“>Bet Tzedek’s annual gala fundraiser, A worthy cause: Bet Tzedek is a highly esteemed three-decade-old legal organization founded by altruistic Jews to serve those in desperate need of free representation, such as Holocaust survivors, victims of elder abuse, and tenants in dispute with landlords. Their sterling reputation impresses and attracts even the most cynical of lawyers.
– An incredible venue: A big-name performer: Great press: “>LA Weekly selected the fundraiser as a “pick of the week.”
– Super attendance: The Justice Ball website promised over 3,000 attendees and from the looks of it, I wouldn’t argue with that number. The crowd was unquestionably large and decidedly lovely. Women were dressed in chic summer dresses and men (mostly) in sharp dress shirts.
So what was missing from this large, colorful salad?
SPICE.
Those tiny finishing touches that make all the difference between mediocre and magnificent. Here are some things that could have made the party even more palatable:
– Friendly and attentive volunteers. More than a few seemed flustered by the lack of organization and therefore were just focused on doing the minimum to keep things operating, instead of concentrating on making guests feel welcomed and appreciated.
– Extended VIP benefits past 9:30 p.m. Free drinks and munchies were passed around early in the evening for those who could get it together before the sun set, but after that, there was no apparent advantage to having paid an extra $75.
– Food options for Jews and vegetarians. The Italian sausage and chicken quesadillas seemed strangely incongruent with the Jewish L.A. scene.
– Cheaper drinks. $9 for a small mixed drink?
– Better lighting and more creative decorations (I can’t recall if there were any at all) to bring the entire venue together. Dark walkways and deserted areas made the party seem disjointed and uneven.
– Enviable swag bags. And enough of them. They ran out before the party had even ended. I have to admit, I was very excited to see what would be in the VIP gift bags. My mom called me Sunday morning to find out what was in the bag. They’re legendary for being the cherry on top. Here is what was in the Justice Ball swag bag (you decide whether it’s worth writing home about):
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
