Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Auction encourages guests to look like furniture

COOL STUFF: A nonprofit company called Design Response is helping raise money for both itself and the San Jose Museum of Art by holding an auction April 25 at the museum. Design Response donates used but good-quality furniture to nonprofit groups throughout the valley. The new Art School room at the San Jose Museum of Art has been made more functional and comfortable through Design Response's previous donations.

The April auction will be both live and silent, conducted by Sotheby's. Designers, artists and architects have been invited to design a unique piece of furniture to be auctioned off that night.

Guests are encouraged to come dressed creatively. The more they can look like a piece of furniture, the better. Cocktail buffet will be catered by Spago, and the fundraiser is called Cool Stuff. A drawing to win a Mercedes-Benz M Class off-road vehicle will be part of the action, at $100 a chance. Tickets to the fundraiser are $125/$200 and are available at 271-6840.

Alexandra Hausen is the event chair, and Helen Carreker is a member of the committee. Carreker founded Design Response eight years ago after running her own interior design firm for 10 years. Carreker saw a lot of good furnishings go to waste during that time and thought something should be done about it.

Other Saratogans on the DR board are Steve Benzing, Karen Florence, Rosemary Tisch and administrative assistant Jan deCarion. A search is currently under way for an executive director for the nonprofit.

BIG APPLE BYTE: The Silicon Valley Charity Ball expects to raise $1 million at its gala this year, to be held April 18 at the McEnery Convention Center. The ball is spearheaded by a board of directors, with Saratogans leading the way: Lori Fox is president; Karen Krueger, vice president; and Nick Streit, treasurer. Other board members are spouses Michael Fox and Lynne Streit and J.P. Puette. David Heiman of Los Gatos is the second vice president.

The theme of the ball is "Silicon Valley Takes a Byte of the Big Apple," and the convention center will be transformed into a version of New York City. The event will benefit 39 local charities and feature singer Tony Bennett as the main entertainment.

Full Spectrum, a 19-piece swing band, and Big City Revue, a dance band, will play. Tickets are $250 each, and the number is 260-0594. Ten local corporations sponsor the fundraiser with donations of $45,000 each.

BUTTER PADDLE: The Butter Paddle carries a line of mixes called Wholesome Classics of Saratoga, packaged in beer-bottle like containers because the addition of beer is all the mixes need. By purchasing same you can create nine- grain bread or fudgie brownies with very little effort on your part.

Caryl Pozos, head buyer for the Paddle, reports some newcomers to the BP lineup: a line of French Provence tableware, new metal serving pieces and travel items such as hairdryers, clock radios and night lights. The Paddle also carries photo frames that have recordings built in so you can hear as well as see those special people in your life.

Saratoga is getting more and more tourists from abroad, as well as the U.S., each summer, Pozos reports. She is aware of this influx because many of these visitors buy gifts from the Butter Paddle. Julie Wise is manager of the store, which benefits Eastfield Ming Quong, and Cathy Lynn is president of the auxiliary, which numbers 85 members.

STEINBECK SALUTE: Six Saratogans were part of the John Steinbeck Birthday Fete in Cannery Row at the Monterey Bay Aquarium--Anne and Bob Louden, Audry Lynch, Sue and Jack Mallory and Louise Webb. Steinbeck scholar Maury Dunbar of Foothill College and Art Ring, a volunteer with the Cannery Row Association, joined them. All are members of the local Steinbeck book discussion group and next year vow to make it a two-day commemorative.

RIVERS OF CHOCOLATE: This year's chocolate tasting to benefit Social Advocates for Youth will be March 29, 4-7 p.m., at Villa Montalvo. Sent Sovi and The Plumed Horse chefs will be part of the chocolate extravaganza, which will feature chocolate tasting and demos, as well as silent auction, entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and wine from six wineries. For tickets at $50 each, call 253-3540.

WIND ENSEMBLE: Jennifer Chu and Mimi Choi of Saratoga were two of the 12 performers in the wind ensemble of the San Jose Symphony Youth Orchestra that performed March 15 at Le Petit Trianon. The ensemble features advanced musicians from the youth orchestra, who learn a special repertoire and receive special training.

SUMI-E DEMO: Mariko Suzuki of Tokyo will demonstrate the art of sumi-e brush painting at Hakone Gardens March 29 from 1 to 2 p.m. with a workshop to follow. The Suzukis are living in Saratoga during Mr. Suzuki's business assignment. A $10 donation is requested for the class. Call 867-2634 to register.

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