Loveliest Night of the Year 2017 Patron Gala
The night of September 9, 2017 was truly a lovely and elegant affair at the Virginia Robinson Garden Patron Gala. Co-chaired by Marian Power and Christine Centolanza. “The Loveliest Night of the Year” started with a champagne toast in the dining room. The party then moved onto the lawn where guests were able to bid on marvelous items of the Silent Auction. The delicious three-course dinner was catered by The Kitchen for Exploring Foods. Entertainment was provided by the smooth sounds of “Art Deco,” who paid tribute to Mario Lanza with their first song. The Live Auction was a fundraiser for the renovation of Virginia’s card room as well as the irrigation system for Virginia Robinson Gardens’ Australian King Palm Forest—the largest King Palm Forest in the Northern Hemisphere. Maralee Beck presented the Spirit of Beverly Hills Award to Lisa Greer, who is a philanthropist, investor and entrepreneur. Joan Selwyn…
Spotlight on Timothy Lindsay
Celebrating 20 years at Virginia Robinson Gardens: Superintendent Timothy Lindsay The Friends is very proud to honor Superintendent Timothy Lindsay for his extraordinary service to Virginia Robinson Gardens. By the end of February 2018, it will be Tim’s 20 year anniversary. We are happy to share the following interview with you: How did you become interested in landscape architecture? From the time I was a child, I learned to appreciate architecture while working with my grandfather in his wood shop. He built his own home, and we often had projects at relatives’ homes to make repairs. We also finished building a racing boat that had been started when my father was a boy, but which was never completed. The plans for the boat came from the magazine Popular Mechanics. Also, I had an aunt who was an antique collector; she had a dream of opening an antique shop. I would…
Birdwatching at the Virginia Robinson Gardens
The 2017 Gala Committee Goes on a Birdwatching Adventure at the Virginia Robinson Gardens It was a day of sweltering heat at the Virginia Robinson Gardens on Friday morning, September 1st. Darrow Feldstein, son of this year’s Spirit of Beverly Hills Award Patron Gala recipient Lisa Greer, took the committee and honorees on a birdwatching adventure through the various themed gardens. The morning began with greeting all participants in the Loggia with a bountiful array of tantalizing refreshments. Jeanne Anderson beautifully decorated the area with a lovely floral arrangement, complete with a bird, bird house, and bird’s nest. Pillows and tablecloths where true to the theme as they were all adorned with colorful birds. Darrow was introduced to everyone, and Superintendent Timothy Lindsay gave him a little history about the Virginia Robinson Gardens. As we set out on our adventure, Darrow had us gather in a circle and before he told us about himself,…
Virginia’s Cardroom Restoration Project Update
Virginia’s Cardroom Restoration Update The restoration of Virginia Robinson’s cardroom is in very capable and talented hands, with artist Laurah Grijalva and interior designer Catherine Fellowes onboard. It has been a happy collaboration led by Friends member Ellen Levitt and Superintendent Timothy Lindsay. Over the last month, artist Laurah Grijalva painstakingly stripped the water damaged faux marble walls and started anew. Explaining that the old paint was too damaged to restore, Laurah sanded all the layers to the underlying plaster, and applied a base coat of medium yellow paint. To simulate the marble, she layered several washes of pale yellow, ochre and butternut tones, achieving a translucent luster. Using oils, she then painted in the delicate veins. The final coat, which will have some gloss, will seal and protect the trompe-l’oeil walls, and make it very easy to clean. The overall effect is already magnificent! It was working at Disney’s…