The warm summer nights provided the perfect accompaniment to two extraordinary galas held this month at Beverly Hills’ first estate, the historic Virginia Robinson Gardens. Built in 1911, the onetime residence of Virginia and Harry Robinson contains a breathtaking array of gorgeous flora stretching across six acres that once provided the backdrop for elegant soirees where Hollywood stars like Fred Astaire, Sophia Loren and Charlie Chaplin sipped champagne well into the wee hours of dawn. This past Saturday the Friends of Robinson Gardens, which are dedicated to continuing Mrs. Robinson’s legacy of helping children, held their annual Patron Gala to the theme of “Rick’s Café Américain” á la “Casablanca.” The previous weekend, El Nido Family Centers held its fifth annual Garden Gala on the property, honoring international law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP with the Community Impact Award. Founded in 1925 by the National Council of Jewish Women, today El Nido helps over 12,000 Los Angeles County youth, families and children each year to break the cycle of poverty, child abuse, violence and academic failure.
