Gallery: Las Patronas Stages Jewel Ball at LJBTC

With a backdrop of Roman columns and a moonlit village, the 66th annual Jewel Ball took place Saturday night at the .

Organized by the 50 volunteer ladies of Las Patronas, the ball this year drew over 800 fancy black tie dressed guests for an evening reminiscent of Rome in the 50’s and 60’s. Passeggiata was the theme and guests dressed ready to stroll, dine and dance under the stars.

It was a Roman Holiday and Dolce Vita evening with a who’s who of guests from La Jolla attending. Standouts there included very generous underwriters Dianne and Jim Bashor, Emma and Leo Zuckerman, Sharon and Sami Ladeki, Jo Bobbie MacConnell, Elaine and Kelly Hooker, Valerie and Harry Cooper, Caroline and Nico Nierenberg, Jeanne Larson, Sheila and Lawrence Combe of Bowers Jewelers, and Tricia and Bill Kellogg.

Bill Kellogg is the president of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, which has hosted the Jewel Ball for 65 of its 66 years.

Keeping it local, there were Campine Catering appetizers and beverages,  treats, and Café Japengo sushi during the reception followed by a Hyatt Regency La Jolla catered dinner. Among the dinner highlights were the wood-fired filet mignon with Sangiovese demi-glace entrée, and the fig and Gorgonzola cheese tart with fig jam.

Dancing until 1 am went full throttle with L.A.’s Side Effect providing the music.

The Alpha Project for the Homeless, American Red Cross-San Diego Imperial Counties, , San Diego Hospice, and the Zoological Society of San Diego among the major beneficiaries.

Las Patronas was led by president Lisa Albanez, vice president Pat Marsch, Jewel Ball chair Elaine Murphy, Jewel Ball co-chairs Erin Wyer and Cathy Carroll, and Jewel Ball design chair Melinda Mahony.