Breakfast at Tiffany’s Soiree

Audrey Hepburn had undeniable grace and beauty. The actress was a fashion trendsetter whether she was wearing skinny pants or a little black dress. Her wide brimmed hats, French twist hairdo and cigarette holder are now a part of movie history and indelible in our minds. Ladies attending the Breakfast at Tiffany’s event hosted by the Parks and Rec Department at Mackle Park recently had an opportunity to hear about her life and the era in which she lived.

The community room at the park was transformed into an Audrey Hepburn stage, with larger than life film strips featuring some of her most memorable scenes adorning the walls. Breakfast at Tiffany’s played on a large screen while there was a formal tea, complete with finger sandwiches, key lime tarts, scones, cupcakes and more. Lola Dial and Mindy Matusiak of Parks and Rec, both wore their most elegant formal ensembles

to greet more than two dozen ladies who attended the tea.

Speaker Margaret Cardillo, like Lola Dial, fell in love with Audrey when they were just little children. Margaret grew up to author the first children’s book about the movie star, simply entitled Audrey. Margaret spoke about Audrey’s life, her friendship with fashion designer Givenchy, how she worked to support children’s causes and how she eventually died of cancer. A few in the audience had their own stories to tell.

Florence (Flip) Beresnahan, talked about being in Italy dining out with her husband. To her surprise, they were seated next to the star and her family. Flip recalls she could barely keep her eyes off Audrey. Security wasn’t evident around the actress until the family went into the restroom. Then, the area was closed off to patrons by security and reopened when the actress and her family went back to

the table.

Lola remembered the first time she saw the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She was a young child and she was confused about Holly Golightly’s occupation. She asked her mother who told her she was a teacher. It was many years later when Lola asked her mother why she said she was a teacher. In the wisdom only a mother could have, she said she was a teacher, in the bedroom.

Two sisters originally from England, Maureen Asher-Dorsey and Barbie Preston, commented on how actresses today aren’t really famous, but rather infamous because they are in the headlines or on the covers of magazines for being bad girls.

In keeping with the elegance of the day, entertainment was provided with a ballet performance from Spotlight Dance Studio. A trivia test yielded some prizes for a few lucky winners. The tribute concluded with a gift of a tea cup and saucer for each guest.