chandelier photo taken by J. Jones

“Appraised at $50,000 this stunning crystal chandelier was designed to adorn the reception room of the Castle of Empress Josephine of France. This very chandelier was to be reproduced but was not, due to the Castle’s destruction during WWII. Thus, only one additional chandelier was produced.

The ornate cast brass frame was made in France and the crystals are Austrian. The chandelier made its way to America in 1967 and has been privatedly owned by a Wisconsin designer.”

A raffle of this beautiful chandelier began on December 11, 2012 to benefit Dragonfly Village, www.dragonflyvillage.org.

You can drop by the Dragonfly Gallery in downtown to see it, at 146 E. Broadway just west of 5th Avenue, open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. I saw this chandelier recently at a musical event there, and it is absolutely stunning.

Raffle tickets:
Single ticket $100
3 for $250
5 for $400
12 for $900

Grand Prize Drawing will be on May 14, 2013.

For more info about the chandelier and raffle, contact Beth Daum at 520-622-0511, X 210, email at bethdaum@dragonflyvillage.org.

Dragonfly Village is launching a capital campaign to build a 12-building village on a portion of Amity’s Circle Tree Ranch to reunify children in need with their families.

Amity Foundation is the organizational sponsor for the Dragonfly Village and Dragonfly Gallery. You participation in the raffle supports the Dragonfly Village’s $5.3 Million dollar capital campaign. The Village will serve up to 100 families per year. Amity Foundation has been providing integrity, hope and possibilities for all individuals, families and children since 1969.

Special Mother’s Day screening at the Loft Theatre tomorrow on May 8 at 1 p.m. the 1934 Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert movie, “It Happened One Night”.

From the Loft Cinema website:

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in one of Hollywood’s greatest, grandest and screwiest romantic comedies, Frank Capra’s IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay!
All mothers in attendance will receive a fresh-cut flower (while supplies last), and don’t forget to enter our free raffle for a basket of goodies that will help mom feel like every day is Mother’s Day!

Frank Capra’s beloved screwball classic, which won all five major Academy Awards for 1934 (the only other movies to ever achieve the “Oscar Grand Slam” were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975 and Silence of the Lambs in 1991), set the pace for the romantic comedy as we now know it, and is still as breezy, beguiling and flat-out entertaining today as it was back in the day.

Based on the short story “Night Bus” by Samuel Hopkins Adams, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT stars Claudette Colbert as spoiled heiress Ellie, who has married the gold-digging “King” Westley (Jameson Thomas), much to the displeasure of her wealthy father (Walter Connolly). Daddy retrieves her before the marriage can be consummated (remember, this was 1934!), but she runs away to New York City. On the bus, she meets the dashing Peter Warne (Clark Gable, whose infamous shirtless scene supposedly caused a massive drop in men’s undershirt sales all across the country), an out-of-work reporter. He recognizes her (her father has offered a reward for her return) and gives her a choice: if she gives him an exclusive on the story of her life, he’ll help her reunite with Westley. However, as they hit the highway for the road trip to end all road trips, the romantic sparks begin to fly, which greatly complicates her reunion with Westley.

Witty and sophisticated banter, breathless pacing, sizzling chemistry between its bickering stars and expert direction from legendary comedy genius Frank Capra (not to mention iconic moments such as the “Wall of Jericho” bedroom scene and Colbert’s naughty/sexy flash of leg used to hitch a ride) fuel this timeless Hollywood favorite.

And yours truly (a loyal Loft volunteer) will be handing out the flowers to mothers in attendance. The Loft is at 3233 E. Speedway (east of Country Club). Ticket prices $8 general, $6 Loft members. How to become a member (click here).

Happy Mother’s Day 2011.

Mini-facials, massages, other exciting pampering for women only in the courtyard at Old Town Artisans, 201 N. Court Ave. in downtown Tucson, on Sunday March 21, 3 to 6 p.m.
Entry is free, open to women (and their male friends of course) of all ages.

This is the fourth time this event has been offered at Old Town Artisans, and will consist of live music (jazz duo), flamenco dancing, a delicious Mexican buffet by La Cocina, a raffle of goodies, arts & crafts, even “mocktails” (no alcohol) for the children. This festive, community event promotes women artists, entrepreneurs, and causes. Mini-facials will cost $10, and massages are $1 for a minute.

Count me in. After all, March is Women’s Herstory Month, and what better way to tell your story than by looking and feeling good, and being pampered. And a portion of the proceeds and the money raised from the raffle from this Every Woman event goes to Tucson’s Primavera Foundation (www.primavera.org), an agency that assists the homeless.

courtyard at Old Town Artisans

And if you miss this Every Woman event on March 21, calendar the next one for Sunday May 30, same time, same place, same good fun. For more info contact organizer Marie Hancock at 520-822-6222, or at mariecloseness@yahoo.com.

Old Town Artisans is in an 150 year old adobe building in the El Presidio Historic District, and houses La Cocina Restaurant (Southwest fare), two art galleries (Dawn Stewart and The Outpost), and three shops (Tolteca Tlacuilo, Old Town Pot Shop, and La Zia). Something for everyone’s gift giving needs can be found here, plus you can relax and eat in their lovely, shaded Spanish style courtyard next to a charming fishpond (with live goldfish), pictured above.

For information on Old Town Artisans, call 520-623-6024, info@oldtownartisans.com, website: http://oldtownartisans.com/ .

Old Town Artisans is located one block north of Alameda, one block west of Church Avenue, between the Tucson Museum of Art (to the west) and the El Presidio de San Agustin (to the east). Experience the charm of downtown and that Old Town feeling of the “true historic Tucson experience.”