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 The Las Olas Company Celebrates 70th Anniversary with VIP Extravaganza
On November 3rd, The Las Olas Company commemorated its 70th anniversary with a star-studded, black-tie VIP event at the Riverside Hotel. The successful event brought together local VIPs, celebrities, government and city officials in celebration of The Las Olas Company. Ed McMahon was the guest of honor and provided entertainment during dinner as he recapped his many visits to the Riverside Hotel with Johnny Carson in the 60's.
The evening began with a cocktail reception at the Riverside Hotel's newest lounge, Preston's, which is named after one of its founders, Preston A. Wells (who built the hotel with his brother John Wells in 1936). The adjacent Champ Carr ballroom was transformed into a 'Speakeasy Lounge' featuring blackjack tables and a McMahon-branded vodka luge. Classic black and white photographs depicting the Riverside Hotel, nostalgic scenes from Las Olas Boulevard, and images of the Wells family decorated the walls. Many guests donned period dress from the 30's and 40's and classic cars lined the entrance to the hotel, as well as the hotel's garden patio.
Following the reception, guests were invited to the 8th floor's Himmarshee Ballroom to experience one of the most memorable parts of the evening - a sumptuous five-course dinner. The hotel's catering director, Mark Semple, specifically selected the exquisite menu to capture the essence of an Old World culinary experience.
Dinner began with a Jumbo shrimp and Riverside Lump Crab salad appetizer. An Old World Iceberg wedge salad, which featured sliced vine ripe tomatoes, sliced Bermuda onions and crumbled bleu cheese followed. A refreshing lemon sorbet intermezzo was served to cleanse the palette before the main course. The main course featured Beef Tenderloin Wellington paired with a 6 oz. Florida Lobster tail, which was served with a vegetable bundle and pomme potato soufflé. This was followed by a delicious dessert featuring a dark chocolate Model "T" Ford, with mango mousse and fresh berries.
During dinner, A.J. Jabbour, The Las Olas Company's senior vice president and general manager of the Riverside Hotel, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening's festivities. He introduced guests to members of the hotel's founding family and Thomas E. Wells, Jr. and Barbara Wells, who spoke about the history of their family, the formation of The Las Olas Company, and how the family decided to build the Riverside Hotel 70 years ago.
During the event, Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman awarded The Las Olas Company and the Wells family with a proclamation designating December 12, 2006 as "The Las Olas Company and Riverside Hotel Appreciation Day."
The Riverside Hotel is located at 620 East Las Olas Blvd. For more information, please call 954-467-0671 or visit www.riversidehotel.com.
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