August 20-24, 2014
What a fun convention this was for over 1200 Red Hatters from the U.S. as well as several countries around the globe.
The Marriott Marquis Hotel built to resemble a jukebox is a beautiful piece of architecture and the staff was quite accommodating in all respects making our stay even more eventful. It is situated right in the middle of a shopping area and many restaurants including Mel's Drive In.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014, I boarded a bus with many other Red Hatters and traveled to Woodside, California for a guided tour of Filoli Estate ("
Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life."), built by Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn II, who lived there between 1917 and 1936. The Bourns were owners of the Empire Gold Mine, the largest hard-rock mining operation in California. Filoli was created in the likeness of the Irish estate he bought for his daughter Maud as a wedding present in 1910.
In 1936, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Roth, owners of the Matson Navigation Company, bought the property and maintained its original design as much as possible. A noted horticultural enthusiast, recognized by the Garden club of America, Mrs. Roth brought worldwide recognition to the Garden. Mrs. Roth lived here until 1975 when she donated the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. During the blooming season, exquisite specimens of Mrs. Roth's collection of orchids are displayed in the house and garden pavilion.
The U-shaped house contains more than 36,000 square feet of interior floor space on two floors and a mezzanine. There are 44 rooms, including 9 family bedrooms, 17 bathrooms and 17 fireplaces. On one side of the U are the servants quarters and the other side houses the formal ballroom.
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| Carla waiting on the shuttle at El Paso, Texas Airport packed and ready for San Francisco |
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| Doug, ready to go despite some ailments. |
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| Marriott Marquis Hotel resembles a jukebox |
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| We had a brief view of the Bay Bridge from the top of the hotel |
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| The famous San Francisco fog rolling in devouring a distant tower |
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| Doug just loves taking pictures of me! |
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| Left, Carla ready for the Filoli Estate tour and Right, going to the Dinner Belles breakfast at Mel's |
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| Beginning of the Filoli Estate tour and everyone has their camera out |
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| Look closely and you'll see olives on this tree in an olive grove. They got a disease and the olives are no longer edible. |
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| Short history of Filoli Estate. Click on it to make it large enough to read. |
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| A lovely inviting entrance to this exquisite home |
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| The delightfully appointed reception room |
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| This stove is actually built for ship duty, installed by the Roths. It has magnets to keep pans from sliding off. |
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| Lovely dining room. One can imagine what would happen to that beautiful rug if our families were dining there! |
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| The needlepoint screen at one end of the dining room, created by the Assistance League of San Mateo "Tuesday Stitchers", had belonged to both the Bourns and the Roths. Only two sides are visible here depicting scenes of Filoli. Truly a priceless work of art. |
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| This charming harpsichord at one end of the Drawing Room and not shown is a piano at the other end. |
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| This room is called the "Study" but this was the favorite gathering place for both families. |
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| Mrs. Roth is in her garden in the painting over the Study fireplace. |
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| The massive fireplace at one end of the formal ballroom |
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| This is just one of the Irish inspired murals on canvas on the walls of the Ballroom. |
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| When Mrs. Bourn was asked if she wanted gold added to the ballroom, she said, "Maybe just a little." |
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| Just one of numerous pieces of sculpture that decorate the gardens. This is at the back entrance to the home. |
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| A sculptor's rendition of ceramic mushrooms |
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| The Sunken Garden reflecting pool that mirrors the clock tower |
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| This is called The Wedding Place although only one wedding was ever held here by the Roths. |
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| This is the Herb Maze and did it ever smell wonderful! |
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| This is the vegetable garden area. Can you see the huge gourd hanging from the bower? |
After the Filoli Estate tour, we all returned to our buses and were taken to Sam's Chowder House on Half Moon Bay for lunch. We had a choice of Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Grilled Chicken or Vegetarian Risotto, Salad and Key Lime Pie. The food was delicious.
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| A shot out the window of Sam's Chowder House |
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| Barb Lesiak and DeAnna Ray looking delightfully sated at Sam's Chowder House |
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| Kathy Pena taking a well deserved break and looking radiant as well |
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| Here am I far right with a group of brave women who wouldn't allow a physical problem to keep them away from their Red Hat Society Convention. |
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| Left: Another dear friend, Tara from Florida, braved her ailments to be with us |
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| Just down and across from our hotel is the famous Mel's where *Alice was filmed |
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| This is where the "Dinner Belles" held their brunch on Thursday morning |
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| Carla at left ready for Beach Blanket Babylon and at right: The Asian Experience |
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| Carla and Mary getting reacquainted |
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| A bust of Steve Silver, the originator of the longest running musical in the USA, Beach Blanket Babylon |
No pictures may be taken inside the theater. Steve Silver (1944-1995) originally titled this show
A Valentine's Show renaming it
Beach Blanket Babylon on June 7, 1974; and one of San Francisco's jewels began to sparkle. A philanthropist as well as a showman, he gave generously to museums, libraries, education, medical research, and the arts-which add to the beauty and splendor of the city he loved, San Francisco.
You really owe it to yourself to see this show if and when you are in San Francisco. It is professional to a fault and you will laugh until your stomach hurts. They constantly tweak it so that it portrays current political and cultural happenings. Go to Club Fugazi located at 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard in North Beach. Call 415-421-4222 for reservations and show times.
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| Twin dragons came waltzing in to officially open the convention at the Fisherman's Wharf Continental Breakfast |
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| My dear friend from Dallas, Texas, Gwyn Kelley |
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| A couple of Red Hatters from a remote town in Nevada. The gal on the left was quite funny talking about how excited they got when the young cowboys came into town on the weekends wearing those tight jeans! |
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| The Red Hat chapter from Fullerton, California won the prize for best Asian Costume and they look lovely |
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| I attended the "Bling Rush Romp" Reception as a Saloon Girl and yet another costume change for the Saturday morning "Painted Ladies" Victorian Breakfast and Entertainment |
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| Two Red Hatters with wild imaginations, looking good! |
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| Saloon Girl was a popular costume for the Bling Rush Romp |
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| Here we have a couple of glitzy cowgirls |
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| Brenda Wile, Colorado Springs, Colorado with Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper |
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| L to R: Martha and Bonnie from Florida and Brenda from Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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| A Pink Hatter--Isn't she exquisite! |
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| Two loyal gals from Texas-They are always at the conventions |
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| Dana Carvey, Entertainer Extraordinaire! Thank you, Dana for a marvelous show. |
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| Three more of our table mates and I regret to say I was unable to capture their names. If any of you recognize them, please let me know so I can properly identify them. |
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| Bonnie from Florida and we were fortunate enough to sit at the same table in Atlanta |
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| L to R: Sharon from Canada, our Table Hostess, Audrey and her sister Wilma from the Boston area |
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| Brenda and Bonnie at "Painted Ladies" Victorian Breakfast and Entertainment |
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| Martha and Sharon enjoying the conversation |
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| I sneaked over and took this shot of CEO Deb Granich, Esteemed Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper and Vice Queen Linda Murphy. What a lovely trio we have at the head of this wonderful Red Hat Society. Thanks for all you do for each of us. |
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| The Crowning of Red Hatter of the Year 2014, Marilyn Cresci from Arizona. L to R: Queen TuTu first Red Hatter of the Year 2011, Vice Queen Linda, not seen Esteemed Queen Mother Sue Ellen, Marilyn Cresci, CEO Deb Granich, Barb Lesiak, Second Red Hatter of the Year 2012 and Mary Mimms, Third Red Hatter of the year 2013 |
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| Marilyn Cresci, a very happy Red Hatter of the Year 2014. Congrats, Marilyn! |
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| Marilyn Cresci and Carla Kerr attending the Ambassador Gathering on Saturday |
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| Three lovely attendees at the Chocolate Fantasy Ball on Saturday night |
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| Carla attired for the Chocolate Fantasy Ball on the left, and on right, she is ready for the Royal Queens' Coronation as a spectator |
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| Bonnie, Martha and Audrey sporting the adorable bibs made by Audrey and sister Wilma |
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| Our lovely Table Hostess Sharon looking spectacular |
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| Audrey volunteered to photograph me wearing my bib. Love it! |
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| My sweet friend Gwyn Kelley wearing her chocolate fantasy hat creation. |
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| Lovely Pirate Lass Edith Styles |
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| Another fine looking Pirate Wench |
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| Another change of costume for the Ambassador Gathering and then Sunday Evening I made myself ready for the Wenches Gone Wild Dinner at the Fisherman's Grotto near the Wharf |
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| Another sexy Pirate Wench aka Pat Rose Atkisson, a Texas gal for sure. |
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| This Pirate Queen is the lovely Kerry Johnson from San Francisco |
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| Three Pirate lovelies, Center is Bonnie and Right is Martha |
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| On the left is "Surrender the Booty" and right is Barb Lesiak looking quite wenchy |
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| Arrgh! Tis the sweetest Lady Cranberry Pirate, Jo |
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| An overall shot to show how many pirate ships must have been in harbor that day |
This was my first adventure with the Pirate Red Hat Chapter and I can't wait to do it again. We rode the cable car back to the hotel and that was great fun too. The whole week was chock full of adventure and the Red Hatters took full advantage of everything that was offered. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this convention extra special.
I would like to especially give a shout out to Proctor and Gamble and Walmart for sponsoring Dana Carvey and Gladys Knight at our Friday and Saturday evening functions. They are both consummate entertainers. The latest Proctor and Gamble product is
Always Discreet, wonderful protection against those sudden leaks when one laughs too hard or has to wait too long in the ladies room line. You can buy them at Walmart and they are less expensive than the other industrial type and very feminine.
Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for my costume shots. He says packing for a Red Hat Convention is like packing for a road tour of Hello Dolly!
See you next year in Indianapolis on August 13-16, 2015. Be there or be square!
*My fact checker says there is no evidence that "Alice" was filmed at Mel's even though I was told this by an employee of Mel's.
This is all I have to say for now.
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