The power couple relax in their backyard before the party gets started. "This is the christening of our home," said Whitford. "We haven't even moved in yet."

Source: InStyle Magazine
Date: February 2005
By: Brantley Bardin
Submitted By: Mr and Mrs Chai

Bringing all that activism home, The West Wing star Bradley Whitford and his wife, Jane Kaczmarek, host an environment benefit in a perfect setting: the lush garden of their new California abode.

When you're shooting a hit TV series 12 hours a day, not to mention raising three young kids (ages 7, 5 and 2) - as Malcolm in the Middle's mom, Jane

Janel Moloney during cocktail hour.

Kaczmarek, and her husband, Bradley Whitford, each are - you don't have much time to hit the Hollywood party circuit. "After I get home from work the

kids look at me like, 'Please don't go anywhere else!'" said Kaczmarek. So when the philanthropically inclined couple recently bought a home - an Italian-style villa in San Marino, Calif. - its party-hosting capacity played a part in the purchase. "We never thought something like this would be our family house, but when we saw the backyard," Kaczmarek said of the elaborate English garden, "we immediately thought, It'll be great for fund-raisers!"

Said Kaczmarek (with Lily Tomlin), joking of her opulent new digs: "It's like coming to a party at somebody else's house. I keep expecting the parents to come home and kick us out." Added Tomlin, "Look at this yard! It's so lush and green. It's very environmental."

And so it was that before the couple had even moved into their swanky new digs, they found themselves co-hosting a backyard cocktail party for 200 to benefit a longtime favorite cause, the Union of Concerned Scientists - an environmental alliance of scientists and citizens (and, yes, TV stars) who work with government agencies to halp shape policy on issues from global warming to energy conservation. "Wow," Whitford's co-start Janel Moloney said of the scene. "My whole house could comfortably fit in a quarter of this yard."

"They are a double dose of heart and I adore them," said Martin Sheen (with Whitford) of his hosts.

After the cocktail hour, Whitford stepped onto his flagstone back porch to introduce the guest spearker, Terry Tamminen, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. "Thank you, Bradley and Jane, for loaning us your wonderful palace of a house for today," he said, before joking, "I see it's still empty inside - so if you don't mind, we'll be moving in desks and lab equipment next week." After a speech in which Tamminen praised UCS's work and encouraged all to join in the hybrid-car revolution ("I already drive a Prius," Lily Tomlin whispered to a friend), Kaczmarek took the mike to add her own two cents. "As a busy mom, nothing is worse than stopping to get

The couple's home was built in 1927.

gas," she said. "And I only have to fill up twice a month in my hybrid. I love that!" She then thanked guests for joining in "the magnificent christening of our new home." As the sun began to

set, the president himself, Martin Sheen, said, "Bradley and Jane really care, and they make such an extraordinary contribution to our community. This was a cool party for a great cause." Hail to the chief! - Brantley Bardin.

The Elements

Kaczmarek disclosed her pre-party jitters: "I was nervous because of that episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show about how she always had bad parties. I worried no one would show up! I knew I'd be OK, though, when I saw that yard full of people. It was heaven."

the event A fund-raiser hosted by Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving natural resources, in the backyard of their new California home (which features box hedges and a maze). "Jane wanted that elegant English garden party look," said caterer Celia Hollander of Foodworks in L.A. Added party planner Harvin Rogas of 5B events: "Knowing that the party was to benefit an environmental organization, we all thought, How perfect!"

Tables were covered in celadon and maize linens and topped with yellow dahlias, blue hydrangeas and lavender old roses arranged in clear crackle vases.

the menu Hollander served up a simple tasting menu that included caponata dip, sesame-crusted avocado and cucumber nori rolls, tandoori chicken and Kaczmarek's favorite, petite Australian lamb chops with dried cranberry chutney.

the floral design Tom Larson of Rose City Flowers opted for bright buds. "Jane loves color," he said. "I wanted garden-y, loose arrangements - nothing too formal and nothing flashy." Added Hollander: "The flowers looked sophisticated without being stuffy. They stood out without upstaging the yard and all it had to offer."

Thanks to Chai and her hubby for scanning the article!