McLean Woman's Club holds 'Kickoff Tea' for Holiday Homes Tour

Editor's Note: The following article about the kickoff tea was submitted by the McLean Woman's Club.

The Woman’s Club of McLean held its annual “Christmas in August” Kickoff Tea on Thursday, Aug. 16, to preview its 46th Holiday Homes Tour in early December. This year’s tour will feature homes in River Oaks, a secluded neighborhood of large homes in northwest McLean between the Beltway and the Potomac.

At the tea, club members welcomed Dranesville District Supervisor John W. Foust. Mr. Foust and his wife, Dr. Marilyn Jerome, are longtime supporters of the Woman’s Club and offered their house for the Holiday Homes Tour in 2009. Other guests at the tea were the owners of three of the four homes on this year’s tour. The tea was held at the McLean house of Susan Cooper Jordano, second vice-president of the Woman’s Club, and her husband Tony Jordano.

December’s tour will feature four large houses of varying architecture decorated for the holidays and highlighting family life in McLean. In addition, , 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., will host a Marketplace, offering gifts and holiday items, a lunch and snack concession, and a “Chinese auction,” which will sell chances on a variety of merchandise and services.

Woman’s Club members have been working on preparations since February, when they began soliciting advertisements for the tour brochure. Additional efforts over the summer included selection of the homes, brochure preparation, publicity arrangements and plans for decoration.

All proceeds will be donated to local charities and nonprofit organizations, such as Share, Inc., Alternative House, the (The Children’s Outreach), , the , and the , as well as used for scholarships and education.                        

The tour will take place on Thursday, Dec.6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will be available in early October at local businesses, including Mesmeralda’s Gifts of McLean, Karin’s Florist of Vienna and Great Dogs of Great Falls, or may be obtained at one of the homes on the tour.