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Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom Store Openings
By Bruce Wildstein
Valley shoppers have reason to celebrate with the recent opening of two major department stores. Both openings consisted of fundraising galas with well-heeled guests attending. Neiman Marcus opened their third Los Angeles store in Canoga Park with a gala celebration benefiting several organizations. The ALS Association, the Grossman Burn Foundation, The Projects Council of MOCA, and the New West Symphony were the recipients of the evening's event. The new store spans 120,000 square feet on two floors bringing the signature Neiman Marcus shopping experience to the Valley. As with their other stores, high-end designer labels can be found throughout. Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, Cartier, Prada, and Roberto Cavalli are just a few of the famous names in stock. The store dazzles with its ultra contemporary design, innovative displays, and boutique style layout. Guests were greeted with champagne and hors d' oeuvres as they entered and began their walk around for the evening. A number of scrumptious buffets featured Asian, Greek, Italian, and French cuisine. In one area on the first floor, the New West Symphony String Trio entertained while a cabaret singer with a five-piece band performed elsewhere. Models were elegantly dressed in high fashion by famed Indian designer Naeem Khan. As the evening wore on, desserts were rolled out and guests left with goodie bags filled with ornate candles by D.L. & Co.
The Grossman Burn Foundation is a leading medical organization that provides assistance to burn victims in the Los Angeles are as well as other parts of the world. Aside from its efforts in the Los Angeles area, the foundation is currently opening a nonprofit reconstructive surgery and burn center in Kabul, Afghanistan. They are also developing a real-time satellite technology program that will allow surgeons to assist emergency first responders in remote parts of the world using high-tech telemedicine equipment. The ALS Association assists individuals with the degenerative nerve disorder also known as Lou Gherig's disease. They also fund research into the disorder, which kills 150,000 people each year in the U.S. alone. The New West Symphony is the eighth largest symphony orchestra in California and focuses on music from the 19th to 20th century. They also provide outreach and education to 50,000 students each year with live performances. The Projects Council of MOCA is the main fundraising organization for the museum and benefits education programs. They are also producing MOCA's first children's book, what is Contemporary?
Further west, Nordstrom also opened a new store in Thousand Oaks. This opening was a lively affair, starting with the rock and be-bop sounds of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy playing on the second floor. Guests enjoyed a variety of food buffets serving everything from lamb chops to hummus to salmon fillets. Many designer names were on the racks, with more youth oriented apparel by Ed Hardy, Rock and Republic, Juicy Couture and BCBG Maxazria. This event seemed to be populated by eager shoppers, as many departed with multiple clothing bags in tow. DJ Bling kept the turntables spinning on the first floor along with a rotating group of models showing off fall and winter fashions. Styles from Nordstrom's Studio 121, Individualist, via C, Savvy, and St. John departments were worn. Desserts, a coffee bar, and a gift completed everyone's evening.
The Nordstrom gala benefited The Alliance for the Arts and its Angels. It also benefited the Centennial Guild of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. The Alliance for the Arts and its Angels Women's Auxilliary is a fund raising organization based in Thousand Oaks. The purpose is to raise funds for theaters at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Countrywide Performing Arts Center. Theater operations, maintenance, plus tickets and transportation for underprivileged children are its goals. The Centennial Guild of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles provides fundraising for the hospital. Its members consist of volunteers from the West San Fernando Valley and Conejo Valley. Because of their efforts, thousands of children benefit with medical services each year. Neiman Marcus Topanga is located at 6550 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Canoga Park, and telephone 818-316-7000. Nordstrom Thousand Oaks is located in the Oaks Mall, 346 W. Hillcrest Dr, and telephone (805) 418-4500.
For more information on each organization:
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, visit http://www.ci.thousand-oaks.ca.us/theatre/.
Centennial Guild of Children's Hospital, 805-496-4402.
The Grossman Burn Foundation: www.grossmanburnfoundation.org.
The ALS Association: www.alsala.org, 818-865-8067.
The New West Symphony: www.newwestsymphony.org.
The Projects Council of MOCA: 213-626-6222, www.moca.org.