Last evening I attended the opening Gala of the new Neiman Marcus at The Bravern in Bellevue. I was on the Honorary Committee and was contacted several times over the past few days by people looking for last minute tickets. It was a sold-out event of 1,200 people benefitting three beneficiaries; PONCHO, HopeLink and Overlake Hospital. Since I am involved on the PONCHO board as a past president and with HopeLink as co-chairman of the “Part of the Solution” campaign, I was thrilled with the prospect of $200,000 being raised and split between the three charities.
It was definitely a “Who’s Who” and a “Who’s That?!” party. One of the women that everyone was asking, “Who’s that?” about was a dark-haired woman who had her dress open in the back to below her hips showing off her black bra and black thong panties. Someone said that she was representing the new gym in the Bravern. This is possible because her body (most of which we could see) was definitely buff.
I saw and talked with dozens of friends there including Dave & Dorothy Fluke, Chuck & Karen Lytle, Sally Behnke, Dottie Simpson, Esther & Walter Schoenfeld, Renee Behnke, Janet True and her daughter Effie, Debbie Giannola, Michael & Alicia Hatch, Columba McGlynn, Sharon & Jay Ballantine, John & Mitzi Morris and their daughter, Cat, Linda & Dennis Mitchell, Susan & Jeff Brotman and their daughter Amanda and son-in-law Antoine, Tim & Jessica Blixseth, John Otter, Dena Rigby, Dana Reid & Larry Hitchon, Charles & Delphine Stevens, Joyce & Doug McCallum, Clodaugh & Bob Ash, Joan & Bob Wallace, Gregg & Lauren Bennett, Paul Birkeland, Marilyn & Richard Plunkett, Craig & Marion Hopkins, Bob Arnold, Pamela Rolfe, Gary Gayton, Sherry & Dave Bingham, Rich King, Magic Johnson, Patti Payne, Ellen Bakke, Kjell Schei, Karrie Blumenthal-Dutton, Christine Bloch & Joel Jackson, Roger Nyhus, Peter Wilson, Betty Tong, JJ McKay, SaSa & Ken Kirkpatrick, Peggy & Michael Swistak, Trisha Nerney, Leena & Mel Sturman, Betty Freeman, Patti Edwards, Nicole Vogel, Eileen Voettler, Joanne Baseler and her daughter Andrea, Lance & Chloe Mueller, Gene Juarez, Ian McNeil, Lada & Larry Schuiski, Susie Naficy, Stacy Lill, Mark & Nancy Pellegrino, Lauri Darneille & Mike Corliss, and the list goes on and on.
I attended the early VIP party and had the opportunity to meet Karen Katz, the Neiman Marcus President & CEO who along with Magic Johnson drew the winning name (not mine) for the incredible trip to Paris. She mentioned that they have been working over 15 years to finally get a full-service Neiman Marcus in this market! Everyone was dressed to the hilt and she also remarked that the Seattle grunge reputation certainly wasn’t in evidence at this party. Bookwalter Winery wines were being poured at the VIP pre-party and John Bookwalter, who is also currently serving as the Washington Wine Commission Chairman was also in attendance.
The party was great fun with over 30 bars and live entertainment on every floor. The food looked delicious, but I was so busy talking with so many friends that other than one crab cake, I didn’t get around to eating. The store itself is spectacular and I look forward to going back when I can actually focus on shopping. I think I could spend at least a week in the shoe department alone.
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