Taking a day to go and dine with the Angels
By Heather Milo
Acorn Staff Writer

Event co-chair Lydia Springer; Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks; Dawn Nelson, Angels president and co-chair Wynne Good.

On an average day, angels don’t wear camouflage—unless they are organizing a fundraising benefit at Brookfield Farms, as demonstrated by Alliance for the Arts’ Angel Elizabeth Grossman. Dressed to the theme of the "South Seas" table, one of the many tables attired for a decorating contest and an exciting new book, Grossman led an army of Angels into a day of magic under the oak trees. The Angels annual luncheon was a fundraiser for Kids and the Arts, a program designed to provide children with the opportunity to attend theater at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

"It was all done the right way," said Grossman, who was surprised that with all the details to manage, nothing went awry. Even the threatening clouds held back the rain for the event.

Grossman was on planning committees for tables three and four, "South Seas" and "Green Acres," respectively. "Green Acres" held a bevy of straw roosters, chickens and geese, with printed flour sacks adorning the chairs. "South Pacific" was draped with fishing nets caught with shells and starfish and a miniature palm tree in the center.

All of the tables were professionally photographed, and will be placed in a book, "Entertaining with Angels," to be sold for further proceeds for Kids and the Arts. Dawn Nelson, club president, said the book will include recipes and menus along with the photos.

'Lavender Dreams' First Place Classical

After an elegantly-catered buffet lunch, Nelson and co-chairs Wynne Good and Lydia Springer introduced sponsors and issued awards to winners of the table decorating contest.

Classical category awards began with an honorable mention to Table 26, "Sunflowers." Third place went to Table 1, "Wedding in Roses." Table 2, "Moonlight and Roses," took second. Table 16, "Lavender Dreams," won first with a spill of pale purple ribbons and flowers atop a maypole.

In the Theatrical category, Table 3, "South Pacific," won an honorable mention. Table 24, "Alice in Wonderland," won third. Table 45, "Swan Lake," won second. Table 29, "Out of Africa," took first with its romantic notions.

"Out of Africa" was a mélange of antique props such as an old typewriter and aged camera, set against the backdrop of animal skins, old leather-bound books and elephant carvings. Smooth amber drinking goblets glistened amongst a pair of black metal binoculars.

'Out of Africa' First Place Theatrical

"Alice in Wonderland" invited guests to "steal" a character’s seat in Lewis Carroll’s fabled tea party. With place cards labeled "Mad Hatter" and "March Hare," the table was surrounded by a carpet of red and white rose petals on the lush lawn. Plates and bottles of treats invited guests to partake, with labels such as "Drink Me."

In the Professional category, Table 5, "Russian Fantasy" placed with an honorable mention. Table 41, "Barefoot Dreams," won third. Table 13, "Tropical Paradise," took second place. Table 48, "Always Elegant," garnered first with a graceful tangle of curly willow branches and silver candlesticks.

Even those tables that went without awards were remarkable. Table 23, "The Sound of Music," had ribbons with musical compositions inked onto their parchment-colored surfaces, plus the played recording of the musical’s score emanating from somewhere hidden under a velvet cover in the center. Cookies in the shape of a treble clef rested at each place. Napkins proclaimed "Do" "Re" and "Mi" in embroidered words around the table. Table 27, "My Fair Lady," constructed a tablecloth overlay out of a delightful old-fashioned dress, with the bodice of the dress suspended around the umbrella pole. A frilly hat and a mask of Audrey Hepburn’s charming face topped the floating centerpiece.

Nelson said the event is one of the most successful fundraisers in Ventura County.

'Always Elegant' First Place Professional

"We recognized the importance of the arts, especially in the lives of children," said Jones. Last year the Arts Alliance gave $750,000 to support the arts center, as ticket sales are not enough to keep it running.