The Coburn's Hallowestival

Hostess Eliza Flug and Jody Foster

It was definitely the most amazing family Halloween party I have ever seen!  The party was hosted by Eliza Flug and Chris Coburn at their home in Broadmoor.  As Jimmy Barrier, Patty Barrier and Ken and I pulled up in front of the Coburn home, we were all astounded with the number of activities, the decorations and the people,

Jimmy & Patty Barrier

First, Shenandoah Drive was closed in front of their home in order to accomodate the bouncy house, the Molly Moon truck and the tent in the street filled with hay bales and children's activities at a dozen different tables such as face painting, balloon animals, etc.  There were also three Shetland ponies for small riders just behind the Molly Moon truck!  There were fog machines adding to the ambiance, orange colored lights, and an arbor with Tootsie Roll pops, spider webs and spiders hanging overhead leading up the stairs to the house and the bigger tent.  It was a feast for the senses!

Michael & Spencer Hatch

Jackson Hatch

Alicia & Andrew Hatch

The main tent near the house with hundreds of big paper lanterns hanging overhead included a dance floor, a stage for the DJ with laser lights and a big corner bar where there was many beverage choices including specialty Halloween cocktails for the adults.

Steve Kutz & Courtney Womack

Heather Sandoval,  Ken Hatch

Everyone was costumed including the dozens of children that were included in the party.  There were lots of fairy princesses among the 3-4 year old girls attending, plus dinasaurs, Transformers, cowboys and super heroes among the young boys.  Eliza was beautiful in a celestial blue Empress costume and Chris was dressed as Darth Vader.  Michael Hatch along with his oldest two sons Jackson and Spencer were dressed as Transformers, while baby Andrew was dressed as a little monkey and was carried around by his mommy Alicia Hatch, who was dressed as a safari leader.  Patty Barrier came as a Barbie Doll in a box and Jimmy was Woody from Toy Story.  Greg Jones was a large pirate with very bad teeth,  Theresa Dowell was a witch, and their daughter, Jeannine was Carmen Miranda. Steve Kutz and Courtney Womack came as French dandies from the 18th century.  Betty Tong was Super Woman, Jody Foster was Toy Story's Jessie, Leigh Canlis was a bumblebee and Paige Green Dunn and Cyndee Halper were witches.  Heather Sandoval was a sexy can-can dancer, Lauren Selig was a scarecrow and Lorna Kneeland was a flapper.  Jay & Pam Green came as themselves and Eliza's mom, Pat Flug was dressed all in black as a raven.

Baby Andrew Hatch with Godmother Betty Tong

A couple of the favorite adult costumes were the beautiful woman dressed as a "Black Russian" and her partner in a short Scottish kilt with ice skates hanging over his shoulder.  It took us awhile to figure it out and he had to help us.  He was a "Scotch on the Rocks".

The food was exactly the kind of food that both children and adults love including tiny cups of chili, cones of curly French fries, miniature toasted cheese sandwiches, little corn dogs, chicken nuggets, sliders, chocolate dipped strawberries next to the ghoulish ice sculpture, and of course Molly Moon ice cream.

Greg Jones, Betty Tong

Ken Hatch, Lauren Selig

Other activities included dancing, an amazing magician who confounded everyone with his tricks and then climbed into a balloon and back out again to the delight of the adults and the children.  There was a photo booth and a very scary looking couple that was perfect for photo ops.

Magician climbs inside balloon

As we left, we stopped by the Molly Moon truck to take ice cream with us to eat on the way home (even though Jimmy had forbidden us bringing it into his brand-new Mercedes).  He was definitely more bark than bite however, so we enjoyed every last creamy bite as we travelled back across the bridge home.  Yum!

Spectacular Fall Day

The weather was beautiful yesterday; crisp and sunny.  A perfect day for ZiZi to enjoy the fall colors and leaves by the pool.

ZiZi Zinfandel Z-Dog

A Spooktacularly Good Time!

Hostess Judith Kindler and Cathi "in the fog"

Last night, Ken and I attended Judith Kindler's, Kyle Johnson's and Dino Martini's screamingly frightastic costume party at Judith Kindler's Studios.  The decorations were truly amazing!  When we walked in the door, Judith was adjusting the fog machine that was billowing fog in the entry that also contained four giant flickering silver candlelabra, a Mona Lisa that looked disturbingly ghoulish and three stuffed bunnies that had met an untimely death by hanging.

Debi & Len Giannola

Ken Hatch and our Host, Kyle Johnson

Each area of her studios was visually compelling and told a story from her new intellectually stimulating art pieces that were decidedly shredded at the bottom, to the menacing rat surrounded by worshipping bunnies, the two-headed, fanged dolls,  and the pumpkin head bodies displayed near the hors d'oeuvres buffet.  Dino had gone all out with a drill and "carved" dozens of orange and white pumpkins which were generously displayed throughout.

Ken Hatch, Love Israel

There were prizes for best costumes, which made me realize that next year, I really will have to work at this, because the prizes were some of Judith's art!  Judith and Kyle were dressed as bhagavans and had their own ashram, but of course they couldn't win the prizes.  Kyle was Swami Kylananda and Judith was his "devoted" disciple.  There were dozens of really amazing costumes including Debi (face lift gone awry) & Len Giannola (as pirate, Jack Sparrow), witch Pam Anderson (what a chin!) and her Flyboy Tim McKee, Wizardess Chloe & Arab Prince, Lance Mueller, Puck & Woodland Fairy Bob & Kristi Dierecks, witch Carol Wright, Bonny & John Midby (he dressed to look just like a commercial developer), Love Israel (wizard) and his wife Honesty, jack-o-lantern, Debra Weasea & brainy Steve Walker, werewolf, Nathan Goderstad & John Christensen, Mimi Pearce and her Spiderman boyfriend Alan Boyd, and lots of other people whom either I didn't know or couldn't recognize who also looked astonishing.  Ken and I were Moroccan snake charmers of course.

Judith organized the best costume award selection by asking the guests to please cheer for their favorite costumes.  There was lots of hooting and hollering for each semi-finalist, but if she registered noise even a slight decibel quieter than the previous contestant, she quickly and decisively moved that contestant along with an exhortation, "You're out!"   I think the final winners included Debi & Len Giannola and Chloe & Lance Mueller, Marita Dingus and Preston and very scary looking dentist, Carol Loe and her equally scary-looking friend.

Witch Pam Anderson & Flyboy

Judith organizing the best costume voting

It was fun to see the difference in the outfits Chloe & Lance Mueller were wearing versus what they had worn to the Barrier Mercedes party just a couple of nights before.  They were totally unrecognizable.  HERE is the link to the blog with their previous photo.

Costume Competition Semi-Finalists

Glamourous Witch Carol Wright

I can certainly say that both Ken (sometimes known as the "Party Curmudgeon" but not last night!) and I had a wonderful time.  It is so much fun to be friends with Judith and Kyle!  It really was a spooktacularly good time!

It was a Happening at the new Barrier Motors Mercedes Store

Michael Vena, Chloe & Lance Mueller, Jimmy Barrier

Last night Ken and I attended the grand opening celebration of the new Barrier Motors Mercedes store in Bellevue.  It was a huge turnout of over 400 people who were there to see brand-new Mercedes automobiles, to see and be seen, and to sip wine and savor the delicious Daniel's Broiler passed hors d'oeuvres.  The automobiles sparkled and so did the many VIP guests in attendance.

Jimmy Barrier, Ken Hatch

The new dealership building is a spectacular space with very high ceilings and an immense showroom floor along with major service bay areas, office spaces and customer waiting areas.  The architecture was handled by friend, Lance Mueller who was attending the celebration along with his wife, Chloe.

Patty Barrier, Anthony Bay, Cathi

As we arrived, we immediately ran into many other friends including Peggy & Michael Swistak, Sue & Chuck Andonian, Jerome Brown, SaSa & Ken Kirkpatrick, Gail Cottle & Ren Brown, Lillian & Anthony Bay, plus many others.  The party hosts included our dear friends, Patty & Jimmy Barrier, Kjell Schei, and Michael Vena.

We also saw several friends who own wineries there pouring their wines including Anne-Marie & Tom Hedges of Hedges Family Estate, Bijal Shah of Woodhouse Wine Estates and Jay Soloff of DeLille Cellars.  Jay was so pleased that their new Doyenne 2008 Syrah had just received a 94 point rating.  I tasted it and thought it was lovely.

To add to the celebratory and high-energy ambiance and conversation among friends, there was a band playing and a line-up of at least 20 valets on duty busy parking and retrieving all the guests' cars.  It was a "happening" place to be.

Jay Soloff

Tom & Anne-Marie Hedges

Kjell Schei, Cathi Hatch

Jerome Brown, Ken Hatch

3 Musketeers: Ken Hatch, Michael Vena, Ken Kirkpatrick

Congratulations to Patty, Jimmy, Michael and Kjell and everyone at Barrier Motors on your beautiful new dealership space!

Medical Teams International One in a Million Dinner

Joan Wallace

On Monday evening, Ken and I attended Medical Teams International's One in a Million Dinner hosted by Joan & Bob Wallace and Chris & Jim Warjone.  What an inspirational evening!

We were invited to join them for an El Gaucho dinner at the Mike and Kathy Holmgren Center in Redmond.  When I set my GPS with the address and followed the directions, Ken was sure that we could not possibly be going to a place where a dinner would be held since we were surrounded by warehouse spaces.  As it turned out, the GPS was right.  The dinner was held in Medical Teams International's warehouse space which also contains an incredible visual installation that includes thought-provoking dioramas and multisensory exhibits of some of the most desperate human suffering in the world due to war, poverty, disease and natural disasters.  Walking through the exhibits provided an experience that transported us to places where Medical Teams International helps the lame walk, heals diseases and transforms lives.

Chris Warjone

Neither Ken nor I knew alot about Medical Teams International, but were fascinated to learn more.  Their mission states that they demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world.  We had a chance to hear testimonials from several of the passionate volunteers including Jeff & Janey Pinneo, Joan Wallace and Chris Warjone.  

The MTI volunteers are known for their passion, compassion and adaptability.  One of the factoids I heard that stands out in my mind is that MTI has 30 years of experience in helping people in 16 different countries and has found that by investing in helping women and children in developing countries that the greatest return on the human resources can be generated.   A disturbing and startling statistic is 22,000 children die everyday of preventable diseases, while a reassuring statistic is that 97% of all the funding they raise goes to programs and services.

Saying on warehouse wall at Holmgren Center

Joan Wallace told an especially heart-wrenching story about when she was volunteering at a distant MTI site and gave an almost empty sip-top water bottle to a nursing mother in a war-torn third world country, who treated that bottle as the most important gift she had ever received.  She got down on her knees in front of Joan to thank her for what she considered a gift of great value.  Joan said that it really was that important because it would allow that mother to feed her baby water which could save her baby's life.

We also enjoyed seeing and talking with Barbara Morgan and her friend Karin Powers, Danielle & Brad Tilden, Marilyn & Bill Smith, and MTI Executive Director, Jim Mhoon.

Wine was served courtesy of Martin Barrett and Monte Regier of Sozo Planet.  The goal of Sozo is to produce and deliver artisan crafted wine for purchase and at the same time feed a substantial number of people who live in poverty. Every Sozo product consumed provides anywhere from 1-25 meals for orphans, widows and homeless who lack basic needs.  They have put together a MTI Wine Club subscription that allows MTI supporters to underwrite the costs of life saving vaccinations for a child as they purchase and enjoy the wine.

It is always so inspiring and humbling to see so many people who are working so hard to make a difference in our world and I am proud to be associated with each of them.  They are succeeding, one life at a time.   

Happy Birthday To My Quirky Friends

Birthday Girls, Suzy Krabbe and Diane Kuenster

This week, I joined friends Jan Rogers and Londi Burnett at Bis on Main to celebrate Suzy Krabbe's and Diane Kuenster's birthdays.  What fun to take just a brief time out to celebrate with them.  Both birthday girls are exactly the same age within one month of each other.

They each have quirks which I especially love.  Diane saves everything!  She has every Starbuck's card that she has ever owned including the first one that her daughter, Kathy, purchased for her many years ago.  One of the really fun parts of Diane's saving habit for me is that she includes old photos inside each of the birthday cards she gives us each year.  It is so much fun to see the old photos and remember all the fun we have had together over the years.  Plus, we looked pretty good all those years ago too!

Suzy sharing her cake.

One of Suzy's quirks is that she likes to recycle birthday cards and chastises us when we forget to use a sticky note on which to actually sign, so the card can be reused.  We all forgot this time, signing directly on the cards, which really did not meet the standard that she has tried to set for us.  She forgave all of us anyway, so we were all relieved.

Another good quirk is that Suzy always orders a hamburger for lunch and then only eats a small portion of it, but the best part is that she shares her French fries with all the rest of us.  We love that because everyone knows that as long as you don't order them yourself, that there are no calories when you consume "just a few".

Happy Birthday, Suzy and Diane!

ZINO Business Insights with Wendy Goffe & Kathryn Garrison

Wendy Goffe & Kathryn Garrison

Earlier this week, I attended a fascinating ZINO Business Insights luncheon at ZINO Society sponsor member, Graham & Dunn's boardroom featuring Wendy Goffe, Attorney at Graham & Dunn and another ZINO Society sponsor, CFA Kathryn Garrison of Moss Adams Wealth Advisors.  It was a beautiful sunny day to sit in the corner boardroom at the end of the pier drinking in the spectacular beauty of the bay.  

ZINO Business Insights working lunch

The working lunch was focused on tackling legal and tax issues for domestic partnerships, civil unions and unmarried couples covering issues affecting unmarried couples that have chosen not to marry or cannot marry for legal reasons.  The session examined the various domestic partnership, civil union and same-sex marriage laws, and the varying rights and resonsibilities they provide.  Also discussed was the planning that can be done to minimize taxes, minimize conflict, and ensure that the disposition of assets at death or dissolution of a relationship occurs as intended.

Wendy and Kathryn took turns sharing their knowledge, giving advice and answering questions for the attendees explaining that the laws that determine the rights and obligations of the parties in the event of death, disability or dissolution of the relationship that apply to married couples for the most part do not apply to unmarried couples. 

Wendy's practice focuses on estate planning, estate and gift taxation, probate and trust administration, charitable giving and non-profit trusts and corporations; and family-owned business succession planning.  Recently, she has given a number of presentations on the legal implications of changing laws regarding same gender partnerships. Specifically, Wendy was involved in the drafting of the Washington State Domestic Partnership Bill.

Kathryn is a financial advisor with Moss Adams Wealth Advisors. She advises executives and high net worth individuals in the creation of highly personaized financial plans and comprehensive wealth strategies.  She is a member of the firm's Portfolio Management Team, guiding the implementation of client investment portfolios. In addition to providing personal financial planning and investment management services, she also povides insurance analysis, estate planning, education planning, and innovative strategies for clients to incorporate philanthropy into their financial estate plans.

Thank you Wendy and Kathryn for sharing your knowledge with us.

Chihuly's Seniors Making Art Celebrates 20 Years

Cathi Hatch & Patty Barrier

Last night I was able to get Ken, the Party Curmudgeon, to join me for the Seniors Making Art Annual Gala celebrating 20 years.  Not only did he join me, but he actually said that he enjoyed himself too!  We were both relieved that the attire switched from black tie in previous years to merely cocktail attire this year.  As we were getting ready for the party, I didn't even have to listen to him complain about how hard it is to insert studs into a heavily starched formal shirt . . . blah, blah, blah . . . since he was able to just wear a dark suit and tie.  Happiness!

Wall of Chihuly Paintings

Seniors Making Art  was founded 20 years ago by Dale Chihuly with a purpose to produce professional art classes for seniors.  Since this event is a fundraiser to raise money in order to fulfill that mission, there were some exquisite Dale Chihuly glass pieces for sale as well as many colorful Chihuly paintings.  I loved that so many of the paintings, in addition to all the brilliant and bright colors, had glimmers of gold and silver in them too.  Betty & Kemper Freeman bought the entire wall of Chihuly paintings and generously plan to mount them in Lincoln Center in the area near the grand piano, so we will all be able to continue to enjoy seeing them.

Michael & Peggy Swistak with Ken Hatch

Honorary Event Co-Chairs, Leslie & Dale Chihuly and Event Co-Chairs, Amy & Brad Brotherton, along with Julie Lakey, Seniors Making Art Executive Director, and her staff, once again produced a flawless evening.  Though there is a "Raise the Paddle" segment, which was ably handled by Seniors Making Art board member and Mistress of Ceremonies, Patti Payne, it is one of the few Gala events where there is not an auction, so you can actually converse with your table mates.  Sue & Jim Bianco brought wonderful wines to share with us over dinner including a 2006 Peter Michael Les Pavots Red Proprietary Blend and a magnum of 2007 Peter Michael Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir.

Michael & Heather Sandoval

Ron & Bonnie Elgin

In addition to spending time with friends Patti, Jim, Sue, Julie, Betty and Kemper, we also enjoyed catching up with friends Karen & Chuck Lytle, Michael & Peggy Swistak, Patty Barrier, JJ McKay, Bonnie & Ron Elgin, Leslie & Dale Chihuly, Heather & Michael Sandoval, Tom Gores and his daughter Katherine. 

Dance music was provided by Billy Joe and the Dusty 45s.  Karen & Chuck Lytle began the evening by energetically dancing to the first song played by the band similar to a Dancing with the Stars featured dance and everyone applauded their courage and skill.  Later in the evening, JJ and I hit the dance floor and then I danced with his friend, Reid Walker, and Leslie Chihuly's friend, Pablo.  Ken was so relieved that he didn't have to dance too!

The most exciting part of the dancing was when the trumpet player in the band climbed up on top of the string bass barefoot as the bass player was playing, and lit his trumpet on fire and while it was on fire continued to balance atop the bass and play into a handheld microphone!  All the dancers stopped dancing so they could stare.  Wild!

JJ McKay, Reid Walker, Julie Lake, Patti Payne

Happy 20th Anniversary, Seniors Making Art!

Pilchuck Glass School Turns 40!

Ellen Bakke, Cathi Hatch, Colette Courtion, Patty Barrier,
Jan Hendrickson, Anita Braker

Last evening, Patty Barrier picked me up at home to go to the Pilchuck Glass School Annual Auction Gala where she had arranged a "Power Girls" table to help celebrate the 40th year of Pilchuck.  Jimmy was in San Francisco for a car dealers meeting and Ken, the Party Curmudgeon, was safely ensconced in front of the TV at home.

There were over 600 people in attendance and our tablemates included Colette Courtion, Jan Hendrickson, Ellen Bakke, Anita Braker with frequent visits by Pat Wallace, JJ McKay, Leslie Chihuly, Betty Rubenstein, John Otter, Brad Harlow, John Morris, Larry Hitchon and Tim Larsen.

Other friends we saw and talked with included Dale Chihuly, Dana Reid & Larry Hitchon, Alison Lewis Harlow & Brad Harlow, Dena Rigby, Duell Fisher, Connie Blumenthal, Joan Stonecipher, Mary Ann & John Hamer, Faye Hauberg Page, Ginny Ruffner, and a multitude of others.

It was fascinating to hear Faye Hauberg Page, daughter of original Pilchuck Glass School founder, talk onstage about the beginning of the Pilchuck Glass School and when her father and Dale Chihuly tramped through multiple acres on what was once a tree farm owned by her family to find just the right location for the school to be located where it is today.

Interior Fold Set Series by Benjamin Moore

The art was stunning!  Patty bid on and "won" a spectacular Benjamin Moore blown glass Interior Fold Set in the Live Auction.  Dale's gorgeous Silvered Soft Cylinder with Tangerine Lip Wrap blown glass piece went for well over value at $45,000.

Dale Chihuly Soft Cylinder Series

During the auction, the girls placed bets on what would be the selling price versus the stated value for each of the art pieces.  We would bet "under", "over" or "even".  As we began the auction, I was the only person at the table that bet the first item would go "over" value and since this was correct, each of the girls gave me one of their Fran's salted caramels as payment.  After the second auction item, when more of the Fran's caramels came my way, we decided to switch to quarters instead and we are still awaiting the outcome of who owes whom what and who was the grand winner since Patty became the bookie tracking the wins and losses in her program.  I'm hoping to be the recipient of the grand award (and the quarters too of course)!

All said, it was a marvelous evening with lots of money raised for art.  Happy 40th Birthday, Pilchuck!