Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmember Justin Jones with Playhouse Village Foundation board members Carla Walecka, Brian Wallace, Johnny Buss, Phil Hawkey, Margie Lindbeck, and Arash Danialifar (Photo – PVF)
PASADENA – ColoradoBoulevard.net:
Over 100 Playhouse Village Foundation supporters were the first guests at a Sneak Preview of the newly renovated Ice House, the nation’s oldest Comedy Club.
By News Desk
New Ice House owner and Playhouse Village Foundation Board member Johnny Buss gave Foundation guests the exclusive chance to explore the two stages, VIP Lounge, and Green Room before the Ice House Grand Opening on February 16th. Guests enjoyed drinks in the Ice House Bar and patio with small bites provided by sponsor Settebello.
The Legendary Room main stage was standing-room-only as comedian Jimmy Burns warmed up the crowd. Mayor Victor Gordo took the stage to cheer the re-opening of the Ice House and the Foundation on its new fundraising role in Playhouse Village. Playhouse Village Foundation Chair Phil Hawkey remarked on the Foundation’s charitable fundraising to enhance and activate the 34 square blocks in the heart of downtown Pasadena that make up Playhouse Village.
“We are excited about building on the great assets of Playhouse Village, with its charm, history and walkability. It has beautiful buildings, a famous stage theatre, a great bookstore, a new movie theatre, terrific restaurants, a newly arriving fancy hotel, a world class medical school, seminary and culinary school, and a wonderful new Playhouse Village Park. Thousands of people live in the Village, including growing residential corridors on Union and Walnut Streets,” Hawkey emphasized.
Headliner Johnny Buss shared his 40-year passion for comedy clubs, beginning as a pledge with his father, the late Dr. Jerry Buss, to whom the reborn Ice House is now dedicated. Johnny Buss capped the evening with an auction of exclusive items for the benefit of Playhouse Village Foundation.
Edited by Ann Hunnewell
Leave a Reply