Close to 450 intrepid members and friends of the Junior League of Greater Princeton braved a spring downpour to attend the patrons’ preview party of the League’s 14th Designer Showhouse & Gardens on Saturday, April 22, at 50 Hodge Road in Princeton.
Leaving hundreds of umbrellas at the front door, guests were treated to the resplendent makeover of the home of Marsha Gaynor Lewis, the founder of the Lewis School, thanks to the extraordinary talent of 34 interior and landscape designers.
After soaking up the splendor of the elegant three-story house guests dashed into the tent set up on the back lawn, not letting the rather soggy grass that claimed the lives of several pairs of Manolos and Jimmy Choos dampen their ebullient spirits. (Some practical Leaguers even wore galoshes under their gowns.)
Speaking of spirits, the martini bar was a big hit – we loved the dangerously oversized martini glasses. As John Henry Goldman served up live jazz, Duffy’s Catering served up a mashed potato bar (try American River caviar and crumbled gorgonzola), a grilled cheese bar (try smoked mozzarella with wild mushrooms and sage), Jack Daniels BBQ chicken, roasted tuna with citrus chutney, bistro steak with hot apricot cabernet sauce, and more.
Junior League of Greater Princeton Designer Showhouse & Gardens XIV, 50 Hodge Road, through May 21. www.jlgp.org.
