Good ideas given festive support

By Nell Nolan
Staff writer/The Times-Picayune

It takes a fete to raise a "Village." More than 350 people showed up for an inaugural fund-raiser at the W New Orleans Hotel on Poydras Street. And money was the matter.

The proceeds of the partying, which was presented by The Idea Village (for entrepreneurs and those who believe in them) will, according to the event spearheaders, "go directly to creating a world-class entrepreneurial community in New Orleans." Party-goers learned about the 30 entrepreneurial companies currently engaged with The Idea Village by touring The Idea Gallery, which featured oversize foam-board profiles created by artist Catherine Todd of each company. To open the main event, the gallivanting, TIV president Tim Williamson and 50 supporters rang the bell for entrepreneurship, mimicking the daily ceremony on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

With the theme, "Invest in Entrepreneurship with The Idea Village," light-bulb decorations (by Katherine Saer and Leah Whann) on more than 60 doors around town heralding the hobnobbing, and an exciting slate of entertainers, the fete unfolded. Headlining the event were co-chairwomen Aimee Favrot Bell and Elly Kohlmeyer Lane and husbands Michael and Merritt. The latter chairs TIV's board of directors and Michael's brother, Allen, is TIV's COO and a co-founder, as is the above Tim. Joining Allen was spouse Jeanne and with Tim was his date, Jeannette Koehm. Parental support came from Ann and Bill Bell, Kit and Tom Favrot, and Herman and Nancy Kohlmeyer. Siblings adding their party presence were Thomas Favrot with Janet (who's talking up a big bash at the Cabildo on Dec. 20), David Lane with Mary Lucy, and Susu Lane Stall with Andrew.

Still others were TIV co-founder Michele Carrere (who also spearheaded the event's music), Jill and Sam Giberga, Jimmy and Karen Treuting, Rod and Madeline West, Melissa -- with Alfred -- Rufty and Kim Elms for the centerpieces, Robert Saer with the above Katherine, Stephanie and Jim Huger, John and Boo Kallenborn, Ken and Margaret Beer, Anne Chaffe, Quentin and Penny Dastugue, Irvin Mayfield and Ron Markham of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Gourmet Food Mall's Andy Restivo and Gerald Williams, City Councilman Marlin Gusman, David Guidry, Tim Ryan from the University of New Orleans, as was Bob Brown, Leslie and Scott Jacobs, Audubon Nature Institute chief Ron Forman and Sally, Robbie and Trisha Vitrano, and Beth James, executive assistant to Mayor C. Ray Nagin. And, Linda and Greg Meffert, the city's chief technology officer. To mention an entrepreneurial few.

Further enlivening the upbeat crowd were The Fertile Crescent Entertainment All Star Band with Sir Earl Toon of Kool & the Gang, Edward Anderson of Bleu Orleans, Billy Stolley and Kim Prevost, Three Fold 3, Eurika, Willy Tee, Detroit Brooks and Nancy Armstrong, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, and The Imagination Movers. As the waning hour approached, "Jump, everybody jump!" was exhorted from the bandstand. The dance floor was still packed at the party's 11 p.m. "end," so, in the spirit of good social entrepreneurship, TIV extended the bash an hour, proving that business and pleasure can mix...

Columnist Nell Nolan can be reached at nnolan@timespicayune.com or at (504) 826-3455.
The Times-Picayune LIVING; Social Scene; Pg. 2