Festival of the Fountains Golden Gala

Marli Iverson, Cathi Hatch, Patti Payne, Jackie Mansfield,
Ginger Ackerley, Patty Barrier

Last night Ken and I attended the Festival of the Fountains Golden Gala celebrating Pacific Science Center's 50th Anniversary Year.  The co-chairs this year were Ginger Ackerley, Kim Ackerley, Ted Ackerley and Chris Ackerley.  The entire Ackerley family has had a long-term association with supporting Pacific Science Center over the years.

Jimmy Barrier, Ken Hatch

As we arrived, we were greeted with a belly dancer and walked the long red carpet to the party.  Along the way, we were stopped several times by volunteers who were sharing science "moments" with the arriving guests.  Ken seemed to enjoy the belly dancer more than the science moments!

Cathi Hatch, Theresa Dowell Jones,
Ken Hatch, Lisa Iland

Sally Behnke, Dottie Simpson

Patty Barrier and Jackie Mansfield show their bugs to
Ginger Ackerley

When we walked into the party, we were impressed with the huge turn-out this year.  I heard that last night was either a record or at least one of the biggest years ever.  During the cocktail reception, we had the chance to catch up and talk with scores of people, some of whom we hadn't seen in awhile including Phil & Geda Condit, Karen & Chuck Lytle, Penny & Mick Thackery, Kelly & Peter McLaughlin, Tina Orr-Cahill, Nicole Condit & Peter Duncan, Theresa & Greg Jones, Stephen Hilpert & Lisa Iland, Sally Behnke, Dottie Simpson, Chris & Jim Jiambalvo, Colleen & Guy Brown, Randa Minkarah, Christa & Charles Grinstein, Barbara Cahill, Dorothy & Dave Fluke, Jill Heerensperger, Carol Wright, David Ferrar.Renee & Bob Braun, Kim Ackerley, Doug Armintrout, Kristie Nordstrom, Steve Kutz & Courtney Womack, Glenna Olson, Patti Payne, and Mary Knell.

We used the newly installed elevator to descend to the first level for dinner and almost had to eject Chug Grinstein since he was the last person on and the elevator was complaining that it was overloaded.  But, we travelled safely down a level.

David Ferrar, Carol Wright, Ken Hatch

The tables were ablaze with fuschia tablecloths centered with elegant white floral arrangements and there were water sprites in costume in the pools with the fountains and their movements were very balletic.  The best part about the table settings was however the robotic "bugs" (perhaps meant to be scarabs?) at each place setting.  Our table mates were Patty & Jimmy Barrier, Marli & John Iverson and Jackie & Peter Mansfield.  Patty, Jackie and Marli got quite excited about the bugs and proceeded to have their bugs give them head massages.  Jackie attempted to keep hers at her neckline and commented that the bug was "applying just the right pressure".  I, of course, was far too sophisticated to play with bugs!?

Ken Hatch, Lisa Iland, Stephen Hilbert

We were all delighted to see our hostess, Ginger Ackerley and posed for photos with her just before we were served the first course.  Lisa Dupar Catering handled the food and service and I thought both were amazingly good considering the number of people being served.  My favorite courses were the entree course which included seared grren olive marinated halibut and cocoa nib crusted tenderlin served with herb and orange scented couscous, asparagus, roasted garlic jus, lemon creme fraiche and fried leeks and the dessert course which was a crisp layered almond pastry with orange blossom custard.

Gone to the Bugs! Patty Barrier, Jackie & Peter Mansfield

After dessert, Ken and Jimmy departed while Patty and I stayed to go through the Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharoahs exhibit.  But first, we posed for a photo with Barbara Cahill and our "smokin' hot cocktails".  The exhibit was so impressive.  My favorite pieces were an oversized statue of King Tut who appeared all-powerful and to be looking directly at us, a sarcaphogus for a pet cat, a highly detailed golden sarcaphogus which had contained King Tut's stomach and some golden flip-flops.

Water Sprite in the Fountains

I was ready to totter out and go home to bed when Patty got a second wind and was hoping to dance to the great music of the Katrina Kope Quartet and DJ Ravi Drums.  The dance floor was packed and thankfully Patty didn't find anyone for us to dance with, but next she proceeded straight to the Dante's Inferno Dogs hot dog stand where we split a hot dog; my half was quite plain with only regular mustard while her half included hot mustard and jalapeno peppers. 

King Tut stomach sarcophagus

Brian Marcinek, who was at the  hot dog stand at the same time we were ordering, ordered a hot dog with the works which included a fat ribbon of cream cheese, sauerkraut, hot mustard, hoisin sauce, Sriracha Sweet Chili Pepper sauce and jalapeno peppers.  I had to take a Zantac in the middle of the night after not even finishing my half very tame hot dog.  I can't imagine what Brian needed to take to make it through the night without indigestion; maybe a fire extinguisher!?

We finished off our post-dinner eating extravaganza with a Top Pot Hand-Forged Doughnut delivered to us by Courtney Womack and a little Coca-Cola to wash it all down. Thank you, Courtney!

All in all, it was a memorable party with lots of fascinating people and multitudes of things to see and do!  Happy Birthday, Pacific Science Center!