Just before the first guests arrived on Wednesday, November 15, at Kathy and Harlan Crow‘s Library for the Crystal Charity Ball Underwriters Cocktail Party, 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky pointed out a particular painting on the wall to her husband Dr. Kevin Kadesky.
It seems the 1955 painting by Sir Winston Churchill, titled “View near Vence in the Alpes-Maritimes,” had been used as part of Angie’s theme for the CCB’s 2023 Masterpieces in the Making event.
As always, of course, the Crows’ library was filled with countless “masterpieces,” from rare books on all four walls and historic documents to the death mask of a U.S. president and the desk used by Abraham Lincoln when he was serving in the Illinois legislature.
That’s why it was the perfect setting for the annual Underwriters Party, which was expected to be attended by at least 120. Forty-five minutes into the affair, though, it seemed like maybe twice that number had shown up.
Among them were Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, Beth and Chuck Thoele, Lauran O’Neill and Larry Helms, Ann Whitley Wood and David Finto, Lisa and John Rocchio, Tiffany and Paul Divis, Nancy Scripps, Gail Fischer with Ken Christensen, Kristi and Bill Francis, Anne and John McPherson, Catherine and Greg Jaynes, Ann and Dr. Keith Kadesky (Kevin’s twin brother), Tucker Enthoven with her mom Julie Ford, Alice and Curt Farmer, Minnie Caruth, Alicia and Scott Wood, Courtney Wang, Melinda and Mark Knowles, Erin Mathews, Felicia and Gideon Powell, Margie and Ray Francis, Meredith and Tyler Hays and Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell.
Eric said he’d visited the library before, but, this time, “I’m actually going to stop and look around.”
“There’s always something new,” remarked another attendee.
Added a third: “No question.”
While Underwriters Party Co-Chair Sunie Solomon greeted guests near the entryway — across the way from a table with a glass case containing Paul Revere’s silver soup ladle — a cellist and a violinist entertained with upbeat tunes like “Here Comes the Sun,” “La Vie en Rose,” and “What a Wonderful World.” In the adjacent two-story Great Room, meantime, Diamonds Direct was showing off a handsome display of its precious wares.
One couple arrived on the scene and explained to a friend, “We’re underwriters!” The friend laughed and replied, “I didn’t think you were party crashers.”
In time, Lyda Hill swept into the throng and soon was locked in an intense conversation with Kathy.
Not far away, Tucker was delighted to see Angie’s new hairdo.
“Your hair looks great,” Tucker said. “You went curly. Good for you!”
For more looks of the curls, the treasures and the underwriters, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.