On the town

Complements to a magical affair

The weather outside was frightful. Indoors, the Hilton St. Petersburg was a Winter Wonderland, thanks to the efforts led by Yvonne Alsup, decorations chairwoman for the annual New Year's Eve gala for the St. Petersburg chapter of Links.

Traditional colors for the ball are silver and white, and the women used them to dazzling effect, reported Delceda Thompson, who was chairwoman for the event and my eyes and ears, since forbidding conditions prevented me from getting there.

In the ballroom, round tables and chairs were covered in white and centered with glass hurricane chimneys that enclosed white candles wrapped in silver and white garland. Clusters of silver and white balloons floated above.

Two stately trees in opposing corners glowed with white lights and were decorated with white dove ornaments and wrapped in white tulle.

Silvery trees created a shimmery effect on the buffet tables, and white lights covered the ficuses along the back wall, their bases adrift in cotton "snow."

Dwayne Champagne of Tampa provided dance music for the gala, performing on a stage decorated with white trees and draped in white netting lined with white tube lights.

Giant inflatable snowmen stood as sentinels outside the ballroom in a forest of white trees garlanded with white netting and tube lights.

Ms. Thompson said the women began decorating early in the morning and finished their magic by early afternoon. They regrouped again on New Year's day to dismantle everything and box it for this year's gala.

Others helping were co-chairwoman Terri Scott, Faith Van, Donna McRae and Shirley Davis. Mozell Davis is president of the organization.

Returning for the event itself, Ms. Thompson said, "I had to put on sneakers, an all-purpose coat and a rain hat," and she took an umbrella for good measure against the torrents, shedding the protective gear in the hotel's women's lounge and changing into her party clothes, a white ensemble with scalloped hem and sleeves.

"I told someone, 'Only sailors, ducks and Links would be out in this weather,' " she said.

Missing from the celebration was Dr. Angela Ayer, chief of ophthalmology at the VA Medical Center of Bay Pines, whose mother, Helen Viviane Ayer, was a founding member of the St. Petersburg chapter.

Ms. Thompson said Links members recently held a prayer vigil for her in the home of Donna McRae. Dr. Ayer died of cancer on Friday; her funeral is at noon today at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.

LOOKING AHEAD

Jan. 18

RUSSIAN TEA, FOLK DANCING: Dancing, music, Russian tea, Russian royal costumes, period American costumes. Joint presentation of St. Petersburg Friends of the Library, St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS), Russian Heritage Society, Academy of Ballet Arts. 2 p.m. St. Petersburg Public Library main branch, 3745 Ninth Ave. N. Free. 551-3365.

Jan. 25

ART FESTIVAL BETH-EL: 30th anniversary of fine art exhibition and sale. Preview cocktail reception, 7-10 p.m. $20. Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Ave S., St. Petersburg. Free and open to the public 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; light lunches, snacks available. Free and open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday; live entertainment, one-day Avenue of the Shops sale featuring art, jewelry and crafts; 12:30 p.m. luncheon, $12. 347-6136.

Jan. 30

DINNER WITH THE ARTS: Benefits Gulf Coast Museum of Art. Guest speaker, Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Custom made blown-glass vases by Vasile Loznianu, silent auction of glass vessels by Florida artists. 7 p.m., Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd., St. Petersburg. $150. 518-6833, ext. 213.

Feb. 8

FASHION PROMENADE: 53rd annual event presented by Women's Service League Inc. recognizes best-groomed men and women in St. Petersburg, benefits American Lung Association's children's asthma program in Pinellas County. Fashions from Lillie Rubin. 11 a.m. St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave. $40. 864-4848, 866-0202.

-- 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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