After a two-year pandemic-imposed hiatus, the 69th Altadena Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital’s Home & Garden Tour returns Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event celebrates its 69th anniversary of supporting Pasadena’s Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) along with Huntington Hospital.
The Guild’s 69th Home Tour, called the “Festival de Mendocino Lane,” features tours of four homes and their grounds on the palm-lined Altadena street.
One of the residences, a majestic 1931 Spanish-style home built by noted architect Richard Bates, is situated on a one-acre subtropical botanic garden featuring 140 palm species.
Another tour home – newly constructed in mid-2020 and never before viewed by the public – is an Italianate villa by architect John Vandevelde.
“We encourage our guests to make a day of it, starting with morning coffee and churros – part of our nod to the Mendoza region of Argentina – and later lunch and refreshments at the Café and Cantina,” said Patricia Ostiller, Altadena Guild member and Home Tour co-chair.
“While meandering from one tour home to another, guests can enjoy live music being played throughout the day in the homes, a Café and Cantina, shop for jewelry, clothing and other beautifully crafted wares from various vendors, and watch a street tango performance by professional tango dancers.”
She added that vendors will donate 20 percent of their event sales to the Guild.
In addition to the tango dancers, the Guild’s 2022 Home Tour marks several other firsts, including a Porsche collection, and booths from local organizations, offering information about various programs available to the community.
Between 1952, when its first Home Tour raised $428 to help furnish the newly established HMRI research facility founded that same year, and 2019, the Guild held 68 consecutive first-Sunday-of-May annual Home Tours resulting in several million dollars donated to HMRI and the hospital.
“HMRI is grateful for the Altadena Guild’s seven-decade partnership with us, which has been vital to our progressive growth and impact. Over the years, the Guild has contributed generously to our capital building campaign, funded critical laboratory equipment and fellowships, and faithfully provided volunteer support to us,” said HMRI President and CEO Julia E. Bradsher, Ph.D., M.B.A.
For the safety of guests, volunteers, homeowners and their families, all Home & Garden Tour 2022 guests will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and wear face masks while inside the tour homes. Additional safety protocols may be required if circumstances warrant.
Tickets are available at altadenaguild.org for $45 each, or may be purchased onsite May 1 for $50 each.
