Review: AbilityFirst 2020 Festival of Fall Comes To You!

Chubb presented this year’s AbilityFirst 2020 Festival of Fall Comes To You virtually due to Covid. For the past few years, Pasadena’s Historic Laurabelle A. Robinson Estate., designed by renowned architects Greene and Greene, has hosted this annual event. While the estate is rarely open to the public, VIP viewers were taken on a virtual tour by owner and licensed Interior Designer Phaedra Ledbetter.

AbilityFirst 2020 Festival

I attended this benefit last year – the grounds are stunning, offering views of the Arroyo Seco and the Colorado Street Bridge, however it was a real treat to get an inside peek of such an enchanting property this year.

AbilityFirst programs

This annual festival raises funds for AbilityFirst programs supporting children and adults with disabilities. Services provided by AbilityFirst include: college coaching, after school enrichment programs, community integration and support of employment.

While general admission was free to view the programming, VIP admission came with a  virtual tour of the house, and a DIY Pizza Kit delivery from Blaze Pizza, along with beer (Mango Wheat Ale) from Golden Road Brewing. I am not a beer drinker, but my husband is. He really liked its subtle mango sweetness. The pizza was delicious. The dough was airy and light yet had a nice chewy and crunchy crust. DIY Pizza kit was super easy to make, as it was all spelled out for us on a video online at DIYBlaze.com

AbilityFirst 2020 Festival

The online event spotlighted people who benefitted from the nonprofit, and were able to become self sufficient. Anita Lawler talked about how much Ability First’s program has helped her nephew Kristopher Espinoza. AbilityFirst Speakers Lori Gangemi (Chief Executive Officer), Steve Brockmeyer (Chair Annual Fundraising Committee), Ray Cherry (member, Board of Directors), Wendy Lees (Chairman, Board of Directors), and Christopher Kealy (Chief Development Officer) spoke about their experience with this important organization. Sponsors: Lawrys, the Raymond 1886, Gale’s Restaurant, Faith and Flower, Blaze Pizza, and Golden Road Brewery.

Chef Michael Hung of DTLA’s Faith & Flower taught us an easy cooking class. He also told us about one of the auction prizes, dinner for four at his restaurant. Other deals up for auction featured: travel trips, dinners, experiences, art, memorabilia; jewelry and much more.

The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena offered a mixology demonstration, which I made along with the video. Bartender Nathan Baker (Raymond 1886) taught us how to make a 20th century signature cocktail. This classic cocktail has been around since 1937. The name found inspiration in a train line – the 20th Century Limiter Line.

Gin is not my go-to spirit, but I love creme de cacao. It also called for Lillet Blanc and lemon juice, which gave it a nice spin, and mellowed out the gin. The creme de cacao brought a sweet vibrant flavor to this tasty cocktail.

Virtual Tour

I particularly enjoyed the virtual tour led by Phaedra Ledbetter, who demonstrated extensive knowledge about the history of the house and interior design. In 1905, lawyer and financier Henry Robinson and his wife Laurabelle commissioned the famed architects Greene and Greene to create this exquisite home.

When Mark and Phaedra Ledbetter purchased the house in 1998, they had to completely redo it. They removed the furniture designed by the architects from the home and/or placed it in museums. Phaedra said they wanted to stay true to Greene and Greene’s design elements. Keeping with the original style, they commissioned craftsmen to work within the design motif paying homage to this historic house.

Remodel

The couple remodeled twice – once when it was first purchased and then twenty years later. When the house was built in 1905, the kitchen had been used solely by the servants. There was a mud room where the servants ate their meals just outside of the kitchen. Phaedra explained, she wanted to create a more practical kitchen with a view. It is currently one of the most popular rooms in the house, and looks out on the Arroyo and the Colorado Street Bridge and the infinity pool.

As part of the remodel, exposed brick is now showcased in the theatre, billiards, poker room, and its prohibition safe located in the basement. During the prohibition (1920 to 1933), portions of the basement were enclosed. The Ledbetters added a stone bar, with a speakeasy to the prohibition safe, which also serves as wine storage. Find out more about the restoration of this house on Phaedra Ledbetter’s website – http://phaedra.biz

If you did not have a chance to bid on any of the fantastic auctions items, you can still do that thru September 15, 2020. I can’t wait until the 2021 event and hope to see you all there in-person. Please consider donating to AbilityFirst – https://www.abilityfirst.org