Cocktails at the Casa
Casa del Herrero’s newest outreach, Cocktails at the Casa, officially launched its opening soirée on Thursday, September 14, at its house and gardens. Casa del Herrero Board Secretary Mari McAlister with her fellow board members and staff created the event as an introduction to their new club for locals. “We are all thrilled to welcome nearly 150 guests to see this hidden gem for their first time,” McAlister said. “Quarterly ‘Cocktails at the Casa’ for members in their twenties, thirties, and forties will start in December 2023 and be led by Chair Marisa Garber. It will be a wonderful way for people in our community to socialize.”
Guests were invited by Casa del Herrero board and staff members with a printed invitation that had a lovely watercolor of the Casa del Herrero drawn by artist Amy Logsdon of Moment Maps. Upon arriving and using valet parking by BlueStar, they were welcomed by docents inside the house, and given brief tours of the rooms, artworks, and collections. More informal tours were offered during the entire cocktail hour. Gardens were freely enjoyed by the guests as well as being the center point of the festivities with two outdoor bars and cocktail tables with fresh roses. Rusack Vineyards wines and Casa del Herrero specialty cocktails were served with charcuterie by Omni catering. The specialty libation, “Nasturtium Cocktail,” was made with nasturtium flowers and leaves grown in the Casa del Herrero Garden, gin, Aperol, lemon, and oregano, topped with the flower as a decorative garnish. Los Angeles-based singer songwriter Melody Stackhouse donated her music performance to the event.
Board of Trustees President Heather Biles welcomed the guests to Casa del Herrero and thanked them for being part of Cocktails at the Casa:
“A big focus of the Board of Trustees this year is to work harder to open the doors of the Casa to a larger population. We are planning more programming and exciting events to encourage visitors to return, as well as introduce the Casa to new supporters. This event is a big step in raising awareness of the Casa in our community – and a lot of fun in the process!”
She introduced the Director of Collections, Conservation, and Exhibitions Nicole C. Caldwell, whobriefly spoke about Casa’s antiquities. Caldwell shared her trademark designation of Casa del Herrero as a miniature Hearst Castle and Montecito’s Crown Jewel. She invited the guests to feel free to reach out and schedule a proper docent-led tour of the house and gardens, and to be more involved with the organization.
Seen at the cocktail party were Marisa and Bryan Garber, Rebecca and Cliff Damavandi, Paige and Chris Eubank, Sam Brenner, Lauren McAlister, Megan and Christian Vanderwall, Scotty Musser, Katie Gerpheide de Zwirek with husband Guillaume de Zwirek and children, Kyle Roach, Simon Allen, Peter Berkey, Hannah Stonefield, Kat Harada, Liv Rothschild, Nicole Dever, Lindsey Dahlke, board member Elizabeth Esrey, Development Director Lisa Misraje, Operations Manager Rosie Rafferty, and docent Carolyn Williams.
Contact the Casa del Herrero for more information about their next event!
