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Community Corner

VIDEO: Good Meals Make Good Neighbors

At the annual TERA fundraiser, Eagle Rockers open their homes—and their hearts—to their community.

Who says good fences make good neighbors anyway? At The Eagle Rock Association’s annual fundraiser, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, all fences seemed nonexistent. Indeed, house doors were flung open as some 130 local denizens clinked glasses of wine and toasted their neighborhood—and each other.

The May 21 event brought Eagle Rockers and their friends first to the gracious 1923 Spanish Colonial home of Michael Schlueter and Damon Dennis for a reception spent mingling on the lawn during the twilight hours (and over a gorgeous spread of finger foods). Revelers then headed off for dinner to one of 11 houses that ranged in style from Pueblo Revival to Mid-Century Polynesian, and in culinary themes that varied from Cordon Bleu elegance to barbecue blowout.

All told, the magical evening brought in about $4,500, most of which TERA plans to reinvest in the community with a major focus on Take Back the Boulevard, an initiative with growing public support whose goal is to make Eagle Rock’s high streets safer and more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

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We caught up with TERA president Bob Gotham holding court at his immaculate Boston Brahminesque abode, a mid-century modern home perched high on a hill. Bob lives on Round Top Drive, which is nowhere close to Hill Drive and proves, in his words, that "there's life south of Colorado Boulevard."

Bob looked as pleased with the evening as his guests clearly were with his feast of pot roast, spanakopita and fabulous wine. As guests chatted at the elegantly turned out dinner table, a charming female pianist sent Dixieland melodies into the air. The group later moved out onto Bob’s resort-like terrace for coffee and star gazing.

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How did the event make Bob feel about his fellow Eagle Rockers? “It confirmed for me that there are many residents who love Eagle Rock and are willing to invest in the community,” he said. “We at TERA also appreciate the spirit of openness, generosity and fun that was clearly present at the event.”

The enchanted evening, which took months of coordination, sent the message that Eagle Rock dwellers care deeply about their homes and each other, and that it's not good fences but good meals and deep conversations that make good neighbors. NELA’s Mayberry, you did it again. 

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