is limited to 25 guests.

The Uptown-Downtown Train Trip to LA is also back in the collection, scheduled for Saturday, October 8.  Chris Christopherson will lead 12 guests on a walking tour of at least eight historic sites in downtown Los Angeles, and will treat guests to an upscale lunch in the city.  Train trip from San Bernardino and cocktails at Union Station are included in the package, which sold out in 2010.  The Party costs $85 per guest.

Here’s another repeat of a hugely popular Party – Feasting on the Farm, this year offered on Sunday, September 25 at 5pm.  Hosts Doug and Mamie Powell and Jason and Abby Harned of Three Sisters Farm will bring the late summer harvest to the table.  As with last year’s Party, this one will feature events at both farms in San Timoteo Canyon, lots of fabulous food raised mostly at the two farms, entertainment, wine and beer.  Maybe even another impromptu Silent Auction.  The event will be limited to 75 guests at $65 each.

Starshine and Wine is back, this time Italian-style, on September 3 at 8pm.  Hosts Cindy Totten, Sherli Leonard, and Jim Sommer will bring the wines of Ponte Family Estate in Temecula.  The hosts personally tasted the six wines they will feature at the event, and Jim Sommer promises a stellar show in the sky for night viewing at Redlands’ perfect star-gazing site.  The party is limited to 20 guests at $50 each.

Here’s a brand new offering: a coffee tasting.   Wine tasting, beer tasting, brandy tasting, and now coffee tasting.  As with the other beverages, coffee preparation relies on many critical elements to be make a completely satisfactory brew.  Cliff Young, owner of the local roastery IE Coffee, pre-eminent coffee roaster, and Emmy Award-nominated host of local public television’s “Out to Eat” program, will discuss three critical aspects of a great cup of coffee, leading guests through a brewing process you can do at home.  Co-hosted by Deborah Rada, this party will be held at the Sugar Shack, a locally-owned and operated café in Mentone.  The Party, at 3pm on Sunday, June 26, costs $40 per guests and is limited to 20 guests.

Also new in 2011 will be Middle East Out West, a fine, delectable meal of Middle Eastern foods served in the cool, toney Redlands office of Dr. Gary Wuchenich.  Co-host Danielle Wuchenich guarantees the mystery and delight of discovering this wonderful cuisine.   This vegetarian and non-alcoholic dinner will be followed by a presentation and discussion with world renowned biblical archaeologist Dr. Larry Geraty who will take guests on a virtual trip to the exotic Middle East.  Falafel, tabouli, Eggplant A la Najwa, hummus with tahini, and more traditional Middle Eastern dishes will tease and tantalize every taste bud, and your mind will be enlightened by Dr. Geraty’s presentation.  The Party is scheduled for Thursday evening of October 6 at 6:15, and costs $55 per guest.  Space is limited to 16 guests.

Another new Party for the 2011 collection won’t happen until February 25, 2012, because it needs snow!  Walking in a Winter Wonder Land, hosted by Roger Hardy and Kathy Behrens, will take guests to the San Bernardino Mountains for a hike on snow shoes – yes, a brief training session is included and snowshoes are provided – followed by a heart- and tummy-warming chili dinner in a cozy cabin.  The Party from 3 to 8pm will handle 12 guests at $60 each.

Host Kathy Behrens has a few more Parties on her agenda, including How Slow Can You Go, designed to get Redlanders up to speed on the slow food movement.  Three home gardens, three fabulous food courses prepared by Chef Lee Burton and the home gardeners/cooks will show guests how to (successfully) grow, harvest, and prepare the slowest and most delicious food around.  Only 12 guests for this July 30 party starting at 5pm.  Tickets cost $75 each.

Reservations for these Parties for the Necklace will be available for the first time at the April 30 Kickoff Party at 6pm at the Mitten Building.  Guaranteed to be a raucous party in its own right, the Kickoff Party will feature a Gourmet Food Court with foods from local restaurants and caterers including Bon Appetit, The Farm Artisan Foods, Gerrard’s, The Grove School, Martha Green’s, Kool Kactus, Olive Avenue Market, Mill Creek Cattle Company, and Cuca’s.  A no-host bar, a brief program with a “parade of Parties” and entertainment by Kensho Quartet round out the Kickoff Party activities.

“We’re offering this Kickoff Party at $35 per guest for this time only, since it’s a brand new event,” said Redlands Conservancy Executive Director Sherli Leonard.  “The restaurants and the sponsors are offering their very best to show off the 2011 Parties for the Necklace collection.  Most importantly, people will be first in line to make their reservations for the 2011 Parties.”

For information about the 2011 Parties for the Necklace Collection and reservations for the Kickoff Party, call (909) 792-1800.

Parties for the Necklace Reservations open at Kickoff Party

The Redlands Conservancy’s first ever Kickoff Party for the 2011 Parties for the Necklace will open its door at the Mitten Building on Saturday, April 30, at 6pm.  This will be the first opportunity to make reservations for the 2011 Parties for the Necklace, the “fun”-raising program for Redlands Conservancy’s Emerald Necklace projects.  The only one of its kind in the Southern California, this series of Parties is rapidly becoming a hot attraction for Redlanders and visitors.

“The Kickoff Party, on its own, must not be missed,” said Party Organizer Margie Armantrout.

The “reveal” of the 2011 Parties is the main attraction, but the Gourmet Food Court features Redlands’ very best purveyors of food.  The line-up, in alphabetical order, includes Bon Appetit, Cuca’s, Farm Artisan Foods, Gerrard’s, The Grove School Farm, Kool Kactus, Martha Green’s, Mill Creek Cattle Company, and Olive Avenue Market.  According to Armantrout, all of the caterers are contributing their wares to help underwrite this event.

A no-host bar will be open in the Mitten Building’s new basement bar where guests will get the warm feel of an upscale restaurant.

The Kickoff Party will open at 6pm for guests to mingle with the 2011 Party hosts, begin making reservations, and enjoy the food and beverages.  At 7pm, the hall will settle for a brief program.  Council Member Jon Harrison, a long-time advocate for Redlands’ Emerald Necklace, will address the progress made since the 1987 Open Space Plan, known as the Emerald Necklace Plan, outlined what the City should do to protect its green buffer zone.

Redlands Conservancy Executive Director Sherli Leonard will present a brief show of the Emerald Necklace projects.  “These are, after all, the main reasons for the community to reserve the Parties,” she said.

The program will close with acknowledgements of the 2009 and 2010 Party hosts, and the show of the 2011 collection.

More fabulous food, beverages, and Party-mingling follows with live entertainment by the Kensho Quartet, playing a mix of electric blues and traditional jazz.

The reservation list for each Party will remain open until that Party is sold out.

The 2011 collection features 16 Parties, including many new parties.

At Party #2, It’s in the Cards Card Making Class, partiers will learn how easy it is to make beautiful, individual hand-crafted cards, learning from a master card-maker, Jeni Rickard.   Paper, tools, stamps, inks, and inspiration for a dozen personal greeting cards will be provided, and co-host Kathy Behrens will prepare a gourmet lunch for guests and guide them on a tour of one of Redlands’ heritage homes.  The June 11 party is limited to 12 guests at $50 each.

Ever wonder what it would be like to dig with Indiana Jones?  While not quite a dashing screw-up, Redlands archaeologist Dr. Donn Grenda will take partiers on a virtual dig, beginning with a tour of Statistical Research, Inc., located in the historic building formerly known as Grigsby’s, where guests might uncover a few bottles of well-aged wines to savor before they trek to the Grendas’ private residence for a gourmet dinner, more wine and a slide show and lecture.  The July 23 party is limited to 40 guests at $50 per person.

Picture rolling hills, horses grazing in the pastures, the tractor chugging along the drive, folks playing horseshoes, the horseshoer pounding out new horseshoes, the packer readying a pack string, and ranch hands sitting around the fire after a luscious barbecue dinner, listening to cowboy poetry and singing old songs.  That’s Party #6, On the Ranch, when city folk meet country life.  Children are welcomed and encouraged!  The July 31 party on a real Cherry Valley ranch is limited to 50 guests at $45 each for adults and $25 each for children 12 and under.

Julia Child had nothing on Polly Sholl, the founder of Caley & Cobb, a family business dedicated to creating fine food for cooks who appreciate convenience.  Polly Sholl will welcome partiers to her gourmet kitchen in Redlands, and will help them create an exquisite meal from start to satisfying finish.  Sholl’s Caley & Cobb recipes were especially developed “for the gourmet too busy to cook.”  According to co-host Christina Christopherson, Caley & Cobb products are shipped all over the United States and have received national and international awards.  This September 18 party, Move Over Julia Child, includes an artisan dinner and is limited to 12 guests at $50 per person.

Creating heirloom-quality silver jewelry is not just for the experts.  In one morning, local artist and craftswoman Kathy Jo Lorenz will guide partiers in making a piece of personal jewelry, using recycled, pure silver in clay form.  While the jewelry pieces are being fired, co-host Kathy Behrens will serve up a delicious lunch.  Everyone will take home a new piece of silver jewelry.  The October 15 party, including materials, instruction, inspiration, and luncheon, is limited to 8 guests at $65 per person.

Party # 13 offers Redlanders a chance to experience Redlands Conservancy’s premiere holding, 160 acres in San Timoteo Canyon.  Partiers will be guided on a walking tour of the property to three different locations where, in addition to learning about the native plants, the resident wildlife, and the significant history of the area, they will enjoy one of three courses of a delicious meal.  This amazingly wild land, including San Timoteo Creek, is right at Redlands’ side door.  The October 22 party is limited to 20 guests at $40 per person.

At the other extreme, Party #14 will have partiers digging for the one diamond in a bowl of cubic zirconia – and the successful diamond-digger gets to keep the diamond!  Compliments of Ozel Jewelers in Redlands, Christina Christopherson, Cindy Totten, and Judy Godon, the party will wallow in glitz, with heavy appetizers, wine, and the signature Diamond Dazzler champagne drink.  Jeweler Emanuel Jacobson will be on hand to examine any piece of jewelry you bring for an “Antiques Roadshow”-style assessment.  The November 4 party at Ozel Jewelers is limited to 50 guests at $50 per person; diamond-digging chances are $10 each.

Just before the 2012 Kickoff Party, the 2011 season closes with a race and a hunt, titled A Walk Through Redlands Community Scavenger Hunt.  Host Judy Elder and her team challenge 10 teams of 10 members to the scavenger hunt that will start at the Redland Bowl and take partiers all over downtown in search of Redlands’ treasures. Back at the Bowl, every team member will enjoy prizes, food, and entertainment.  She encourages partiers to gather colleagues, friends, and family, and sign up for this historical walk and hunt through Redlands.  This March 3 party is limited to 10 teams of 10 people at $500 per team (that’s only $50 per person!).

The other 8 Parties were featured in last week’s article.  A complete listing is at www.redlandsconservancy.org.  All Kickoff Party guests will receive a catalog and order form.

Reservations for these Parties for the Necklace will be available for the first time at the April 30 Kickoff Party.

“We’re offering this Kickoff Party at $35 per guest for this time only, since it’s a brand new event,” said Leonard.  “The restaurants and the sponsors are offering their very best to show off the 2011 Parties for the Necklace collection.  Most importantly, people will be first in line to make their reservations for the 2011 Parties.”

For reservations for the April 30 Kickoff Party, call (909) 792-1800.  For information about the 2011 Parties for the Necklace Collection, call (909) 792-1800 and visit www.redlandsconservancy.org.

Photos courtesy of Mod Photography