By Diana Cavagnaro
Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade
The 12th annual Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade took place on Dec. 15, at Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade. This year, the event was sponsored by Just Food For Dogs and had a pet expo with many vendors that were all pet-related. They had a fun contest to go around to all the booths and have your program stamped and then put into a drawing for many fun prizes. The first 350 pet entrants received a complimentary goodie bag.
All the furry critters came dressed in their favorite costumes, some matching their owners’ costumes and many of the participants put together creative floats. At 2 p.m., the parade marched up Fifth Avenue to E Street and came back down Fourth Avenue along with marching bands, dignitaries and pets and their owners. Not all the entrants were dogs, some pets were cats, chickens, bunnies, and pigs. When they arrived back at MLK Promenade, prizes were given for the best in the following categories.
This year’s awards went to:
Best Ugly Holiday Sweater: Ollie, the West Highland Terrier, with handler Victoria Brunzell.
Cutest Critter: Chicka the chicken, Gingerale the chicken, and Waffles the rabbit, with handlers Mikey Johnson, Hunter Johnson and Grace Green (“Alice in Wonderland”).
Best Pet Costume: Leuke, with handler Viki Solano.
Best Non-Canine Pet Costume Jazzy the dog, and Maya the cat, with handlers Greyfield Nguyen and Angela Aguilar.
Best Pet Holiday Costume: Sir Ruffles Von Vicious (Ruffy), with handler Jan Savage (Feliz Navidog).
Best Costumed Duo: Tia the dog, with handler Jaimie Flores (Queen Tia).
Best Costumed group: Kylo-Ren the dog, with handlers the Andrews Family (“Where’s Waldo”).
Best Float: Lucy the Boston Terrier, with handler George Pisano (Harry Potter).
Best in Show: Zachary and Belle the dogs, with handlers the Hoeberecht family (they will be the event’s grand marshals next year).
Charity Advocate Canine Tucker Doodle received the GreyFriars Bobby Award. If you missed this fur ball gathering, be sure to put it on your calendar for next year.
‘50 Fabulous Years’
The House of Zandra Rhodes presented a special luncheon and rooftop terrace party celebrating five iconic decades of the Fashion House of Zandra Rhodes. This event took place on Dec. 11, at the L’Auberge Del Mar. Zandra spoke about the most pivotal moments in her career. Models showed the audience one-of-a-kind vintage Zandra Rhodes garments that swept the fashion scene during the last 50 years. Everyone was given a private viewing of the upcoming film “Zandra with a Zee,” a documentary highlighting Rhodes’ life in fashion.
The event had a special auction where guests could procure vintage garments and other Rhodes items such as handbags, pillows, and artwork. The afternoon was finished with an after-party on the Beachside Rooftop Terrace. For more information about this fashion icon, visit zandrarhodes.com.
The Golden Hour
The Westgate Hotel and Dame Zandra Rhodes presented a fashion show and luncheon downtown called “The Golden Hour” on Nov. 7. The event began with a social hour celebrating Zandra Rhodes’ 50 years in fashion. This amazing fashion show revealed the “Golden Hour” collection on the runway. Different designs throughout Rhodes’ 50-year career were shown to the delight of the audience. Rhodes is a British fashion designer who is known for fabulous textile designs and is recognized for her pink hair.
The theme for the Pink Parade Luncheon was named by Jeanne Jones and created by executive Chef Fabrice Hardel. After the show, guests were very excited to have a book signing with Rhodes. They lined up to have Rhodes sign her new book “50 Fabulous Years.” Following the book signing, a Zandra Rhodes pop-up shop was set up and guests could come and try on the garments. Proceeds went to The American Friends of the Zandra Rhodes Museum in London. Currently, this museum has an exhibit named “Zandra Rhodes 50 Years of Fabulous” and runs until Jan. 26, 2020.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 5, 2020 – San Diego Wedding Party Expo The US Grant, a Luxury Collection Hotel with fashion show, vendors, and wedding experts. For more information visit: theUSGrantSanDiego.com
Jan. 12, 2020 – Bridal Bazaar at the San Diego Convention Center with three fashion shows produced by Gretchen Productions. For more info, call: 760-334-5500.
— Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned couture milliner based in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.
