Flip Flops and Rain Boots
Hermann Park Conservancy crowd comes prepared but rain holds off at outdoor gala
The Hermann Park Conservancy al fresco "Evening in the Park" is a go no matter what the weather. So when last week's stormy skies threatened, guests came prepared — some with flip flops in their clutches, others actually wearing rain boots with their de rigueur spring frocks.
As conservancy board chair Danny David noted while welcoming guests to the party tent overlooking Hermann Park's McGovern Lake, "For keeping the rain at bay, we want to thank the chairs. You are the best."
That would be chairs Kristy and Chris Bradshaw and Kim and Dan Tutcher, who like many others carried umbrellas and wore summer whites, as is tradition for the annual fundraiser.
The party throng, numbering more than 540, helped the conservancy surpass its fundraising goal by bringing in more than $518,000. The party began with cocktails on the Molly Ann Smith Plaza, moved to the party tent for dinner by A Fare Extraordinaire and back to the plaza for a spectacular dessert buffet and dancing to the sounds of KlockWork — all without a drop of rain.
The evening honored Tommy Lott, whom David described as "one of our long-time supporters whose extraordinary vision and tireless work has helped make this park what it is today. Tommy is a Hermann Park hero of the first order." Lott made the lead gift for renovation of the historic clubhouse, which will henceforth carry the family name.
Among those celebrating the park that hosts 6 million visitors each year were conservancy executive director Doreen Stoller, Cherie and Jim Flores, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Kathrine McGovern, Heidi and Marcus Smith, Cece and Mack Fowler, Susie and Sanford Criner, Lindsey Brown and chef Chris Shepherd (taking a rare Thursday night off from Underbelly), Divya and Chris Brown, Anne and Dr. John Mendelsohn, Abbi and Robert Antablin, and Jana and Scotty Arnoldy, who will chair the 2017 "Evening in the Park."