She had been a proud Victorian belle in her 1910 heyday when Pittsburgh oil wildcatter Henry Stewart built the Italianate manse for his wife and two sons in the East End.
Fast forward nearly 100 years of hard living and a subdivide into six apartments, and you wouldn't believer her fall from grace. Neither did Diane and Scott Dietrich a lawyer with Alcoa, who bought the brickpile last year and began stripping away years of neglect while restoring it to a single family home. Decorating, like love, can be a long-term commitment. But they knew Cinderella was in need of major cosmetic surgery.
Enter the fairy godmothers of the Junior League of Pittsburgh and a team of designers for the wand-waving metamorphosis called Designers Show House that debuted Friday night (through May 15). To benefit JLP's long list of programs that enrich the quality of life for women, children and the elderly in our community.
It takes an industry to prepare a Show House -- the shelter industry -- as well an intrepid army of volunteers to coordinate its breakneck schedule. Designers had three weeks from first view to drop-dead day, otherwise known as showtime, oh my nerves, barely 48 hours before the preview party. Hardly "A Walk in the Park," but the project was so called because of its proximity to Highland Park.
We saw rooms that combined old-money style with a chic modern temper. Drama and impact, rather than chic understatement, are the watchwords. Here are but a few standouts:
After a walkabout, 375 black-ties tiptoed through the raindrops to the party tent for cocktails, grazing by the Fluted Mushroom and dancing where we spotted Show House chair Kari Brumback (celebrating her b-day!) with Dave ; gala chairs Elizabeth Winch and Michelle Koehler with Joe ; honorary chair Jennifer Antkowiak of KDKA-TV and Joe ; Lori and David Kuhn ; Ann and Dick Bondi ; Tricia and Bill Kassling ; Cookie and Gary Roberson ; Christie and John Smith ; Stephanie Hoogendoorn ; Kimberly Kisner and Lewis Reagan ; Julie and Mike Dever ; Susanne and Jim Wilkinson ; Bev and Steve Elliott ; Robin and David McDonnell ; Jane Werner ; and Julia and John Gleason .
As well as Cathy and Lou Testoni ; JLP prexy Mary Adele Krolikowski and John ; Marby and Tom Senker ; Annie and Gus Engel ; Betsy Wotherspoon ; Jill and Alan Boarts ; Sarah and Bryson Datt ; Lowrie Ebbert ; Millie and Gary Ryan ; Suzy Golitko ; Tacy Byham ; Heather Chronis ; gorgeous sisters Janice Mellon and Kimberly Phillips ; JLP prez-elect Lynne Chadwick and mom Jan ; Caroline Roche ; Lisa Chilcote ; florist Leon who did the posies; Jan Wagner and Jimmy Dunn ; Marc and JoAnn Goldberg with Aaron and Liza ; Jamie Siegel ; Pamela and Bruce Rende ; Diane and Dan Marks ; Loretta Lobes ; and June with choreographer-turned-artist Mario Melodia who charmed a back staircase with his Tuscany landscape.
May these rooms inspire the decorator in you.
| Tip Topper |
Corporate, creative, charitable and hostess of the first water, Nadine Bognar opened her Mt. Lebanon manse for a stunning cocktail party. If the hallmark of a great home is that it's full of charm, originality, comfort and taste, the same can be said of this one that has the elegance of a well-bred sanctuary and beautiful gardens large enough for grandchildren to play hide-and-seek in. And it was built with stones from a Bognar & Co. quarry in Maryland.
Nadine is co-chairing the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy's Spring Hat Luncheon that will unfurl on May 7 in Highland Park. This fashionable rite of spring has become such a hot numero that it sold out a week after the invite hit the mails. Thursday's fete was a merci beaucoup for patron heavies and, when news of Nadine's party broke, PPC was deluged with reservations. Seems everyone's falling over backward to see her chez fabulous.
If the setting and bouquets everywhere were haute divine (trust me, there were), then the Duquesne Club rose to the occasion with shamelessly seductive hors d'oeuvres, quaffs of reserve wines and bags of Viennese pastries as a parting gift. Doesn't everyone love thatâ¢
Of course, the luncheon's other co-chairs -- Drs. Helene Blodgett with Todd , Tim Condron , Lynn Davenport with Ron and Ranny Fergurson with Jay -- showed. As did honorary chair Ritchie Scaife ; Kathy and Joe Guyaux ; Martha and John Martin ; Jodi Amos ; PPC director Meg Cheever and George ; Graciana and Rich Fennell ; Bonnie Walker Chirigos ; Karen and Dr. Joseph Kelley ; Dr. John and Dolores Smith Barber ; Catherine Loevner ; Dee Bold ; Dr. Elliott Kramer and Bill Modrak ; Sandy Bettor ; Judy Linaburg ; Barb Mendlowitz ; Bernadette Smith ; Frances DeBroff ; Rose and Dr. Mike Kutsenkow ; Barbara and Alan Ackerman ; Carol Caroselli ; Joanie Kamin ; Betty Howard ; Lisa and Tom Michael ; Lana Neumeyer ; Mary Anne and Erica Tihey ; and Sally Cox with Jeff Lehman .
The hats are coming.
| Tie-ing One On |
Saturday night and the place to be was the Omni William Penn as the Southwestern Chapter of the American Red Cross showed its true colors during its Red Tie Affair, a star-spangled tribute to the American spirit of volunteerism. Always on the scene when disasters strike area citizens, the SWARC proved to be party-ready for this patriotic celebration that added $150,000 to the budget.
As stars and sunbursts sparkled on the grand ballroom's ceiling, 370-plus guests enjoyed a five-course feast that included Black Angus tenderloin and red snapper Francaise. Apres-dinner, local rocker B.E. Taylor joined Jeff Jimerson & Airborne for a rousing set that got plenty of feet out of their seats and on the dance floor. Among the red ties were gala chair Teres Lucot with hubby John ; ARC's Tim Tassone with Ilona ; honorary hosts D wayne Woodruff and Joy ; Libby and Roger DuBois ; Laila and Tom Krause ; Carol Philp ; Bob Kerr ; Mary Anne and Hoddy Hanna ; Ruth Anne and Ralph Papa ; Rob and Emily Mack Jamison ; Joan and Ross Fazio ; Sally Wiggin ; Susan and Joan Rees ; Marilyn Cay and Ray ; emcee Mike Clark of WTAE-TV; Rick and Jill Berardi ; and Tracy and Dr. Todd Moses .
-- John Altdorfer
| The Sweetest Gift |
Candy man Frank Sarris knows a thing or two about giving. But the founder of Canonsburg's Sarris Candies discovered himself on the receiving end of a very special gift two years ago when godson George Pihakis donated a kidney to his ailing godfather. Both were on hand during Friday's National Kidney Foundation benefit at the Duquesne Club, where 125 guests honored Sarris and wife Athena with the organization's Gift of Lift Award. And he returned the life-saving favor with a generous endowment to UPMC's Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, where researchers are working to save lives and offer hope to millions who suffer from kidney disease.
After a reception in the Patio Room, the party moved upstairs for dinner as Dr. Derrick Latos (with Michelle ) and Linda Dindak (with John ) were recognized for their medical and therapeutic contributions. On hand to celebrate life were board chair Jack Norris ; Ellen and Tom Golonski ; Carol and Joe Massaro ; Clyde Jones ; Pam and Ken McCrory ; Fran and Mike McDowell ; Dr. Amadeo Marcos ; Dr. Beth Piraino ; Lisa and Bruce Bowden ; Angie Longo ; Drs. Vered Lewy-Weiss and James ; Mary and David Baranik ; and Cathy and Matt Thomas .
-- J. A.
| Seeing Red |
Linda Bucci 's heart is in the right place. "I made the American Heart Association my mission because my own sweet mother suffers from heart disease and, sadly, Tony (her husband) lost his mother to the same illness," she told Wednesday's crowd of women who gathered at Ruth Young , her elegant Shadyside boutique that's in full feminine flower for spring.
The spotlight was not on fashion, though it was impossible to resist these beautiful clothes that had my credit card number written all over them. Rather the chi-chi reception was another important reminder that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America ... and it's preventable. Especially through diet and exercise, as Renee Sarracino , fitness director at Club One, reminded us. Like we really need desserts, rightâ¢
Going red for women were such as Judy Olson , prexy of the local AHA; Alma Michaels ; Carol Massaro ; Peggy Snavely ; Myra Lalli ; Virginia Davis ; Patty Cheshire ; Pat Fenton ; Phyllis Kokkila ; June Nagy Ferguson ; Evelyn Sobol ; Elaine Rizza ; and Jennifer Fraps .
Heart beat.
| So Bold |
Unstoppable has always been the only word for grande dame Dolores Bold because she has twice the energy of most women half her age. Stylish, gracious and seen at the best soirees, she could also stock a millinery shop with her fabulous collection of hats.
It's no surprise that Magee-Womens Hospital honored her with the Elizabeth McCullugh Award at Monday's swelegant luncheon at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. Dee is concerned with making things better for the tiniest newborns and, since 1975, she's been a tireless fundraiser for neonatal research through the 25 Club.
Applauding Dee's good deeds were such as M-W prexy Leslie Davis ; Dottie Florence ; Connie Rockwell ; Katherine Freyvogel ; Terri Hastings ; Bill Pietragallo ; Marsetta Schweiger ; Dr. Jon Watchko ; Pat Lewis ; Jettie Mooney ; Norma Sobel ; Frances Kane ; Rona Dane ; Bobbi Aiello ; Dani Grego ; Carol Massaro ; Barbara Norris ; Arlene Sokolow ; and Debbie Linhart .
Dee-va.
| Varekai |
So many names in neon, so little time. But Cirque du Soleil still has the edge in sheer spectacle. Love it. We were stunned by the chiropractic miracles of the socko-boffo road show that has folks lining up for tix like they were giving away free caviar. Circus⢠Au contraire , Coco, it's a magic carpet ride.
Performers are buffed to an MTV gloss ... which best describes the slick score, the magnificent netherworld costumes and breathtaking feats of derring-do that will keep you on the edge of your itty-bitty seat from start to finish (through May 8). Under Tuesday's Grand Chapiteau, we spotted Greg Terpin and Annette Ganassi (sporting a huge sparkler); Estelle Comay and Dr. Bruce Rabin ; Natalie and Judge Larry Kaplan with Michael and Ellen Terry Kaplan Goldstein ; and Debbie and Jim Bruno .
| Daffodil Days |
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The first whiff of spring beckoned some 250 style-setters to the Pittsburgh Field Club for Thursday's sunny Daffodil Luncheon that blossomed with a teacup auction and fashion show. Hosted by the women of Fox Chapel Episcopal Church , this 18th annual hive of good deeds is funding The Neighborhood Academy, the college-prep high school serving inner-city youth.
WTAE-TV's Kelly Frye smartly narrated the sashay of spring fashions so wearable that many of the same ladies who lunched modeled them at the show. Standouts: chairs Linda Ban and Allison Burgan ; Sandy Woncheck ; Jan Boni ; Susan Winters ; Karen Slevin ; Carrie Casey ; Kathy Wiley ; Anne Englert ; Mardi Royston ; Kathy Matta Klingenhoffer ; and Dessa Voelker.
| Quick Takes |
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