Around Town: It's time for Tally Ho Around Town: It's time for Tally Ho (September 08, 2004)

By Jane Knoerle
Almanac Staff Writer

The Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary will hold "Celebrate Life," its 54th fundraiser for Packard Children's Hospital on Saturday, September 11, at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton.

As always, the day and evening will be packed with activities, from children's events to a black tie dinner-dance and auction.

Through the years, the format changes. Gone are the day-long and formal evening horse shows.

An outside caterer is no longer brought in to serve two dinners (sit down and buffet) on opposite sides of the swimming pool. Chef Gary Goldman of the Circus Club now prepares a gourmet dinner served in the club's dining room.

A popular innovation, started a few years ago, is having local restaurants -- such as Left Bank, Chantilly, The Acorn, P.F. Chang's and Mistral -- provide hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail hour.

Members no longer model fashions from Saks Fifth Avenue around the swimming pool to the cheers of friends and husbands. However, Max Nugus Haute Couture will have models show 30 evening gowns during the dinner hour.

Children's events are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Portola Valley Pony Club will demonstrate horsemanship and care, the Cow Palace Cowgirls will put on a show, and Clovis the mechanical cow from Clover Dairies will make an appearance. There is no entrance charge for children; however, there is a charge for some activities.

The evening gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails, wine, hors d'oeuvres and music.

The evening will include both silent and live auctions. A highlight of the live auction will be a $1,750 package from the Golden State Warriors that includes four prime-location seats, dinner for four preceding the game, and an autographed jersey by the player of choice.

Dancing in the clubhouse will conclude the evening.

Barbara Carson of Atherton is president of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary's board of directors. Diane Bottoms is Tally Ho director with Katherine Seebold and Margie Hollister as party directors.

Tally Ho, which has been continuously produced since 1950, is organized by the volunteer members of Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Past Tally Ho benefits have raised as much as $300,000 for the hospital.

Cost of the Tally Ho evening gala is $175 per person; black tie is optional. For reservations, call 1-877-Tally Ho or e-mail TallyHoinvite@aol.com.

Charity trail ride

B.O.K. Ranch is sponsoring a charity trail ride to be held Saturday, September 18. The ride will start at noon at the Horse Park in Woodside, last one-and-one-half hours on the property, and is expected to attract 100 riders. There will be a walk-only group, a children's group and an advanced group.

B.O.K. Ranch in Redwood City provides horseback riding for children and adults with special needs.

Money will be raised through sponsoring a horse and rider, corporate sponsors and individual donations. To take part in the trail ride or to become a sponsor, call Doug Hutten at (415) 215-9763 or see www.bokranch.com.

Too hot for fall

Bloomingdale's, in partnership with the Stanford Shopping Center, will present its fifth annual Firefighter Fashion Show, featuring firefighters from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 11, outside the store's El Camino Real entrance. The show is free and open to the public. Bloomingdale's will present a donation to the California Firefighters Memorial in Sacramento.

Atherlons luncheon

The Atherlons, a women's organization supporting CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), will hold its fall kickoff luncheon on Thursday, September 16, at Maddalena's Continental Restaurant, 544 Emerson St. in Palo Alto. The afternoon will include musical entertainment. For more information, call Grace Connolly at 949-1982.

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