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The Brandes Halloween Ball at The Very Haunted Castle

of Tanya and Charles Brandes

“All who entered, will never forget...."

The Haunted Castle of Tanya and Charles Brandes

Invited 'souls' arrived to the gates of the Gothic Brandes Castle on a foggy evening October 25th. They were instructed to come as Heroes, Vixens and Villains. And they did.

Screams and ghosts filled the night air. Guests entering the castle grounds, past a mossy pond. A white 'corpse' was floating. An invited guest? Or a lost soul....

Into the cemetery amidst fallen angels guests mingled and drank bloody red wine and other concoctions. Fanged Vampires and more had 'bites' of Halloween inspired mini-montecristos, Mulligatwany Soup, and such fare. Purple draped tables were topped by Autumnal floral arrangements, and flickering burnt orange candles were held by skeletal hands. A relative perhaps?

Conversation flowed. Jeanne Jones arrived as a Vampiress with engagingly lit fangs. Husband Don Breitenberg came as an outlaw cowboy, black mustache and all, whereas Stuart Jamieson portrayed the more 'do good cowboy.'

Stuart is rather the real life cowboy. In real life he saved his ranch in the Eastern county from the fire's last year. It was a five day battle and he won. Stuart's wife Sheri was won over years before. This evening Sheri Jamieson was a beautiful pirate. Captain Bligh, move aside.

Craigar Grosvenor was a Vampire who could not resist the temptation to nibble on his 'Elvira' Joyce's neck every opportunity he had. No wonder. Joyce's dress was an eye catching renovated number from Escada Couture, and she filled it out nicely.

More there were David Copley as Indiana Jones. David, a hero to literacy, the arts, and so much more, was wearing one of two original Indiana Jones hats. Harrison Ford has the other.

Ruth Jacobowitz was the Evil Queen from Snow White, Rex and Steve Romande each came as the Greek God Pan, Deni Jacobs and Debby Jacobs did Laura Croft vixenly proud, Hal Jacobs came swimmingly as Michael Phelps, Jeff Jacobs was fabulous as Fabio, and Bertrand Hug came as an injured 'gangsta' in a wheelchair. Bertrand who is recovering from surgery in real life, was well attended by wife Denise Hug. Denise came as the cutest and most mischievous nurse outfit.... more on that later.

Speaking of the mostest, this Halloween night easily is the party of all times for San Diego and beyond because of the artistic values. And as host King Neptune Charles Brandes later told guests, it was all due to the incredible planning of his beautiful Mermaid, Tanya Brandes.

Tanya planned this event with exacting detail for 10 months. And for both of them all of the effort was well worth it. As Tanya remarked later, 'seeing friends laughing and dancing in our home is the best gift Charles and I can receive."

The Mermaid Tanya Brandes

King Neptune Charles Brandes

Laugh and dance guests did, but first the Brandes Haunted Castle. It was time to tour the Seven Deadly Sins. Room by sin laden room. Each ancient catacomb room exposed one of the seven deadly sins re-enacted. Pride, lust, sloth, envy, greed, wrath, and gluttony.... seven beautiful sirens had been invited in, but they would never come out. The Master hauntingly instructed them to inbibe in every vice, pleasure and idle manner. And they did. But there was no escaping the final decree by the Master...

The sirens were bewitching, and yet, they vanished. One by one they met their demise by the haunting presence of The Master.

Costumed party goers in awe of the 'beyond Disney' production, acting and 'wow' factor, poured, apres sin tour, into the majestic ballroom. Fabric draped ceiling, gothic furniture and opulence at every corner.

It was a ballroom filled with music, magic and revelry.

Hungry souls, ghouls, heroes and more found buffet stations laden with theme appropriate dishes.

Decadent? Yes. Fun? Extremely! And thought out with a very generous give back attitude.

The Brandes Castle was made with sustainable material. All destined to go to Habitat for Humanity. All catered food left over, and there was lots, went immediately to Mama's Kitchen and Father Joe's Village. Beautiful floral arrangements went to nearby hospitals and convalescent care facilities. 50 well casted, rehearsed and phenomenal actors from San Diego and Southern California were hired. And they were grateful to be employed and rousingly appreciated for their performances. 250 technicians and craftspersons were employed to bring this event to life. And the underlying thoughtful giving back did not stop there.

Tanya and Charles Brandes made very generous contributions to the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD).... and this isn't the first time they have done so.....

MCASD's Dr. Hugh M. Davies, The David C. Copley Director, had this to say. "A fabulously entertaining and creative fete which lifted our spirits at a critical moment.  Tanya and Charles are truly brilliant and marvelously generous, and we at MCASD are enormously grateful for their timely philanthropic gift to support our museum programs during a difficult year."

And all guests concurred. And were inspired to do likewise in any amount feasible.

Revelry and fun continued. After all Halloween is a time to be creative and let loose.

To top the evening off, Fergie, yes the Fergie, singer and dramatically captivating dancer performed. What a voice, what a performance.!Everyone was on their feet, singing, swaying, and enjoying.

After a stellar show, Fergie stayed on as DJ Graham Funke took over. He came in from NYC. .... All danced and mingled. Denise Hug and Valerie Cooper employed their pinchers...And dancing went on until the fog rolled away, and all smart vampires and living creatures dashed away in their crested coaches.

A party to live and die for, and to be admired for ages.

Valerie Cooper as Emma Frost from the Marvel comic books 'marveled' herself at the incredible detail. "Wow was that a party!! Had the best time."

""A spectacular night of art and entertainment...so very creative" said Colette Carson Royston, who was quite the pretty devil herself. Husband Ivor Royston came as Dick Tracy.

More fabulous comments came from big arts supporter Iris Strauss. "The party was so spectacular and truly beyond imagination.  Fun to be there and see everyone in their  fabulous costumes". And Iris herself came in one of those incredible costumes. Iris portrayed Tosca, the diva/ heroine of the Opera Tosca,  which will be the opening opera for this Season starting in January. Matt Strauss her husband, was her starving artist lover."

Jeanne Jones put it succinctly. "There simply aren't words to describe this opulent, elegant, imaginative experience---I felt transported to another world. Also, it was great fun trying to guess who everyone was in their elaborate and uniquely different costumes."

"Craig and I had a bloody-good time! We dropped in for a "Bite" and stayed the whole night,' added Joyce Grosvenor.

Denise Hug enthusiastically stated "this party was the piece de resistance. So many clever costumes! Really made it fun to people watch! It was like a movie, and to have Fergie was the icing on the cake." 

"Wow, what can you say about the party to end all parties? It was amazingly executed and lots of fun to participate in.  Tanya outdid herself" said Tamara Alter. Tamara should know. She is married to God (for the night), aka Richard Alter!

"No one at that party will EVER attend another one that will even come close. Attention to detail was unbelievable," concluded Jay Kovtun.

The sun came up and the body count was in. It was off by seven.... the seven deadly sin sirens.... they were gone!

Special applause to Tanya and Charles Brandes for welcoming guests to their castle and celebrating the arts.

The Halloween Ball at the Brandes Haunted Castle Team included also:

Event Producers: Janice Dodge, Jonathan Martin of Showtec, Inc.

Floral: Cathy Lee Maynard-Miller, Linda Brown, John Bruckner, Cory Garcia

Headline Performer: Fergie

DJ: Graham Funke

Caterer - Waters Fine Catering

Click for Menu

Enjoy the Photos....!!

The floating corpse....and the cemetery entrance to the Castle!

Valerie Cooper cleaning a little blood off of Dracula Harry, costumes created by The Old Globe

Lise Wilson ** Don and Linda Swortwood as Mobsters to be reckoned with ** Karen Cohn as Superwoman and Iris Strauss as Tosca

The Cemetery Bar

The entrance to the Haunted Brandes Castle lit in 'ghostly' white

Union Tribune Society Reporter Burl Stiff getting the inside scoop from the hosts, Tanya and Charles Brandes

Super Hero Gals Kim with Tiffany Mahoney ** Annika Kovtun being the complete fashionable She-Devil

Vampiress Jean Jones ** Muffy Walker with ' Lance Armstrong' aka John Reed ** Mary Drake

Lynda Forsha, the Queen of Voodoo with Tosca, Iris Strauss

Joyce and Craigar Grosvenor as Elvira and Dracula.....

The Voodoo Princess and Prince, Lynda Forsha and Hugh Davies with Pirate Sheri Jamieson

The kindly Grave Digger offering to dig up, or bury.... dead or alive....

Denise Hug ** Bertrand Hug, the wounded 'Gangsta' with Nurse with the Mostest, Denise Hug ** Jennifer Greenfield and Dr. Richard Greenfield

Judith Harris as a featherery Angel with Dr. Ninja.... Robert Singer

Mermaid Tanya Brandes in a quiet moment before Heroes, Vixens and Villains arrived **' Penniless' Painter and Lover of Tosca, Matthew Strauss ** Leonard Simpson in New Orleans Piratry with Black Magic's Michala Lawrence

Jeff and Sheila Lipinsky doing a great John McCain and Sarah Palin.... SNL in their future?....

Jay Kovtun and Splendid Witch Lael Kovtun ** Super Woman and Super Man, Karen Cohn and Scott Johnston

What villain is moving in on the Super Heroes...Lex Luthor

Reception Table Setting

Stuart Jamieson with Margo Schwab, David Copley, and Andrew Shelton... the cool one!

Charles Brandes ** Harry and Valerie Cooper

Pretty Devil Colette Carson Royston

Matthew and Iris Strauss with Karen Cohn

Don Cohn as Lex Luthor with his SuperWoman Karen Cohn, costumes created especially by the Old Globe

Dick Tracy, Ivor Royston with his inspiration Colette Carson Royston

Tanya Brandes chatting with Contessa Dracula, Jeanne Jones

Sheri and Stuart Jamieson

Dracula Harry Cooper

Evil Queen of Snow White Ruth Jacobowitz with Paul Jacobowitz ** Gordon and Annika Kovtun

Entering the Brandes Castle to Tour the Seven Deadly Sins........

And then, it was time to enter the Brandes Halloween Ballroom..............

Debby and Deni Jacobs... Doing Laura Croft proud!

Richard and Wanda Levi

The Bar in the Ballroom

Stuart Jamieson ** Sheri Jamieson with SuperMan

Jeanne Jones with Tanya Brandes ** Tanya Brandes getting a 'Pretty Citation'

Part of the Glorious Interior to the Brandes Haunted Castle Ballroom

Tamara Alter as Eve with husband Richard Alter as 'God'

Maree Mossmer with Lynda Kerr, Jennifer Greenfield and Richard Kerr ** Scott Johnston with Sally B. Thornton and Peter Farrell as Bottom from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hail Caesar / John Thornton ** Scott Johnston with Colette Carson Royston

Jeanne Jones in a 'biting' mood with Sheri Jamieson

Fabio Jeff Jacobs with Laura Croft

Tamara Alter as Eve ** Valerie Cooper talking to 'God' Richard Alter ** Lynda Kerr and SuperMan Scott Johnston

Ninja photographer Robert Singer ** Lust Cliff Schireson & Greed, John Venekamp with handsome smiles and great costumes** Tanya Brandes

Margo Schwab in Valerie's 'back up' costume and Valerie as X-Men Emma Frost as costumed by the Old Globe

Margo Schwab with Denise Hug, Henry the 8th, Valerie Cooper and Sheri Jamieson ** Stuart Jamieson, part cowboy, part photographer

Tanya Brandes and friend rockin' to Fergie ** Mermaid Tanya Brandes ** Valerie Cooper

Charles Brandes, Fergie, and Tanya Brandes

Lynda Kerr and Valerie Cooper ** Rocio and Henry the 8th Mike Flynn... Rocio had a wicked guillotine scar on her neck

Fergie and Tanya Brandes

The Avengers Gerald and Robin Parsky ** Gary and Maggie Bobileff ** Brandon Pimentel with and Blair Harris as Alice in Wonderland

Hal Jacobs as Michael Phelps (with Gold Medals in his pocket) ** King Neptune Charles Brandes surveying his friends having a great time ** The detailing on King Neptune's legs

Tanya Brandes getting a 'Pretty Mermaid Exemption' from the Police

Reported by Margo Schwab as Contessa Dracula with SuperMan/ Clark Kent aka Scott Johnston.

We at The Social Diary would like to say a special thanks to hosts Tanya and Charles Brandes. We commend their generosity to the community with this incredible, arts inspiring event.

And very importantly we hope you are inspired to support these fine organizations as Tanya and Charles have:

www.sdmart.org

www.mcasd.org

www.mamaskitchen.org

www.fatherjoesvillages.org

www.habitat.org

The Social Diary would like to offer special thanks to Joanna Herr of www.herrphotography.com for contributing 6 terrific photos for this coverage.

Email Commentary to be added

email editor@thesocialdiary.com

What a party! The pictures are really great :-) - S

Wow!!! Great pictures! - C

Thanks for sending this! The party looks amazing. - Todd Schultz, The Old Globe

Thanks for sending this link. Looked like a crazy event. - TF, the UT

WOW - Jack

Great costumes - Diane

Looks like my kind of party! - Matt

I loved your pictures of the Brandes extravaganza! - J

WOW!  WHAT AMAZING COVERAGE!!! - MM

Wow-- that looked like quite the ball. - John S

What a report. You did a tremendous job - D

These have to be shots of the year!!! - B

It was quite an amazing party!  Everyone looked awesome in their costumes. - P

Wow this looks like it was a spectacular event. - T

AH-MAZE-ING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - P

Hudson & I had a GREAT time !!! , I did miss Kima in one of her outfits,  Mary

It was way over the top. - T

This looks great to me. You & Scott captured the rooms and ambience so very well. - T

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* Margo Schwab, more formally known as Margaret E. Schwab, has produced, written, interviewed and photographed for various media organizations since 1989. Schwab attended Holton Arms School, La Jolla Country Day School and La Jolla High School. Schwab has a B.A. from Scripps College, spent a business internship with S.A.I.C., Science Applications International Corporation, and earned a Masters of Business degree, M.B.A., from the University of San Diego. Schwab volunteers for numerous charity organizations. She also continues to support animal organizations and the prevention of people and animal abuse. Schwab is the editor of The Social Diary.

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