Press Releases
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica, a premier Southern California cultural center and gardens, is delighted to announce that its 2019 Mary Colby Tea fundraiser on May 4, 2019 brought in several thousands of dollars, with a net of approximately $7,000 toward its arts education programs for children.
Major fashion label St. John supported the event for the second year in a row with a fashion presentation of its Pre-Fall 2019 Collection for guests.
The Honorary Chair at the 2019 Tea was Madeline Martin Swinden, an Orange County philanthropist whose support of education and history is strongly felt at institutions such as the University of California at Irvine and the Mission San Juan Capistrano, as well as with the Irvine Collection and Irvine family foundations (her husband is James Irvine Swinden, Chair of the Irvine Collection and son of Joan Irvine Smith).
“Casa Romantica is proud to provide high-caliber cultural experiences for our children at a unique price point for Orange County families – for free – and it is only with the support of our community and with leaders like Madeline Martin Swinden that we are able to do so,” said Executive Director Berenika D. Palys. “Given her history with other notable institutions in South Orange County, it is a great honor to have her presence and support of our cause at the Mary Colby Tea.”
In 2018, Casa Romantica’s CasaKids programs benefited approximately 6,000 children. Students from Capistrano Unified School District and beyond visited to learn about local history, attended tuition-free summer academies in music and dance, and participated in Spring Break Arts Week classes and in D. Yoder Family Sundays (a free admission day held on the first Sunday of each month with complimentary concerts and crafts). CasaKids expanded in 2019 with a $1 concert ticket program for children to attend select Casa Captivating events in music and dance, as well as with expanded offerings for daily child visitors.
As arts and culture opportunities dwindle from schools, these programs are more important than ever to provide a well-rounded education.
The Tea preserves a yearly gathering started by long-time San Clemente resident and business owner Mary Colby, who was active with Casa Romantica’s transformation into a cultural center in her lifetime.
Guests arrived in stunning High Tea-style attire and socialized in the courtyard before entering the Main Salon, where a boutique silent auction was set up. A popular ticket buying option was to become a Hostess, which involved one patron purchasing a reserved table to fill with friends. Hostesses decorated their own tables, and those tables filled with single ticket buyers were decorated by Palys with the help of Events By Rola, the event coordinator. Traditional English Tea caterer Ellie Schneider served several kinds of teas, sandwiches, pastries, and fresh fruit to guests during tea service.
The annual Mary Colby Tea silent auction occurred throughout the duration of the tea service with bidding amongst excited guests who desired luxury items donated by local businesses and organizations. Some of the most popular items were wine baskets, a four-course dinner at Gemmell’s, a stay at the Montage Laguna Beach, and a weekend rental of a Jaguar automobile.
In addition to the silent auction, Casa Romantica held its runway fashion show featuring pre-fall 2019 pieces from St. John. Guests clapped enthusiastically as the models circled within the historic Main Salon to music played by DJ Nomis.
Casa Romantica’s next fundraising event is its annual Toast to the Casa gala. The gala will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 5:30–10:00 pm. Individual tickets to Toast to the Casa: The Enchanted Garden are $175 per person through August 31, 2019 and $200 beginning September 1, 2019, and are on sale now. Tickets and sponsorships are available for purchase online at ToastToTheCasa.com, by calling (949) 498-2139, or by visiting the institution at 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Under the leadership of Executive Director Berenika D. Palys, Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Coastal: The Art of Baja California (2018; visual art), Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Kinetic: Celebrating Tap Dance Legends (2018; dance), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2018-19 Casa Captivating season includes more music, visual and performing arts commissions, and an enhanced wellness program.
“Casa Romantica strives to be the epicenter for innovative artistic experiences in our southern California community,” says Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika D. Palys.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 2,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Thursday 11 am—4 pm; Friday—Sunday 10am—2pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org
