19th annual Spring Hat Luncheon
The weather may have created a cold, muddy mess on Saturday afternoon at the Schenley Park Overlook in Squirrel Hill, but that couldn’t dampen the spirits of more than 600 guests who braved the wicked weather to enjoy the 19th annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon. “This was not what I was going to wear,” said Roseanne Wholey, laughing. The sentiment was echoed throughout most of the attendees, many in rain boots (but a few brave souls in stilettos) as they felt the mud sink between their toes. Consider it being one with nature. And isn’t that the point, after all? “I didn’t grow up having parks where I lived, so to support this mission is really important to me,” said event co-chair Charlene Petrelli. Meg Cheever, Conservancy CEO and president, who will be retiring in spring 2018, took in the tent filled with so many smiling faces. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to all of this,” she said. “There is still so much work to be done, so many spaces to improve.” But with the unwavering support of a strong (albeit soggy) crowd and more than $530,000 raised, the sky’s the limit.
#TipMyHatToYou: So many hats, so little time! Some stand-out fashion moments included Joe King in a homemade “cherry on top” creation; event co-chair Kiya Tomlin in a Gina Mazzotta topper inspired by the upcoming “Undressed” exhibit this fall at the Frick Pittsburgh; Brittany Meyer in a feather faux-hawk; Kim Clark in a sculpted floral headpiece; Jackie Dixon channeling Medusa; and Tim McVay and David Bush in “Indiana Jones meets Norah Jones,” laughed Mr. Bush.
#SEEN: Event co-chairs Ramsey Lyons, Christy Wiegand, Emy Mack Jamison; Richard Reed, vice-chairs Vivian Benter, LaTasha Wilson Batch, Mary McKinney with Mark Flaherty; emcee Sally Wiggin, Ellen Roth, Demeatria Boccella, Heather Chronis, Vera Purcell, Lynne Popash, Keri Harmicar, Bonnie Mangold, Deb Caplan, Jessica Levenson, Betsy Teti, Melanie Crockard, Annie Engel, Nachum Golan and Steve Hough, Rennick Remley, Gregory Bohanon, RyKai Wright, Kim Clark, Kathe Patrinos and many more!
Want to see more? Check out Setting the SEEN, a weekly lifestyle webshow co-hosted by the SEEN’s Natalie Bencivenga and style editor, Sara Bauknecht. Go to post-gazette.com/settingtheseen for the pink carpet special and see more great interviews and photos during this year’s hat luncheon!