"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: Wild partygoers and a duchess at Montelucia villas?
There were some wild guests at the party hosted by Debbie and Len Gaby at their Montelucia Villa. What? Wild party animals at one of the most prestigious addresses in town? What? Within the luxurious Spanish-style walls of their unparalleled resort lifestyles? Yes, and the partygoers were quite the “party animals.”
Because not only was there a hawk, and a chuckwalla and an owl-like creature, there was plenty of wild talk. But be careful how you let the rumors fly!
Yes, the birds of prey and chuckwalla were formally invited. And the Gabys were hoping to spread the word about the Phoenix Zoo’s new $20 million capital campaign. In fact, partygoers such as Tom Ambrose and Ed Fox are WILD about it! Tom and Ed are co-chairs of the “World Class Zoo Capital Campaign.”
ROYALTY at the party?
And as for the rumors of the Duchess being at the party.. she was there in spirit. .. Because part of the funds for that $20 million campaign are for a new $4 million home for Duchess. She’s the 50 year old orangutan at the Phoenix Zoo. Matter of fact, Duchess is the nation’s oldest Bornean orangutan in captivity.
On the heels of Duchess’s 50th birthday party celebrated at the zoo, and the groundbreaking for her new home called “Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest”- zoo supporters gathered poolside at the Gabys’ Montelucia Villa.
The Montelucia Villa’s private pool was a perfect place to host the event…amidst the backdrop of Camelback Mountain framed by the amazing sunset.
The “People of the Forest” new exhibit will provide a more naturalistic environment for Duchess and her family. With modern amenities and a larger area to explore, the Zoo will have the opportunity to add more orangutans in the future.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
