An Elegant And Beneficial Way To Set A Table

You may want to rethink the ratty tablecloths and chipped china you plan to use over the holidays.

That’s if you go to the Connecticut Valley Garden Club’s second annual “Set To Celebrate” fundraiser Saturday benefiting the handicap accessible Heritage Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park.

The table design extravaganza at the historic Town & County Club opened with a party Thursday night. The reception gave supporters a sneak peek at what a lush table can look like, and included the chance to wine and dine in the magazine worthy venue.

Organizations including Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Mark Twain House & Museum, businesses including Lux Bond & Green, De Vars Phillips Florist and Kellie Burke Interiors and designers including Ruth Loiseau, Richard Ott and John Bates pulled out the stops on china, antiques, flatware and flowers for the event that also included childrens’ tables, buffets and themed designs.

“There are so many people to thank,” said Barbara Kiefer, one of the coordinators for the event. “Our goal is to raise all the money needed to put the new rose garden in, and I think we on well on our way.”

Among those at the event was Nancy MacColl, president of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum and a former garden club president.

Among her duties for the night, selling gilded raffle boxes for an equally gilded $4,800 Judith Leiber clutch.

“It’s a beautiful bag,” she said, donning a star-studded headband as she worked the room.

The exhibit is open today (Friday) until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Town & County Club is at 22 Woodland St. Hartford.

For more pictures go here