Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Spring Hat Luncheon

PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy 18th annual Spring Hat Luncheon

With sunny skies and temperatures near seventy degrees, 650 guests convened at Frick Park for the 18th annual PNC Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Spring Hat Luncheon on May 7, 2016. The luncheon, traditionally held on Kentucky Derby day, took place on May 7. The 600 acre city park also hosted the first Pittsburgh Hat Luncheon in 1998

The sold out crowd mingled with mimosas admiring each others hats, which grow increasingly more intricate and elaborate each year. Kiya Tomlin had a vision for this year's hat which Gina Mazzotta created featuring a chipmunk. Other notable hats included Lana Neumeyer's fuchsia plumed hat and Bonny Begay's organza picture hat.
Centerpieces of orchids, violets, azaleas, and begonias by Allison McGeary Florist, gave a true garden feeling to the event, held in a large canopied grass area of the park. Trees were available for adoption to benefit the Parks Conservancy along with the sale of the centerpieces.
Catered by the Duquesne Club, the lunch featured chilled carrot soup, lemon peppered beef and noisette of halibut ending with a dessert of signature macaroons and raspberry lime "hats"
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy CEO, Meg Cheever spoke of the 158 Pittsburgh public parks which benefit from the Parks Conservancy. The Parks Conservancy is celebrating it's 20 anniversary this year, and to date has raised more than 92 million dollars. Over the course of the last 18 years, over 11,000 people have attended the Spring Hat luncheon which from it's inception has been sponsored by PNC.
To date, 14 major capital projects have been completed by the Parks Conservancy , including restoration of the Frick Park Gate House and the Frick Environmental Center, scheduled to open in a few months.
To donate and learn more about the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, please visit www.pittsburghparks.org