Bay Bash Ball brings Rio revelers to Vinoy

Carnival is months away, but Escape to Rio, the 11th annual Bay Bash Ball, was a high-energy spectacular Friday night that mimicked the fun of that yearly festival.

David Knowlton and Celma Mastry were co-chairs of the event, held in the Palm Court Ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg. It was a benefit for charity care at Bayfront Medical Center.

Mrs. Mastry, accompanied by Dr. Joe Pilkington, chose elegant St. John silk chiffon pants as part of her attire. Knowlton and Dr. Susan Beaven wore vintage looks. His were a dinner jacket and ruffled red shirt; hers were flowered necklace and earrings and an ensemble featuring a lacy blouse.

Her headdress of red and black feathers had to be the evening's extraordinary accessory, and although it appeared to be bejeweled and heavy, its base was of lightweight papier-mache.

Mickie Breen, attending with husband John, wore her mother's 1950s turban pinned with a sparkling brooch.

Dr. Steven Epstein, with Debbie Darnell, had a rosebud boutonniere, and she wore a wrist corsage of stargazer lilies shorn of their pollen-encrusted stamens, so prone to stain anything they brush against.

Dr. Charlene Ise's feathers and shawl were Latin-inspired, as was Terry Dowling's guayabera. Dr. Candy Linton arrived incognito, wearing a black wig over her blond hair, and a gown that was velvet and flocked chiffon.

Others in the lively crowd were Sue Brody, Celmita Mastry, Chris Sabo, Dr. Beth and Keith Benson, John and Eileen Epright, Marcus Greene, Kim and Skip Horstman, David and Guna Carr, Tom and Mary James, Dr. Michael and Liz Mastry, Goliath Davis and Teresa Anderson, Mark and Marty Petty, Lee and Caryn Rightmyer, Tom Stovall, Dr. Mark and Kathi Norsteen and Martha Rees.

Michael White, who recently moved to Fort Lauderdale, returned to orchestrate the event, which featured a 16-foot-tall puppet, a fire eater, dancers, huge masks and silhouettes, ambient lighting and a vivid backdrop brought in from Los Angeles.

Jodi and Grady Pridgen opened their home in downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday and invited people to explore the spacious dwelling, once the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

The event was a fundraiser for the children of R'Club Child Care, which provides youth development programs through daylong and before- and after-school programs in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The rich interior colors and plush furnishings give the home restful appeal, and the rooftop view is stunning.

Downstairs, the murals of Russian artist Fred G. are based on period movie posters. Jodi Pridgen's paintings are on view throughout the house. The theater stage, where luminaries such as Amelia Earhart and Will Rogers once lectured, is whimsically decorated as a cemetery for Halloween and also is Mrs. Pridgen's work.

Among those attending were G.W. and Sharon Clayton Keller, Sally Poynter and Mike Tillman, Edie Spies and John Murphy, Diane and Richard Winning, Mary Wyatt Allen, Catherine McGarry, Candy Scherer, Ford and Barb Kyes, Lea Newman, Betty Woods, Gina Timko, David and Lupi Coffin, Marcos Ibarguen, Cara Castle, Linda Earle, Anji Jennings, Chris Wikenczy, Karen Perkins, Jim and Diana Dickson, Angelo and Michelle Cappelli and John Morroni.

You'll read more in Sunday's column about Saturday's gala in connection with Europe Through Our Eyes -- Frankfurt, London, Vienna, held at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

That evening, I caught up with Dr. Bruce Epstein, the retired pediatrician and onetime freelance columnist for the St. Petersburg Times.

He was understandably delighted that President Bush has nominated his wife, Amy Epstein, to the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.

"A priority of the Commission is the cultural heritage of all national, religious, and ethnic groups that were victims of genocide during World War II," a White House press release said.

"The mandate of the Commission is to encourage and facilitate the preservation and protection of monuments, cemeteries, and historic buildings associated with the foreign cultural heritage of American citizens from the 23 countries that comprise Eastern and Central Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union."

Looking ahead

Friday

TRADE IN, TRADE UP: Exchange clean, gently used women's clothing for 20 percent off coupons at Stein Mart. (Tax receipts available for donations.) Sponsored by Junior Leagues of St. Petersburg, Clearwater-Dunedin. Benefits Center Against Spouse Abuse, the Haven of RCS. At Stein Mart stores in St. Petersburg, Seminole, Clearwater, Palm Harbor. Continues Saturday.

PAR-TEE TIME WITH THE JUNIOR LEAGUE: Golf tournament at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club, 6000 Sun Blvd., St. Petersburg. Junior League of St. Petersburg event features awards, poolside barbecue afterward. 11 a.m. Cost to be announced. 895-5018.

CHAMPAGNE TASTING: Second annual event benefits Abilities Foundation. Premium French champagne, Spanish cava, Italian prosecco, California sparkling wine; hors d'oeuvres from O'Bistro. 5-8 p.m. Pic Pac Fine Wine & Spirits, 6609 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $20. 347-0743.

ISLAND SIGHTINGS: "An Elegant Evening in Bali," benefit for Foundation Fighting Blindness. 6:30 p.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $150. 398-6844.

URBAN SWANK -- THE PREMIERE PARTY: Inaugural event of the Contemporaries, Museum of Fine Arts young adult (ages 21-40something) membership group. More than 30 bay areas artists' works on view and for sale; three bands; fashion show; lecture by chief curator Jennifer Hardin. Hors d'oeuvres; wine, beer, soft drinks. 7-11 p.m. $8 nonmembers; free for Contemporaries and those purchasing museum, Contemporaries memberships. Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. 896-2667; contemporaries@fine-arts.org.

Saturday

MS. WHEELCHAIR FLORIDA 2002: Winner competes in Ms. Wheelchair America pageant to become spokeswoman for disabled Americans. 7 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. Free. 343-8034.

-- Mary Jane Park can be reached at (727) 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com; P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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